From “Who Am I?” to a Happier World: A PhD Student’s Journey in Self-Inquiry and Non-Duality
Embarking on Inner and Outer Exploration I am at the
When I was invited to join the Steering Committee of the Exposome Moonshot Forum, I felt a surge of hope and responsibility. Here was a gathering devoted to one of the most ambitious scientific frontiers of our time – exposomics – and its potential to transform human well-being. As someone devoted to spreading global happiness, I see exposomics as more than a breakthrough in biomedical science. It is a beacon of possibility at the intersection of ethics, global governance, and our collective quest for flourishing. In this op-ed, I want to share a vision of how decoding the “exposome” can help humanity prevent suffering, reduce inequality, and create the conditions for 10 Billion Happy by 2050, fulfilling the mission of Happytalism and the World Happiness Foundation.
What exactly is the exposome? In simple terms, the exposome is everything our bodies are exposed to throughout our lives, from conception to old age. If the human genome is our biological blueprint, the exposome is its environmental counterpart – the sum of all the external and internal factors that influence our health and development. This includes obvious elements like the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat, as well as more subtle influences: the chemicals in our homes and cities, the microbes that live within us, the social and psychological stresses we face, even the noise and light around us.
In other words, the exposome encompasses the totality of environmental, biological, and psychosocial exposures across the human lifespan. It captures nurture in all its complexity, complementing what our nature (genes) provides. Science has long understood that health and disease are shaped by both genetics and environment. Yet after sequencing the human genome, we learned an important truth: genes alone explain only a part of the story. In fact, genomic analysis accounts for only a fraction of the risk for most major disorders. By some estimates, genetic factors explain less than 25% of the variation in common diseases, with the rest attributable to environmental and lifestyle influences. This gap in understanding is exactly what exposomics aims to fill.
Mapping the human exposome is the logical next step after mapping the genome. It means systematically measuring and cataloguing all the exposures that leave a mark on our biology – from trace pollutants in our blood to chronic stress hormones – and understanding how those exposures interact with our genes to shape health, behavior, and happiness. It’s a massive undertaking, but not an impossible one. Advances in technology, from wearable sensors that monitor personal environments to big data analytics and AI, are beginning to make the invisible visible. We can now detect hundreds of thousands of chemical and molecular markers in a single blood sample, each one a clue about an exposure or experience we’ve had. By compiling these clues, scientists envision creating a “Human Exposome Project” – a global effort to map all exposures, analogous to the Human Genome Project, and to understand their effects on human biology.
Why does this emerging science matter so profoundly for human flourishing? Because knowledge creates responsibility. Unraveling the exposome isn’t just an academic exercise; it carries an ethical imperative to act on what we learn. If we discover, for example, that certain air pollutants contribute to childhood asthma or impair cognitive development, are we not morally obligated to reduce those exposures? If chronic loneliness or toxic stress leave biological scars as deep as a virus, can we ignore the social conditions that inflict such wounds?
Exposomics will equip us with unprecedented insight into the environmental roots of suffering. And with that insight comes the duty to prevent suffering wherever we can. Consider the glaring inequalities in exposure that already surround us. Decades of research in environmental health and justice have shown that marginalized communities are disproportionately burdened by harmful exposures – from polluted air and water to hazardous waste and high-stress living conditions. These inequities translate directly into health disparities: higher disease rates, shorter lifespans, diminished well-being. Mapping the exposome will shine a bright light on these injustices, quantifying how and where adversity concentrates. But shining a light is only the first step. We must use that knowledge to drive change.
Ethically, a comprehensive understanding of the exposome commits us to proactive prevention. It means channeling research into regulations and policies that keep harmful exposures in check. For example, if exposomic data identify a new chemical in consumer products as an “emerging contaminant” that disrupts our hormones, governments and industries must collaborate to eliminate or replace it before it can do widespread harm. If we see that urban design – say, lack of green space or excessive noise – is impacting mental health, city planners should treat this as urgently as they would a failing sewage system. The exposome era could usher in precision public health, where interventions are targeted to reduce the specific risk factors affecting a community or even an individual. From tailoring nutrition and lifestyle guidance based on someone’s personal exposure profile, to instituting nationwide policies that clean up air and water, exposome science gives us the tools to act early, at the root, rather than treating diseases after the fact.
There is also an ethical call to ensure this knowledge benefits everyone. We must not allow exposomics to become a luxury of wealthy nations or a tool to deepen inequities. On the contrary, its insights should empower us to close gaps. Imagine if every country, rich or poor, had access to exposomic data on their population’s greatest risks – they could better direct resources to where suffering is most silently rampant. Imagine if every child, regardless of background, grew up in an environment largely free of preventable toxic exposures and full of enriching, healthy influences. That is the promise we must strive for. Every dataset, every discovery in this field should ultimately be measured against a simple question: Does this help reduce suffering and advance well-being for all, across cultures and generations?
Achieving that vision requires more than isolated efforts; it calls for enlightened global governance. Environmental exposures do not respect national borders – pollutants drift in the air and water, climate change affects the whole planet, and best practices in public health need to be shared universally. As we map the exposome, we are in effect mapping the interconnected web of life. Our governance systems must reflect that interdependence.
