Bridging global paleoscientists: an interview with PAGES Executive Director Marie-France Loutre

The Past Global Changes (PAGES) project was established in 1991, initially as one of the core research projects under the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP) of the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU). PAGES is an international scientific organization that connects paleoscientists worldwide. Over 5000 scientists from >125 countries currently subscribe to PAGES and all interested scientists are encouraged to get involved. In May 2025, the 7th PAGES Open Science Meeting and the 5th PAGES Young Scientists Meeting took place in Shanghai, China. The conferences focused on 'Earth System Changes from the Past towards the Future' and attracted ∼800 experts from >40 countries to attend and communicate. Seizing this opportunity, NSR interviewed Dr. Marie-France Loutre-executive director of PAGES and based at the International Project Office in Switzerland. Dr. Loutre is a Belgian paleoclimate modeling specialist and has been directing the PAGES office for almost 10 years. During our interview, Dr. Loutre provided a comprehensive overview of the organizational structure and scientific initiatives of PAGES. She particularly emphasized PAGES' support for early-career researchers and its commitment to community diversity, while also sharing her reflections and insights from working in an international scientific coordination project.