Events

25. October 2023, 13:00 until 14:00

Scientists Meet Scientists – TUM-IAS Wednesday Coffee Talks | Seminar Series of European Universities on Sustainability

Seminar

We are delighted to introduce the new Seminar Series of European Universities on Sustainability, in which TU Wien collaborates with various research institutions from Eastern, Southeastern, and Central Europe to discuss topics related to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.

We cordially invite you to join this sem

inar series, where we will collectively explore sustainability-related topics from different perspectives and engage in meaningful discussions.

During each seminar, one scientist of one of the participating institutions will present a sustainability-related research project or an innovative sustainability concept of their institution. The presentation will be given in English, last 20 minutes, and address a broad academic audience, whose professional background covers the full research and teaching range of all participating universities and institutes. After the talk, the audience will have the opportunity for questions and discussion. Before the talk, there will be time (15 minutes) for informal exchange.

On Wednesday October 25, 2023 at 13:00 CEST, the first talk in this series will be delivered by Prof. Eörs Szathmáry on “The three-legged chair”.

Abstract: The problem of sustainability has been likened to a three-legged stool, where the legs are the environment, the economy and society. The seat is knowledge integrating the different components. If there is no knowledge, there is nothing to sit on. If any one leg breaks, the whole chair topples. While we may consider humans as "super-cooperators", we are facing a test the likes of which we have never faced before. Our pressing global problems will either have a cooperative solution or no solution at all. The problem is really big. For a long time, in many areas, the view has held that the future will be essentially be like what the past was. That is now over, and in many areas there has been not linear but exponential change. A further threat is the existence of tipping points, where the system suddenly enters a different state. What is more, systems in transition can be bound together in vicious circles. The biggest problem is that we have little time left for mitigation. I shall illustrate these aspects with examples along the three legs.

To participate, please join the via the following Zoom link:

https://tum-conf.zoom.us/j/97821563422, opens an external URL in a new window 

Meeting-ID: 978 2156 3422

Passcode: 496241

We strongly encourage participation of doctoral candidates as they are the leaders of tomorrow, and they play a crucial role in shaping a sustainable future.

Calendar entry

Event location

The seminar series will be hosted on Zoom, making it accessible to a global audience.
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Organiser

Institute for Advanced Study at the Technical University of Munich (TUM-IAS)
Monika Farsang
monika.farsang@tuwien.ac.at

 

More Information

https://www.ias.tum.de/ias/news-events-insights/events/events-single-view/article/tum-ias-launches-the-new-seminar-series-of-european-universities-on-sustainability/

 

Public

Yes

 

Entrance fee

No

 

Registration required

No