Lecture series on sustainability and global responsibility
10/06/2026Lectures on sustainable higher education development and local climate action, a climate-themed pub quiz and an anniversary celebration: the ‘Sustainability and Global Responsibility’ lecture series has all this in store for the 2026/27 winter semester.
How can universities become more sustainable? What role do education, engagement and social responsibility play in shaping a sustainable world? The lecture series ‘Sustainability and Global Responsibility’, organised by the WueLAB Sustainability Lab, will explore these and other questions during the 2026/27 winter semester. The series of events is aimed at students from all disciplines, PhD candidates, staff and anyone else interested, and invites participants to discuss sustainability from a range of academic and societal perspectives.
This year’s focus is on the areas of education, engagement and participation. In addition to the lectures, the lecture series provides a space for exchange and networking: following the events, there will be an opportunity to continue the discussions over a relaxed get-together. All sessions count towards additional qualifications at GSiK.
To kick things off, WueLAB will be celebrating its fifth anniversary on 15 October 2026. The anniversary programme includes keynote speeches, a campus tour and a gallery walk through the lab’s transformation experiments, offering an opportunity to come together to celebrate five years of research and teaching on sustainability topics. You can register for the anniversary event here.
On the (im)possibility of transformation
Another highlight is the lecture by Professor Mandy Singer-Brodowski on 9 November 2026. Under the title ‘Kultur(en) der Nachhaltigkeit an Hochschulen und die (Un-)Möglichkeit, die eigene Hochschule zu transformieren' (Culture(s) of Sustainability at Universities and the (Im)possibility of Transforming One’s Own University), she will examine how universities can promote sustainable development and shape institutional change processes.
On 12 November 2026, participants can also look forward to a varied programme centred around the Public Climate School. This includes a lecture, organised by the University of Würzburg’s Career Centre, in which Dr Christian Göpfert, Head of the Climate and Sustainability Unit at Würzburg City Council, will highlight in his talk ‘Klimaschutz und Klimaanpassung in der Kommunalverwaltung – ein multidisziplinäres Arbeitsfeld' (Climate Protection and Climate Adaptation in Local Government – A Multidisciplinary Field of Work), in which he will highlight the role local authorities play in tackling climate change and why interdisciplinary collaboration is essential for effective climate protection.
The programme is complemented by a joint event organised by Würzburg’s universities, THWS and JMU: the climate pub quiz ‘Klima-Check: Wissen. Raten. Gewinnen.' (Climate Check: Know. Guess. Win.), which combines science, sustainability and fun and offers those interested the chance to test their knowledge of climate and sustainability issues.
Time, venue and registration
The lecture series is intended as an open forum for anyone wishing to explore issues of sustainable development. All interested parties are warmly welcome to attend any of the individual events. Please note: the venues for the various events vary, and registration is required for some parts of the lecture series.
Further information and regular programme updates are available on the WueLAB website.
Contact
WueLAB Sustainability Laboratory, wuelab@uni-wuerzburg.de
