Public lecture series
Lecture series discusses solutions for more climate protection as a joint task
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The lectures in the 2025 summer semester are based on the realisation that achieving environmental and climate protection goals is only possible through a joint effort. In order to develop solutions for a sustainable future that benefits everyone, insights from different (specialist) disciplines need to be brought together. The lecture series aims to contribute to this. In addition to well-founded facts, it also offers participants exciting insights into the current research of the participating institutions on the socio-ecological transformation. The lecture series also serves as a platform for discussions on effective solutions from science and society.
The lecture series sheds light on fundamental issues such as the connections between democracy, education, social justice and climate protection. And it also talks about very specific approaches: for example, how green chemistry can help to put an end to the ongoing plastic pollution.
Participants will have the opportunity to engage in dialogue with renowned researchers. The series is aimed at students who can have the lecture series recognised for their studies, as well as anyone interested.
This year, for the first time, BUW teacher training students can also have the lecture series recognised as a module. Julius Merkens, transzent coordinator, adds: "We are delighted to be able to enable even more students to take part as part of their degree programme in the future. By anchoring education for sustainable development in the teacher training programme, this knowledge will be transferred to schools via prospective teachers in the long term."
At the kick-off event "Open data, open debate: participation and information as the key to climate justice" on 6 May at the CityKirche in Wuppertal-Elberfeld, Emilia Blank (Institute for Democracy and Participation Research, BUW) and Joschi Wolf (FragDenStaat) will discuss how democratic participation and access to environmental information can be key levers for climate justice. While Emilia Blank takes a critical look at the role of climate citizens' councils in political decision-making, Joschi Wolf shows how freedom of information rights can be used to make government action in the environmental sector transparent.
All events in the lecture series are free of charge and start at 6 pm on Tuesdays. Registration is not required.
Event overview
- 6 May 2025 - in the CityKirche Elberfeld
"Open data, open debate: participation and information as the key to climate justice" with Joschi Wolf (FragDenStaat) and Emilia Blank (Institute for Democracy and Participation Research, University of Wuppertal) - Kirchplatz 2, 42103 Wuppertal - 27 May 2025 - Lecture hall 13 (Grifflenberg campus of the BUW)
"Green chemistry as a driver for the circular economy" with Prof. Dr Henning Wilts (Wuppertal Institute) and Prof. Dr Adam Slabon (University of Wuppertal) - Building L, Gaußstraße 20, 42119 Wuppertal - 3 June 2025 - Lecture hall 13 (Grifflenberg campus of the BUW)
"Wealth, education, climate crisis - from account to certificate to yacht" with Hans Haake (Wuppertal Institute) and Dr Laura Behrmann (University of Wuppertal) - Building L, Gaußstraße 20, 42119 Wuppertal - 17 June 2025 - at the Wuppertal Institute
"KlimaGerecht - Ökologische und soziale Fragen konsequent verbinden" - Book launch with Prof. Dr Peter Hennicke (Wuppertal Institute & Club of Rome) and Anja Bierwirth (Wuppertal Institute) - Döppersberg 19, 42103 Wuppertal - 1 July 2025 - Lecture hall 13 (Grifflenberg campus of the BUW)
"Climate change & health - ways to a healthy future for people and planet" with Dr Katharina Gröne (Wuppertal Institute) and Prof. Dr Theda Radtke (University of Wuppertal) - Building L, Gaußstraße 20, 42119 Wuppertal
Note for BUW students
The lecture series can be credited to the module "OPB307 Transformation and Sustainability" in the combinatorial Bachelor's programme in the optional area. In the summer semester 2025, it can also be credited for the first time in the teaching degree in the module BIL305 Education and Training. All students are expressly invited to take part in the lecture series. If you have any questions about credit transfer, please email transzent[at]uni-wuppertal.de.
Further information
Lecture series: Climate and sustainability (link to the Students for Future website)
Poster lecture series "Climate Crisis and Sustainability" Vol. 8 (Link to PDF)
Centre for Transformation Research and Sustainability (transzent)
The transzent is a competence centre at the University of Wuppertal, which was founded in 2013 in cooperation with the Wuppertal Institute. It builds a bridge from the university to practice by creating experimental spaces for socio-ecological transformation processes through transdisciplinary research. Its aim is to develop and test transformation solutions that enable a life characterised by social justice, democracy and sustainable prosperity for all within planetary boundaries. In addition to research and knowledge transfer, the insights gained are also incorporated into university teaching in order to sensitise and empower students for the challenges of sustainability transformation.
Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy gGmbH
The Wuppertal Institute is an implementation-orientated research institute with roots in North Rhine-Westphalia and a global horizon. Together with its stakeholders, the researchers shape transformation processes with the vision of creating a sustainable world for all. To this end, they develop science-based solutions for ecological, social and economic challenges: from concrete measures for cities and companies, the state, federal government and EU to impulses for international climate negotiations. The employees always have the big picture in mind and combine future knowledge from various research fields and subject areas.
Students for Future Wuppertal
Students for Future is a working group of Fridays for Future that has set itself the task of bringing the topic of climate justice and sustainability to universities. In this way, the students want to ensure that universities fulfil their social responsibility: Universities are part of the solution for a social transformation towards an ecological and just future. The Wuppertal local group wants to promote this vision at the University of Wuppertal and is committed to the consistent, institutional implementation of sustainability at the BUW. To this end, they initiate cooperation projects with Fridays For Future Wuppertal and various initiatives at the BUW.
Student union of the BUW
The Student Union (AStA) is the executive body and political representation of all students at the University of Wuppertal. It is elected by the student parliament (StuPa) for one year and deals with student concerns vis-à-vis the university management and the state government. It also regularly organises various events.
