© Thomas Mohn

ZIN events

Through the organization and hosting of a wide range of events, the ZIN regularly creates opportunities for exchange, networking, and new perspectives on questions of sustainable development. These events are aimed at different target groups, including stakeholders from local government, business, and civil society, as well as interested members of the public.

The event program includes recurring formats such as interdisciplinary conferences organized in cooperation with the Akademie Franz Hitze Haus and the Münsteraner Klimagespräche (translatable as "Münster Climate Talks") which are co-organized by the ZIN. In addition, the ZIN hosts individual events (such as lectures and dialogue formats) on current topics and pressing issues.

Here you will find an overview of the many events that the ZIN has organized in recent years to strengthen the center’s transdisciplinary work and foster dialogue among diverse stakeholders. Information on all events related to teaching can be found here.

  • Individual events

    • Anniversary symposium “wissen(schafft)zukunft. 10 Jahre interdisziplinäre Forschung zu Nachhaltigkeit” (translatable as “knowledge(creates)future. 10 Years of Interdisciplinary Research on Sustainability”), Münster, 15 April 2026. More information.
    • Digital Cleanup Week 2026, 16–20 March 2026 (event organized by the ZIN initiative FORUM in cooperation with the Sustainability Office of the University of Münster). More information.
    • Contributions to CAMPUS EARTH 2025 – the 4th Sustainability Day of the University of Münster, 14 November 2025. More information.
    • Co-organization of the lecture “Wer trägt die Kosten des Wohlstandes? – Klimagerechtigkeit vor Gericht” (translatable as “Who Bears the Costs of Prosperity? – Climate Justice in Court”) as part of the event series “Klimastress und Klimagerechtigkeit” (translatable as “Climate Stress and Climate Justice”), 21 November 2024. More information.
    • Contributions to CAMPUS EARTH 2024 – the 3rd Sustainability Day of the University of Münster, 8 November 2024. More information.
    • Co-organization of the lecture “Und wir machen trotzdem weiter. Vom Hoffen und Kämpfen in Krisenzeiten” (translatable as “And We Carry On Anyway. On Hope and Struggle in Times of Crisis”) as part of the event series “Klimastress und Klimagerechtigkeit” (translatable as “Climate Stress and Climate Justice”), 29 October 2024. More information.
    • Organization of the interdisciplinary panel discussion “Braucht Freiheit Grenzen?” (translatable as “Does Freedom Need Limits?”) aboard the MS Wissenschaft, 21 July 2024. More information.
    • Contributions to CAMPUS EARTH DAY 2023 – the 2nd Sustainability Day of the University of Münster, 13 October 2023. More information.
    • “Kreislauf-Dinner” (translatable as “Circular Dinner”) organized by ZIN, StadtLabor with vhs Münster, and fairteilbar; opening event of the 2023 Kompost Festival, 17 June 2023. More information.
    • Contributions to CAMPUS EARTH DAY 2022 – the 1st Sustainability Day of the University of Münster, 20 October 2022. More information.
    • Co-organization of the online lecture series “Zukunftsentscheidungen?! Interdisziplinäre Forschung zur Nachhaltigkeit” (translatable as “Decisions About the Future?! Interdisciplinary Research on Sustainability”) organized by ZIN and the Contact Point for Senior Citizens’ Studies, winter semester 2021/22. More information.
    • Co-organization of the panel discussion “Die neue Bundesregierung – fit für die sozial-ökologische Transformation?” (translatable as “The New Federal Government – Ready for the Socio-Ecological Transformation?”) with parliamentary candidates from Münster, 25 August 2021. More information.
    • Contributions to the Public Climate School, the climate strike week at WWU, 25–29 November 2019. More information.
    • Co-organization of the public Brown Bag Lunch “Rohstoffimporte und Menschenrechte” (translatable as “Raw Material Imports and Human Rights”), 7 November 2019. More information.

  • Conferences and Workshops in Cooperation with Akademie Franz Hitze Haus

    Since 2018, ZIN organizes one conference per year in cooperation with the Catholic Academy Franz Hitze Haus, along with additional individual events.