First, international collaboration is essential in exposomics research itself. Just as the Human Genome Project was a global endeavor, the Human Exposome Project must unite scientists, institutions, and nations. We need common standards for data collection, open sharing of findings, and pooled resources to build the massive databases this science entails. By working together, countries can develop a conceptual framework and governance structure to guide exposome research responsibly. This includes addressing privacy and consent for personal exposure data, setting ethical guidelines for how findings are used, and ensuring that low-income regions are not left behind in research or its applications. A spirit of transparency and equity should permeate the exposomics enterprise from day one.
Secondly, global governance means leveraging exposomic knowledge to inform international policy. We already have treaties and frameworks for issues like climate change, chemical safety (think of the Stockholm Convention on persistent pollutants), and sustainable development. Exposomics can strengthen these by providing hard evidence of how global ills translate into individual harm. For instance, exposomic analyses might reveal previously hidden links between greenhouse gas emissions, nutritional deficits, and public health outcomes – giving even greater urgency to climate action as a health and happiness imperative. By integrating exposome data into the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) tracking, we could measure progress in human well-being in a more holistic way, beyond GDP or single health metrics. Imagine a future annual report to the United Nations that not only tracks economic growth or CO₂ levels, but also reports on the “exposomic well-being” of populations – a composite of environmental quality, social stress indices, and positive exposures (like access to nature and community support). This would be a true measure of whether our global governance is fostering harmony between humanity and our habitat.
Finally, purpose-driven governance at the national and local level will be crucial. Governments can take inspiration from pioneering models – such as the idea of Gross National Happiness championed by Bhutan or New Zealand’s well-being budgets – and incorporate exposome insights into their decision-making. A purpose-driven government in the exposome age would ask: how do our policies impact the real lived environments of people? Are we budgeting for clean air, for mental health support, for safe housing and vibrant communities with as much vigor as we budget for defense or industry? Purpose-driven governance means the goal of advancing well-being guides the use of exposomic data. It also means inclusive leadership: bringing scientists, ethicists, community leaders, and youth to the policy table. The Exposome Moonshot Forum itself is a model of this multi-stakeholder approach, convening experts from 30+ countries to chart a roadmap for exposome science and its integration into society. As I step into this work, I carry a vision of governance that is collaborative, compassionate, and relentlessly focused on nurturing life.
At the World Happiness Foundation, our mission is encapsulated in an audacious phrase: 10 Billion Happy by 2050. It is a rallying cry that by mid-century, we aim to create the conditions for all humanity – and indeed all life – to thrive in happiness and peace. This movement, which we call Happytalism, is about fundamentally reorienting our systems toward well-being. How does the cutting-edge science of exposomics align with this mission? Perfectly. In fact, exposomics provides the empirical backbone for much of what Happytalism stands for.
One of the core principles of Happytalism is systems thinking – understanding that individual and collective well-being arises from a complex web of interdependent factors. We emphasize the interconnection with nature and the planet as fundamental to happiness, recognizing that the health of ecosystems and the health of people are inseparable. Exposomics is, at its heart, a systems science. It looks at the whole system of influences on a person’s life, rather than isolating one factor. It acknowledges, for example, that a child’s ability to flourish can be influenced by anything from the minerals in her local soil to the love or abuse she experiences at home. By measuring these many inputs, exposomics reinforces a truth that Happytalism cherishes: we are all connected, to each other and our environment, and well-being must be approached holistically.
Another key pillar of Happytalism is what we call regenerative well-being. This means creating systems that not only sustain well-being, but actively regenerate and enhance it over time – for individuals, communities, and the planet. We champion policies that address the social, economic, and environmental determinants of happiness, so that prosperity is shared broadly and future generations can thrive. Exposomics can guide such regenerative policies with precision. If we know, for instance, that community green spaces dramatically reduce stress hormones in residents, we have a strong case to invest in urban parks and tree-planting as a regenerative well-being strategy. If we learn that certain traditional diets or cultural practices confer resilience (by exposing people to beneficial microbes or social bonds), we can protect and propagate those positive exposures across generations. In this way, exposome science becomes a feedback loop for improving the environments that in turn improve us.
Compassionate leadership is another principle we uphold – the idea that leaders in all sectors should act as Rousers (to use our term) who catalyze well-being through empathy and wisdom. Armed with exposomic insights, compassionate leaders can make decisions grounded in care for human health and happiness. It might be a tech CEO deciding to limit addictive features after learning about the stress exposome of digital overload, or a mayor prioritizing low-income housing away from pollution sources. Compassionate leadership, informed by exposomics, means every choice is filtered through a simple lens: will this increase or decrease the toxic load on people’s bodies and minds? Will it increase or decrease their opportunities to thrive?
