EPICUR

EPICUR Info Session/Launch Event European Tracks
2022-05-06 16:15 - 17:45 (Europe/Paris)
The EPICUR Freiburg Team cordially invites you to an information session/launch event for the European Tracks on May 06th, 2022 at 04.15pm (CET) at the University of Freiburg (UCF, Max-Kade-Auditorium). The event will be livestreamed for everyone interested!

Add a European component to your studies with EPICUR! – How does that work? EPICUR, the European University Alliance, offers numerous opportunities for students to add courses to their curricula in the areas of sustainability, European Identities, language & culture and many more. The current course catalogue for the upcoming fall/winter semester 2022/23 is now online and interested students can sign up for courses from May 16 onwards. For all those who are interested and want to know more about the courses, the European Tracks and other opportunities in EPICUR education, the EPICUR Freiburg team is offering an info session this Friday, 06 May in the Max-Kade Auditorium 1 at University College Freiburg at 04:15pm (CEST). We cordially invite interested students, but also programme coordinators, potential multipliers as well as potential EPIC Mission stakeholders and the interested public. The event will be live-streamed for interested people outside of Freiburg or people who cannot attend in person.

More info sessions will follow in the course of the next weeks (online).

More information

Join the infosession via livestream here:

Livestream

1st EPICURtalks - Research. Migration flows
2022-04-27 17:00 - 18:00
The EPICUR Alliance cordially invites you to the 1st EPICURtalk Research on April, 27th, 2022 at 05 pm CET

the Ukrainian Refugee Crisis of 2022

with

Michal Buchowski. Professor in social anthropology at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan. He will focus on “War Refugees from Ukraine and Middle East to Poland and Europe (2021-2022)”

Olena Polovynko. Lecturer in philology and Slavic studies at the University of Strasbourg. She will present an overview of the sociolinguistic situation in Ukraine.

The presentation will be followed by a discussion with Sergio Marin Zapata, project officer for EPICUR Research at the University of Haute-Alsace

Zoom link

EPICURtalks Research is a series of short presentations by researchers from the partner universities, who share their perspective on a specified subject.

The EPICURtalks Research series will highlight innovative research projects and topics within the EPICUR partner universities and aims to create a discussion between the participants. The series will travel virtually from partner to partner to ensure the participation of all Epicurians.

The EPICURtalks Research are aimed at early career researchers (doctoral candidates, researchers engaged in postdoc research), as well as established researchers at our universities and faculties.

