In 2012—parallel to the “classic” colloquium on “Pathways out of growth-driven society”—a new colloquium format exclusively for doctoral and master’s candidates on this key topic of sustainability was initiated. The purpose of this event, which has been taking place annually ever since, is to spark or intensify interdisciplinary discourse among young scholars on pathways toward sustainable development.The colloquiums for young scholars will be continued in the future and will form a focal area of the foundation’s work.

Dates
March 11-13, 2016
March 27-29, 2015
April 4-6, 2014
March 9-11, 2013
March 23-25, 2012

The response to our invitations to participate in the colloquiums is very promising for the future: Roughly 100 students and young scientists from across Germany, but also from universities in Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, and Great Britain apply for the 50 slots available in each colloquium. They represent an impressive diversity of disciplines: economics, natural sciences, engineering, philosophy, education, and cultural sciences.

In workshops—for which we intentionally select participants from different disciplines— attendees present concrete ideas for “post-growth projects” in very creative and accessible ways. A working group from the 2012 colloquium published its results titled “Encouraging sustainability—time and space to experience sustainable and decelerated activities” in the edited volume “Wege aus der Wachstumsgesellschaft” (S. Fischer Verlag, 2013).