    • “Tugenden als Motor zukunftsfähiger Demokratien” (translatable as “Virtues as Drivers of Sustainable Democracies”), 18–19 June 2026. More information.
    • “Multidisziplinäre Perspektiven auf Wachstum im Kontext Nachhaltigkeit” (translatable as “Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Growth in the Context of Sustainability”), 12–13 May 2025. More information.
    • “Nachhaltige Finanzen und Investitionen – Impact Investing als Ansatz” (translatable as “Sustainable Finance and Investment – Impact Investing as an Approach”), public evening panel, 12 May 2025. More information.
    • “Gerechte Demokratie? Sozialökologische Transformation und Ressourcenverteilung” (translatable as “Just Democracy? Socio-Ecological Transformation and the Distribution of Resources”), 18–19 January 2024. More information.
    • “Die Rechte der Natur ins Grundgesetz” (translatable as “Enshrining the Rights of Nature in the German Constitution”), 1–2 February 2024. More information.
    • “Das Konzept der Bioökonomie im Dialog” (translatable as “The Concept of the Bioeconomy in Dialogue”), interim conference, 20–21 January 2022. More information.
    • “Politik in Zeiten des Klimawandels – Steht die Demokratie einer nachhaltigeren Gesellschaft im Weg?” (translatable as “Politics in Times of Climate Change – Is Democracy an Obstacle to a More Sustainable Society?”), 18–19 December 2020. More information.
    • “Von der Wurzel in die Krone” (translatable as “From Root to Crown”), study day as part of the event series “Zukunft, Umwelt und Gutes Leben. Impulse der interdisziplinären Nachhaltigkeitsforschung” (translatable as “Future, Environment and the Good Life. Impulses from Interdisciplinary Sustainability Research”), 31 January 2020. More information.
    • “Religion, Spiritualität und Nachhaltigkeit” (translatable as “Religion, Spirituality and Sustainability”), study day as part of the event series “Zukunft, Umwelt und Gutes Leben. Impulse der interdisziplinären Nachhaltigkeitsforschung” (translatable as “Future, Environment and the Good Life. Impulses from Interdisciplinary Sustainability Research”), 10 January 2020. More information.
    • Interdisciplinary conference “Transformation zur Nachhaltigkeit. Hindernisse – Wege – Strategien” (translatable as “Transformation towards Sustainability. Obstacles – Pathways – Strategies”), 4–5 October 2018. More information.

  • Münster Climate Talks ("Münsteraner Klimagespräche")

    The Münster Climate Talks ("Münsteraner Klimagespräche") are a recurring dialogue format jointly organized by a consortium of partner institutions. In addition to ZIN, the consortium includes the Evangelisches Forum, Umweltforum Münster e.V., the Advisory Board for Municipal Development Cooperation, the Advisory Board for Climate Protection, and vhs Münster. Each Climate Talk brings together guests from academia and/or practice with members of the public for discussion.

