Navigating Pathways to a Sustainable Future

Navigating Pathways to a Sustainable Future

From October 28-30, 2024, the University of Münster is hosting the “Navigating Pathways to a Sustainable Future” days. The event series showcases the activities and future development plans of the Innovation Hub for Socio-Ecological Sustainability, and hosts the Research & Innovation Conference “Sustainable Innovations”.

 

Explore innovative strategies to address social and ecological challenges, and network with researchers, educators, and innovators dedicated to advancing sustainability.

 

Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of transformative days dedicated to sustainability and innovation!

 

 

 

Explore and Connect: Meet the Innovation Hub of Socio-Ecological Sustainability

On October 28 and 29, 2024, the University of Münster invites you to explore its Innovation Hub for Socio-Ecological Sustainability in an interactive setting. There is an urgent need for innovative ideas and strategies to enable societies to overcome the complex social and ecological challenges of today and envision pathways for moving into a more sustainable and just future.

At the event, researchers, educators and innovators working in the field of sustainability get the opportunity to gain insight into the elements of the hub, to network and to lay the foundations for further collaboration.

Event's Highlights

  • Introduction of the IH’s perspectives on Socio-Ecological Sustainability
  • Presentation of the Center for Interdisciplinary Sustainability Research (ZIN)
  • Exploration of Sustainability Activities in Research, Education and Transfer
  • Introduction to the Real-World Lab Approach
  • Thematic Networking Events and Collaborative Exchange for Researchers,
  • Lecturers and Innovators

 

Please note that this agenda is subject to changes

Agenda

Monday, October 28 2024

Venue: Castle of the University of Münster, Schlossplatz 2, 48149 Münster

08:30-09:15 Registration & Arrival

09:15-09:45 Welcoming & Introducing

  • Welcome Words by Johannes Wessels (Rector UM)
  • Group Photo
  • Introduction to the Event: Agenda and Organisation

09:45:10:45 What is socio-ecological sustainability?

Doris Fuchs & Tillmann Buttschardt (ZIN, CSOs IH)

10:45-11:15 Coffee Break

11:15-12:30 Sustainability @ University of Münster Panel Discussion

  • Introduction to the Sustainability Strategy of the UM & overview of the fields of action
  • Michael Quante (Vice Rector UM)
  • Sigrid Kannengießer (ZIN, ifk)
  • Bodo Philipp (ZIN board member, IMMB)
  • Rebecca Froese (ZIN, ifpol)
  • Chair: Daniela Pastoors (ZIN, IH)

12:30-14:30 Sustainability@Ulysseus Fair & Lunch Break with posters & information stands

14:30-16:00 From Living Labs to Real-world Labs: Engaging Transformations through Transdisciplinary Practices Interactive Session

16:00-16:30 Coffee Break

16:30-18:00 Connecting the Nodes: Assembling the InnoHub’s Research Network. Interactive Session

  • Facilitated by Tobias Gumbert (ZIN, IH)
  • Input on Thematic Research Groups + Research Themes + Funding Opportunities
  • Exchange in Groups on personal sustainability focus, assessment on trends, connections to other IH and groups at home university

18:00 Walk around the castle & Cheese reception

Tuesday, October 29 2024

Venue: MEET – Münster Electrochemical Energy Technology, Corrensstraße 46, 48149 Münster

09:00-09:15 Welcome and Agenda for Day 2

09:15-10:45 Education for Sustainable Development: Implementing Teaching Innovations for Ulysseus Interactive Session

  • Facilitated by Daniela Pastoors
  • Dealing with sustainability teaching in different dimension:
  • WHAT? – topics, HOW? – social, personal and ecological dimension. WHY? – goal and direct impact of education
  • Introducing examples of innovative courses & teaching formats
  • Exchange about own experiences & good practices
  • Identifying possible cooperations & synergies

10.45-11:15 Coffee Break

11:15-12:45 Exploring the transfer of Knowledge into Practice Interactive Session

Facilitated by Constantina Rokos (WP5, REACH, IH)

  • Key theme: Exploring Knowledge Transfer: Definitions, Processes, and Requirements
  • Focus Areas:
    What constitutes knowledge transfer?, How is knowledge effectively transferred across different sectors? What are the essential factors for successful knowledge transfer?, Understanding Knowledge Transfer in Diverse Context

12:45-13:45 Lunch Break

13:45 – 16:00 Lab visits 

  • MEET – Münster Electrochemical Energy Technology
  • City Lab/Stadtlabor Münster @ Geo1
  • Botanic Garden of the University of Münster – Green School
  • REACH – EUREGIO Start-up Center

10.45-11:15 Coffee Break

16:30-18:30 Guided City Walk on the sustainable Development Goals

16:30-18:30 Parallel: Münster IH Local Steering Committee & Scientific Board Meeting

19:00 Get together dinner & Celebration

Download agenda          Info for participants

More information

Research & Innovation Conference "Sustainable Innovations"

On October 30, join us for a hands-on, practical conference to explore the connections between human societies and the ecological systems they inhabit.​ This event encourages researchers, innovators, and startups to converge and share insights under three focused tracks: Planetary Health, Sustainability & Technology, and Transformative Education. ​ 

Our aim is to foster a collaborative environment where practical solutions and innovative ideas can be freely exchanged. The conference will provide a platform for debate, experiential workshops, and insightful presentations, helping to shape the next steps in sustainable practices across various disciplines.  

