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Crisis research 2025: New ways to cope with apocalyptic scenarios!
Heidelberg University uses CAPAS to investigate the social and political effects of crises, supported by international scientists.
Crisis research 2025: New ways to cope with apocalyptic scenarios!
The CAPAS research college at Heidelberg University specializes in studying the effects of disasters and apocalyptic scenarios. The aim is to understand how such events affect societies, individuals and the environment. This research is conducted in a historical and cultural context and also addresses reactions to apocalyptic events and future plans after catastrophes. CAPAS follows a transdisciplinary approach that integrates a variety of scientific disciplines and enables annual research visits by around ten internationally recognized scientists, artists and activists, such as uni-heidelberg.de reported.
The start of the second funding phase of the project was a workshop on the research focus “biopolitics”. In 2025/2026 the focus will be on the influence of political and social power structures on life and survival in times of crisis. This new focus highlights the need to combine approaches from the political, cultural and humanities with insights from the natural, life and social sciences. In addition, the application phase for the next fellowships begins at the beginning of July 2025. The fellows in 2026/2027 will address the topic of “subjectivity”. The Käte Hamburger Kollegs were set up by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research as part of the “Free Space for the Humanities” initiative to promote transdisciplinary research without the usual obligations of everyday academic life.
Collaboration and publications
Another important aspect in the research community is the “KFS Working Paper” series. These publications discuss theoretical approaches, methodological and conceptual ideas from research projects or internal events at the Disaster Research Center (KFS) at the Free University of Berlin. The published texts are to be understood as “work in progress” but are not subject to any quality assurance procedures. Its goal is to open ongoing work into a broader discussion.
- KFS Working Paper 32: Konflikte und Gewalt in Einsätzen.
- KFS Working Paper 31: Engagement im Zivilschutz und Potenziale zur Einbindung externer Akteure.
- KFS Working Paper 30: Vielfältiges Engagement – Vielfältige Ansätze.
- KFS Working Paper 29: Gesellschaftliche Entwicklungen und Partizipation in Krisen.
- KFS Working Paper 28: Forschung zu Engagement in Bevölkerungsschutzkontexten.
These publications provide a valuable basis for discussing current challenges in disaster research and are examined from different perspectives geo.fu-berlin.de makes clear.
Goals and approaches of the Academy of Disaster Research Center
The Academy of Disaster Research Center (AKFS), which was founded in 2016, is a spin-off of the KFS of the Free University of Berlin and is organized as a non-profit GmbH. The AKFS has set itself the goal of reacting quickly and flexibly to current crises and disasters. It also wants to contribute to the reduction of crises as well as to sustainable development and intercultural dialogue.
The academy views disasters of the 21st century as the result of social developments and political decisions. Therefore, disaster prevention and coping strategies should not only be based on technical solutions, but should also be adapted to the respective social, socio-economic, institutional and cultural conditions. The AKFS advises stakeholders based on the latest research and offers approaches to scientifically accompany and overcome future challenges a-kfs.de explains their vision and strategies.