Underlying all of this is purpose-driven governance, as mentioned earlier – governance that treats well-being as the north star. Happytalism envisions governments and organizations that measure success in terms of collective happiness and “fundamental peace” (a state defined by freedom, consciousness, and happiness). Exposomics offers these purpose-driven institutions a powerful new compass. It provides hard data on what policies actually work to enhance well-being in the real world. For example, a government can track how a new public transportation policy is reducing residents’ exposure to air pollution and stress (and improving their life satisfaction) in real time, rather than waiting for long-term health statistics. In this way, exposomics and Happytalism together enable a form of governance that is evidence-based and value-based – using science to serve our highest human values.
What excites me most about exposomics is that it has the potential to transcend the laboratory and become a catalyst for a global flourishing movement. We often think of scientific breakthroughs in terms of new medicines or technologies – important, yes, but confined to experts. Exposomics is different. By its very nature it touches everyone’s daily life and therefore can engage everyone as a stakeholder. It invites collaboration not only among scientists and policymakers, but also technologists, educators, activists, and citizens. In the Exposome Moonshot Forum, for instance, we are bringing together experts in chemistry, biology, public health, data science, ethics, law, and more, alongside voices of indigenous wisdom and community advocacy. This is unprecedented. The dialogue ranges from cutting-edge sensor development to discussions of environmental justice and psychosocial support. In these conversations, I see a new narrative taking shape: one that treats the whole human environment as our shared responsibility and heritage.
Imagine teachers incorporating exposome awareness into their curricula – empowering children to understand how their choices and surroundings affect their well-being. Imagine tech innovators competing to create the best wearable device that can warn you of harmful exposures or suggest healthier alternatives in real time. Imagine urban communities coming together to crowd-source their neighborhood “exposome profile,” identifying local risk factors (like lead in pipes or lack of grocery stores) and then lobbying for change armed with data. In each case, exposomics is a spark that can galvanize action across society. It transforms abstract issues – like pollution, climate change, mental health – into tangible, quantifiable factors that we can track and improve. That creates accountability and motivation. It’s no longer someone else’s problem when you can see, in your own biomarkers, the fingerprint of that problem.
Furthermore, exposomics can deepen our compassion and understanding across cultures. When we recognize that all humans carry an exposome – a lifelong ledger of the challenges and nourishments we’ve encountered – we foster empathy. We begin to see a refugee, for example, not only as someone who endured political conflict, but perhaps as someone whose very biology has been weathered by trauma, malnutrition, and uncertainty. Conversely, we may see a person from a prosperous background and understand how their exposome – rich with educational stimuli, clean air, and social support – gave them invisible advantages. This awareness can humanize our policies and interactions, encouraging us to correct inequities with a sense of kinship. After all, at the exposome level, there is no “us versus them”; we are all vulnerable, all hoping to fill our lives with more positive inputs than negative. In that shared vulnerability lies the seed of global solidarity.
In the 1960s, humanity set its sights on the moon and achieved the impossible. Today, we need to set our sights on something even more profound: a world where happiness, health, and harmony are within reach of all. This is our “moonshot” for the 21st century. Embracing a moonshot mindset means thinking big, acting boldly, and collaborating across every divide. It means not settling for incremental improvements when transformative change is possible. Yes, the exposome is staggeringly complex – millions of interactions over a lifetime – but so was the journey to the moon, and so was decoding the genome. We have risen to great challenges before by harnessing innovation and human willpower. We can do it again, this time to elevate the human condition.
As I join the Exposome Moonshot Forum’s steering committee, I issue a call to action to all stakeholders: let us unite in this grand quest. To scientists, I say keep pushing the boundaries – develop the tools that can decipher the exposome’s secrets, and do so with ethical foresight. To policymakers, I say be courageous – start integrating exposomic evidence into your agendas now, and legislate with future generations in mind. To technologists and entrepreneurs, see the opportunity – a healthier world is the greatest market of all, and your innovations can drive down the cost of well-being for everyone. To educators and communicators, spread the word – cultivate a literacy about the exposome, so that people everywhere can make informed choices and support wise policies. To every citizen, demand and participate in this moonshot – hold leaders accountable to protect your environmental birthright, and join community science projects or advocacy that translate exposomic data into action.
We stand at a remarkable crossroads. The emerging science of exposomics gives us the most detailed map yet of how life’s myriad threads weave into our well-being. The ethos of Happytalism gives us a compass to navigate that map toward a future of compassion, equity, and joy. Now it falls to us – in forums and laboratories, in town halls and classrooms – to use these tools with vision and heart. If we succeed, our legacy will be nothing less than a new paradigm for civilization: one where the pursuit of happiness is informed by science and elevated to a shared purpose; where health is understood holistically and protected vigorously; and where harmony with each other and with nature is restored as the foundation of all progress.
This is our moonshot. Let’s make it a reality. Together, we can chart an exposome of happiness for all, and in doing so, help every individual and community not just survive, but truly flourish.
See you soon at The Exposome Moonshot Forum is an upcoming event dedicated to advancing the Human Exposome Project (HEP), aiming to comprehensively map environmental exposures affecting human health throughout life. Scheduled for May 12–15, 2025, at the Bloomberg Center, 555 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C., this forum will convene over 320 stakeholders from 30 countries, featuring 70 invited speakers across five thematic areas. https://exposomemoonshot.org/organizing/ Fenna Sillé
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