Global Call for Papers
First Edition – Healing the World Through the Transformative Power of Pause
The New Generations building the Scientific Literature of the Pausa
VIAHR’s first Global Call for Papers set out to do something that had never been attempted before: to invite a generation of young researchers to lay the scientific foundations for a healthier work culture, and to treat the prevention of burnout and exhaustion as a topic worthy of serious academic research for a more productive society.
Responses came from every continent, bringing together more than 25 nations and many partner universities and student associations. Undergraduate and doctoral students, independent researchers, and professors submitted papers on neuroscience, public policy, technology management, and technology ethics, addressing the same issue from the perspective of their own discipline and their own country.
This page is the record of the VIAHR 2026 Global Call for Papers, first edition,“Healing the World Through the Transformative Power of Pause.”
The Winning Papers
Winner
Tran Nguyen Doan Trang
Vietnam
From Ngủ Trưa to Neural Networks: Vietnam’s Culture of Taking Breaks as a Model for Women’s Empowerment, Restorative Work, and AI-Driven Business Performance.
Finalists
Finalist
Jacob Amedu Peter
Nigeria
Adopting agent-based artificial intelligence to build supply chain resilience in uncertain and disrupted global environments.
Finalist
Dhara Patel
India
Mental Health as Democratic Infrastructure: Why Emotional Well-Being Determines Civic Participation in the Digital Age.
Finalist
Nathan Jay Mercado
Philippines
Neil Shane Ngojo (Co-author) –Philippines
Rest as a Human Right: An Evaluation of Public Policies for Sustainable Work and Mental Well-Being
The conference
The winner of the Global Call for Papers, Tran Nguyen Doan Trang, is welcomed by the Foundation in New York to present her research during the VIAHR Foundation’s International Conference at United Nations Headquarters. The event brings together institutional leaders, academics, and representatives from the private sector to discuss the topic of burnout prevention and the “Culture of Pause.”
Taking a pause is a human right.
Workplace burnout is on the rise, and the culture of exhaustion is no longer sustainable. To improve both employee well-being and company productivity, we believe that the first step in preventing workplace burnout is to take a break. Preventing workplace burnout is not only a matter of health, but also a vital tool for global reconciliation and peace.
Today's culture of overwork is creating a situation in which everyone loses. It erodes individual well-being and, at the same time, harms companies' economic results due to decreased profits, absenteeism, and loss of talent. This call for papers aims to broaden the current discourse, moving from a conflict between "work and personal life" to a synergy in which employee health drives corporate wealth and work-life balance.
The VIAHR Foundation invites students, doctoral candidates, and researchers to lay the scientific foundations for a healthier work culture. Their research will directly support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for good health (SDG 3) and decent work (SDG 8).
The Second Edition
The 2027 Global Call for Papers, “Empowering Human Excellence Through the Culture of Pause,” will open soon on the VIAHR website.
Document Archives
Selection Criteria Guidelines
Learn about the specific criteria for evaluating your presentation.
Ethical Protocol
Information on ethical standards and evaluation table
Global Call for Papers 2026
Full text of the call for applications in English
Founding President
Maria Mendez