Event's Highlights

  • Technology and Sustainability showcase
  • Insights into Transformative Education
  • Interactive Networking Sessions
  • Panel discussions

Please note that this agenda is subject to changes

Agenda

Wednesday, 30 October 2024

Venue: Center for Soft Nanoscience (SoN) Busso-Peus-Straße 10, 48149 Münster

09:15-09:45: Registration & Welcome Coffee
09:45-10:00: Opening & Introduction
10:00-10:30: Keynote Speech Prof. Dr. Dres. h.c. Michael Quante “Moral rights for future human persons? Conceptional worries and ethical concerns”
10:30-11:00: Questions & Thoughts on Socio-Ecological Sustainability
11:00-11.30: Coffee Break
11:30-12:00: Impulse presentations

  • Maritime tourism and well-being of residents: How to foster global health? Senka Šekularac-Ivošević, (UCG)
  • Alfa Labs Project, William O’Gorman, (HH)
  • Willingness to pay for recycled plastics products: a revisited choice experiment, Michela Cessa, (UniCa)
  • Constructing relationships with digital technologies and AI, Merja Alanko-Turunen & Olli Kupiainen, (HH)

12:30-13:30: Lunch

13:30-14:45: Parallel Sessions

Session 1: Environmental Ecosystems
Chair: Tillmann Buttschardt

  • Urban Air Mobility, Minna-Maari Harmaala (HH)
  • From ocean health to human health and well-being: the role of marine protected areas, Cécile Sabourault (UniCa)
  • Assessment of hydrological risks and their management (water retention measures in cities), Martina Zeleňáková (TUKE)
    Innofenso – Entrepreneurship in Agri & Agroindustries, Christophe Vausseur (Innofenso)

Session 2: Sustainable Education
Chair: Daniela Pastoors

  • Irma Kunnari (HH) with insights on Ulysseus Pedagogies
  • Julia Reinhard (HH) with insights on CURATE Ulysseus Satellite Project
  • Andreas Eimer (UM) with insights on sustainability project with German and Ghanaian students
  • Merja Alanko-Turunen (HH) with insights on transformative education
  • Senka Šekularac-Ivošević (UCG) with insights on Maritime Society 5.0: Embracing Newly Emerging Skills and Educational Pathways

Session 3: Tech and Sustainability Synergies
Chair: Matthias Kiel

  • Driving Regional Growth: The Role of Open Innovation, Digitalization, and Spatial Econometrics on Collaborative Platforms, Paulo Moura (UniCa)
  • Greentech Innovations in Early Detection Systems: Catch the Fire! Ana Ašanin (UCG)
  • Siml.ai: Accelerating Sustainability and Innovation with AI-Powered Simulations,
    Branislav Kršák (TUKE)
  • IdEx’s role as a funder of pre-seed/seed-stage start-up projects, Sébastien Biehler (UniCa)

14:45-15:00: Coffee Break

15:00–15:30: Questions & Thoughts on Socio-Ecological Sustainability

15:30-16:00: Closing Remarks and Outlook

Download agenda          Info for participants

Your Contribution to the Program

If you have suggestions for potential startups, researchers, or innovators who might be relevant to our conference, or if you are personally involved in these areas and are interested in participating in a panel discussion or delivering a brief presentation, please reach out to us.  

We invite you to contact us via email with the necessary details outlined below: 

  • Role (Start-Up, Researcher, Innovator):  
  • Type of Contribution: (Panel Discussion/Presentation) 
  • Field of Expertise: 
  • Short Abstract: (Please provide an abstract of no more than 350 words detailing your proposed contribution.) 

More information

Event Organization & Contact

This event is organized by the University of Münster based in Münster, Germany.

The University of Münster, with a 250-year tradition, excels in research and education, offering over 280 degree programs to 45,700 students. Located in student-friendly Münster, it integrates research into teaching, enriching the city’s cultural fabric and promoting sustainable living.

For any queries regarding the organization of this event, please contact the event organizers. Their contact details are stated under the More information section of these events within this page.

Accommodation & Travel information

Accommodation

We reserved rooms for you at 5 different hotels, all highly recommended and well connected (by foot, bus or bike) to the different venues of the event:

We strongly encourage all participants to book their hotels as soon as possible. The reserved rooms will only be available until the above mentioned dates. Please mention the keyword “Ulysseus” and your exact duration of stay when contacting the hotels directly. You will find an overview with details about locations, rooms and prices below.

Browse accommodation options

 

 

Travel Information

Please arrange your own transportation to Münster yourself. If possible, we welcome you to travel as ecologically as possible. Whether you travel by plane, train or automobile, Münster is well connected to Germany’s transportation system. The nearest airport is the Flughafen Münster/ Osnabrück (FMO), which is about 45 minutes away by bus from the main train station in Münster. The airports in Dortmund and Düsseldorf can serve as convenient possibilities as well.

BY PLANE

Düsseldorf (DUS) Airport

The nearest larger international airport is Düsseldorf. There are many direct train connections from Düsseldorf airport (DUS) to Münster main station (Hbf), which take about 1,5 hour. For connections see: Deutsche Bahn.

Münster/Osnabrück (FMO) Airport

Münster airport (FMO) is located about 20 km north of the city center.
After arrival at FMO, there is a regular shuttle bus service to and from Münster main station with the S50 (express bus) and R51 lines operated by Regionalverkehr Münsterland GmbH (RVM).

BY TRAIN

Münster main station (Hbf) can be reached by fast trains (EC, ICE, IC) from almost any destination. Regional trains can be an alternative and are available too. All information of coming to Münster by train is available on the website of Deutsche Bahn.

Important information: your destination is Münster (Westf) (“Münster in Westfalen”). There are other cities in Germany called “Münster” or “Munster”, so please be aware.