    • “Wie wir Menschen unsere Umwelt verändern” (translatable as “How We Humans Change Our Environment”), 27 April 2026. More information.
    • “Kriege, Krisen, Kollaps – wie kommen wir klar in dieser Welt?” (translatable as “Wars, Crises, Collapse – How Can We Cope in This World?”), 19 January 2026. More information.
    • “10 Jahre Pariser Klima-Abkommen – wie weit sind wir gekommen? Und warum noch nicht weiter?” (translatable as “10 Years of the Paris Climate Agreement – How Far Have We Come? And Why Not Further?”), 13 November 2025. More information.
    • “Die Wärmewende sozial gerecht gestalten – Verantwortung von Kommune und Verbraucher*innen” (translatable as “Making the Heating Transition Socially Just – The Responsibility of Municipalities and Consumers”), 5 June 2025. More information.
    • “Verkehr und Klima: eine schwierige Beziehungskiste. Die Chancen einer klimaschonenden Mobilität im Münsterland” (translatable as “Transport and Climate: A Difficult Relationship. Opportunities for Climate-Friendly Mobility in the Münsterland”), 27 March 2025. More information.
    • “Werden Öl und Gas unbezahlbar? Der Emissionshandel ab 2027 und seine sozialen Folgen” (translatable as “Will Oil and Gas Become Unaffordable? Emissions Trading from 2027 and Its Social Consequences”), 23 January 2025. More information.
    • “Der European Green Deal – was regelt eigentlich die EU?” (translatable as “The European Green Deal – What Does the EU Actually Regulate?”), 18 April 2024. More information.
    • “Wie lassen sich wirksame Hebel für Münsters Klimapolitik finden?” (translatable as “How Can Effective Leverage Points for Münster’s Climate Policy Be Identified?”), 23 November 2023. More information.
    • “Klimaziele durchsetzen – auch gegen Widerstände? Was fördert Bürger*innenbeteiligung?” (translatable as “Implementing Climate Targets – Even Against Resistance? What Promotes Public Participation?”), 21 September 2023. More information.
    • “Motor oder Bremser auf dem Weg zur Klimaneutralität? Die Verantwortung von Wirtschaft und Unternehmen” (translatable as “Driving Force or Obstacle on the Way to Climate Neutrality? The Responsibility of Business and Companies”), 20 April 2023. More information.
    • “Essen macht Klima – Welche Beiträge leistet das Ernährungssystem?” (translatable as “Food and Climate – What Contribution Does the Food System Make?”), 9 February 2023. More information.
    • “Münsters Klimaneutralität 2030 zwischen Ambition und Illusion” (translatable as “Münster’s Climate Neutrality by 2030: Between Ambition and Illusion”), 10 November 2022. More information.
    • “Chancen und Strategien einer Suffizienzpolitik für Münster” (translatable as “Opportunities and Strategies for Sufficiency Policy in Münster”), 15 September 2022. More information.
    • “Wassermangel, Starkregen, Dürre: Wie handeln Münsters Partnerstädte im Globalen Süden?” (translatable as “Water Scarcity, Heavy Rainfall, Drought: How Are Münster’s Partner Cities in the Global South Responding?”), 9 June 2022. More information.
    • “Zukunftsfähig heizen statt Zukunft verheizen: Schaffen wir die Wärmewende in Münster?” (translatable as “Heating for the Future Instead of Burning Away Our Future: Can We Achieve the Heating Transition in Münster?”), 28 April 2022. More information.
    • “Klimakommunikation” (translatable as “Climate Communication”), 7 October 2021. More information.
    • “Klimapolitische Notwendigkeiten und demokratische Mehrheiten – wie geht das zusammen?” (translatable as “Climate Policy Imperatives and Democratic Majorities – How Can They Be Reconciled?”), 22 April 2021. More information.
    • “Quo vadis, Generation Greta? – Politische Beteiligung der jungen Generation zwischen Alarmismus, Klimaskepsis und Apathie” (translatable as “Quo Vadis, Generation Greta? – Political Participation of the Younger Generation Between Alarmism, Climate Scepticism, and Apathy”), 12 November 2020. More information.
    • “Über den Wolken … Flugreisen, unsere individuelle Freiheit und die Verantwortung der Politik” (translatable as “Up Above the Clouds … Air Travel, Our Individual Freedom, and the Responsibility of Politics”), 24 September 2020. More information.
    • “Wie viel Ethik braucht der Klimaschutz?” (translatable as “How Much Ethics Does Climate Protection Require?”), 6 February 2020. More information.
    • “Münsters Klimapolitik und das Pariser Klimaabkommen” (translatable as “Münster’s Climate Policy and the Paris Climate Agreement”), 7 November 2019. More information.

  • ZIN Brown Bag Lectures

    Since 2016, ZIN has organized the interdisciplinary lecture series “Brotzeitkolloquium” (ZIN Brown Bag Lectures) ten times. The series was aimed at students from all disciplines as well as the interested public. During each summer semester, researchers from different disciplines, including numerous ZIN scholars, presented their perspectives on the respective overarching theme of the lecture series. Information on all ZIN Brown Bag Lectures can be found in this archive