Science meets society: moving towards sustainable solutions!

Science meets society: moving towards sustainable solutions!

On September 26, 2025, the Catholic University (KU) Eichstätt-Ingolstadt presented its new program booklet, which was published for the fourth time. Under the motto “Share knowledge, shape change” it presents a variety of event tips that are intended to promote exchange between science and society. The events take place in Eichstätt, Ingolstadt and the surrounding region.

The program places a particular focus on topics such as sustainability, digitalization and mobility. Lectures, exhibitions and hands-on activities offer both citizens and scientists the opportunity to actively participate and discuss with one another. The motto “Committed to the city and the countryside” is underlined by the results of the KU’s future barometer, which emphasizes the importance of strengthening the community between rural and urban areas.

Diverse offers for all age groups

The series of events includes a wide range of activities, including science cinema, discussion groups and city walks in Eichstätt and Ingolstadt. These walks aim to discuss regional challenges and find solutions. Particularly noteworthy is a participatory wall design project that aims to promote community and sustainability.

A children's university is offered for the younger generations, which specifically teaches topics such as artificial intelligence, physics and fake news. All offers are in close contact with regional cooperation partners and scientists in order to guarantee the most practical and application-oriented knowledge transfer possible.

Sustainability as a central aspect

In the context of these initiatives, the need for sustainable development in society is also highlighted. The current state of food production has serious negative environmental impacts such as loss of biodiversity and water pollution, as studies by the Federal Environment Agency have shown. In addition, Western consumption patterns lead to health problems that require a more sustainable diet.

The project “Social-ecological transformation of the food system”, which is funded by the Federal Environment Agency, aims to collect and analyze political intervention options. A consortium of various research institutions, including the FU Berlin, is used to develop innovative approaches.

Commitment to a sustainable future in science

In addition, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) supports the transformation towards greater sustainability in universities and research institutions with the help of the “Sustainability in Science” initiative. This promotes innovative projects that offer students the opportunity to actively participate in the climate neutrality of their universities.

The BMBF emphasizes the importance of transdisciplinary approaches to combine scientific findings with everyday knowledge. In this context, real-world laboratories are being developed in which new ideas are tested under real conditions. Numerous projects, such as the hiking coaching program for students, aim to further strengthen the commitment to sustainability at universities.

The initiative also includes a partnership with the University Rectors' Conference to develop a sustainability audit for universities and the founding of the Society for Transdisciplinary and Participatory Research. All of these efforts show how committed scientists and educational institutions in Germany are to developing sustainable solutions for the future and integrating them into their teaching and research.

The KU program booklet is available free of charge in the university buildings and other locations in the region. A digital version and further information about the events are available on the KU website: www.ku.de/wissen-sharing.