PAX (2026)

The 2026 Global Science Opera is titled PAX – the science of making peace.

GSO’s 12th annual production (2026) will be dedicated to the theme of “The Science of Making Peace”. The opera is based on the assumption that world peace is possible to achieve through collaborative learning in which all young people around the world are invited to take part. Together, they will explore examples of peace agreements, peaceful co-existence and friendship. With world peace as an overarching goal, several forms of knowledge will be employed: The Neuroscience of Peace. The History of Peace. The Sociology of Peace. The Art of Peace. The Language of Peace. The Education of Peace.

GSO will make special efforts to include artworks created together by children on opposing sides of ongoing or past conflicts, in order to show world leaders that peace and friendship is possible.
The United Nations International Day of Peace. Sept. 21st, will provide inspiration for the opera.
The opera’s premiere will be on World Children’s Day, Nov. 20th, 2026.
In December, 2026, a copy of the opera “The Science of Making Peace” will be sent to the United Nations Secretary General, António Guterres.

If you would like to participate, please make a short (horizontal) film saying “I want peace because…” and fill in the rest of the sentence with your own words. Keep it short, only one sentence. You can speak in your own language, and send us the translation in English. Please contact us for more information and where to send it.

THIS YEAR’S GSO song:

PAX – THE SCIENCE OF MAKING PEACE

12-bar blues / rap

INTRO – SPOKEN CHOIR VOICE 1:

Let’s sing a blues about making peace.

ALL (whispered): PAX…

VOICE 2: Different people. Different times.

ALL: PAX.

VOICE 3: Different ways of making peace.

ALL (stronger): PAX!

VOICE 4: Their work was honoured with the Nobel Peace Prize.

ALL: PAX!

VOICE 1: Today, we tell some of their stories.

ALL (singing): PAX!

ALL (full voice): THE SCIENCE OF MAKING PEACE!

INSTRUMENTAL THEME + DANCE 12-bar blues PAX! PAX! PAX! The science of making peace is the hardest thing

VERSE 1

Martin Luther King had a dream to share,

Of equal rights and justice everywhere.

He raised his voice, he stood up strong,

For justice when the world was wrong.

He chose non-violence as his way,

And marched for change from day to day.

Years later Malala raised her voice,

For education and for choice.

A school, a teacher, a book to read,

Education was a basic need.

Different voices, loud and strong,

Their call for change still carries on.

VERSE 2

Nansen saw people forced to flee,

Far from their homes and family.

He helped refugees with nowhere to go,

Giving them papers, giving them hope.

Wiesel kept memories alive,

So stories from the past survived.

Mandela spent long years behind a wall,

But chose forgiveness after all.

He saw a nation torn apart,

And chose forgiveness for a new start.

Different stories, different ways,

Their work for peace still speaks today.

CHORUS

The science of making peace

The science of making peace is the hardest thing

VERSE 3

Tutu raised his voice for change,

When equal rights were out of range.

Maathai planted trees with care,

For greener land and cleaner air.

Yunus helped the poor break through,

Giving them new chances too.

Von Suttner wrote Lay Down Your Arms,

A book about war and its harms.

ICAN shared a vision,

No nukes was their mission.

Different stories, different ways,

Different paths to peaceful days.

CHORUS

The science of making peace

The science of making peace is the hardest thing

OUTRO – SPOKEN CHOIR 6 bars

VOICE 1: Different people, different times,

VOICE 2: Different stories, different minds.

VOICE 3: Different voices, different ways,

VOICE 4: Searching for peace through all our days.

ALL: PAX! PAX! PAX!

ALL: THE SCIENCE OF MAKING PEACE!

CHORUS

The science of making peace

The science of making peace is the hardest thing

Lyrics and music by Runa Godø Sæter, Theodor Sæter and 6^th graders at Valderøy Primary School.

PAX 2026

PAX (2026)