Facing the Future:

Human Ecology and Higher Education

„The evidence is clear: the time for action is now. We can halve emissions by 2030.” This is the opening statement of the 6th assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). We live in a world, which is constantly changing through us and with us. It is not just about greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. To live sustainably and in harmony with nature, we need a transformation and transition of our communities today - the time for action is now.

There are already concepts and projects that break new ground and are in the process of finding solutions to our global challenges. Education and higher education are increasingly taking up these approaches for new direction of Bildung, and in human ecology there are excellent attempts worldwide.

We want to get to know and discuss new approaches and concepts together at the 4-day conference, from August 31-September 3, 2022 at the IASS Potsdam. Which concepts and approaches are suitable to support the necessary transformation? Thereby, the systematic consideration of the future of academic and implementation-oriented work, which students need as future agents for successful transition, should not be missing.

The conference is primarily aimed at academics, teachers, researchers, students or practitioners who teach, research or study in an inter- or transdisciplinary way. We welcome all, especially those who want to be active participants in the conference. We invite you to report on research or projects in collaboration with students. We welcome new ways of collaborating with citizens, companies, institutions, etc. that pave solution paths into the future. Conference language is English.

Read the general invitation and take a look to the program.

Information on active participation you will find in the presentation guide. Please use the Program submission form (for abstracts) for any update in your presentation.

Here you can register for the conference.

You are welcome to forward the conference invitation to your networks and universities. Download the general invitation

We invite you to read the personal invitation by Dieter Steiner.

Jointly organized by

European College of Human Ecology (COHE), Berlin, Germany
Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS), Potsdam, Germany

in cooperation with