European university alliances, assets for the European research and higher education areas
2022-04-12 14:00 - 19:00
The European university alliances are at the crossroads of higher education, research excellence and European cooperation. Laureats of the call for projects in 2019, EU-CONEXUS and EPICUR will be used as examples to demonstrate the contribution of European university alliances to:
the convergence of the European Research Area and the European Higher Education Areathe strengthening of collaboration and mobility between different areas of the Union.
This event will also address the positive impact of European university alliances at the local level. The seminar is organised by the University of Strasbourg, in partnership with the European Science Foundation and EuroScience.
Date and place12 April 2022 | 15:00 – 19:00 Amphitheatre Carré de Malberg, Faculté de droit, 1 place d’Athènes, 67 000 Strasbourg
Programme
15:00 – 15:10
OpeningProf. Dr. Michel DENEKEN | President of the University of Strasbourg, Chair of the EPICUR Alliance 15:10 – 15:30
Keynote Role of research, mobility and networking: key challenges for European university alliances Prof. Dr. Alain BERETZ | President of the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) 15:30 – 16:40
Round-table (1/2)European university alliances: challenges of associating both higher education and research What is the added value of the European university alliances to European research? How can European university alliances develop collaborative responses in education and research?
Moderation Prof. Dr. Michael MATLOSZ | President of EuroScience
Speakers Prof. Dr. Michel DENEKEN | President of the University of Strasbourg, Chair of the EPICUR Alliance Prof. Dr. Karen MAEX | Rector of the University of Amsterdam, President of the League of European Research Universities (LERU), member of the Steering Committee of the EPICUR AllianceMr Jean-Eric PAQUET | Director General for Research and Innovation of the European Commission (DG RTD)Prof. Dr. Marc SCHILTZ | President of Science Europe, Secretary General of the National Research Fund of LuxembourgMs Barbara WEITGRUBER | Director general for scientific research and international relations at the Austrian Ministry of Education, Science and Research, co-chair of the European Research Area and Innovation Committee (ERAC) 16:40 – 17:10
Coffee break 17:10 – 18:20
Round table (2/2)European university alliances: new vectors for mobility and networking How do European university alliances offer new opportunities for mobility of students, researchers, and staff? How do European university alliances contribute to networking of scientific communities and geographical regions in education, research and innovation?Moderation Prof. Dr. Véronique HALLOIN | President of the European Science FoundationSpeakersMs Vanessa DEBIAIS-SAINTON | Head of the Higher Education Unit at the European Commission (DG EAC), member of the Bologna Follow-Up Group (BFUG)Ms Astrid HANNES | project manager at the European Regions Research and Innovation NetworkMs Nina HOL | Member of the student board of the EPICUR Alliance, student at the University of AmsterdamProf. Dr. Bogumiła KANIEWSKA | rector of the Adam-Mickiewicz University in Poznań, member of the Steering Committee of the EPICUR AllianceProf. Dr. Jean-Marc OGIER | President of the La Rochelle Université and Chair of the European University EU-CONEXUSMs Mateja ROBIČ | member of Higher Education Division of the Slovenian Ministry of Education, Science and Sport 18:20 – 19:00
Take-home messages and final exchanges
ParticipantsProf. Dr. Alain BERETZ | President of the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Ms Claire GIRY | Director General for Research and Innovation of the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation Prof. Dr. Véronique HALLOIN | President of the European Science Foundation Prof. Dr. Michael MATLOSZ, President of EuroScience Prof. Dr. Jean-Marc PLANEIX, Vice-President for Academic partnerships and governance of the University of Strasbourg, strategic coordinator of the EPICUR Alliance

KTUR-Innovation Day Upper Rhine on April 12 in Strasbourg.
2022-04-12 08:00 - 17:00
The INTERREG project KTUR – Knowledge Transfer Upper Rhine invites you to the Innovation Day Upper Rhine on April 12. Held in Strasbourg and online, this exceptional event is organized by 12 universities in synergy with investment bank Bpifrance’s Deeptechtour to share ideas about the transfer of knowledge and technology in the Upper Rhine valley. Are you passionate about deeptech and health innovation? Are you interested in sustainable development and digital and industrial transition? Then Innovation Day is made for you!On the agenda:• 3 plenaries and 15 workshops with renowned speakers from France, Germany and Switzerland• 3 “Walks of the Best” showcasing award-winning start-ups from the trinational region• The opportunity to network and arrange business meetings with potential project partners.The event is aimed at companies, researchers, entrepreneurs as well as students and doctoral candidates.

The programme is available here and you can register using this link: https://ktur2022.b2match.io/

EPICradle Info Session (online) April 07, 2022
2022-04-07 15:00 - 16:00
Info Session online on zoom

Did you attend one of our EPICamps and are now wondering what the next step on the “EPICUR Pathway to Research” – the EPICradle looks like? Are you an Early Career Researcher considering applying for an EPICradle fellowship in the current Application phase until April 15, 2022? If yes, come join us for this info session!

This informational session aims to explain the concept and application procedure of the EPICradle to interested Early Career Researchers (ECRs), including PhD students, junior professors, Postdocs, junior group leaders through assistant professors, who are planning to apply for an EPICradle. ECRs will have the opportunity to create research projects with the benefits of both funding and institutional support provided through EPICUR.

Hard facts: EPICradles will take place over the course of three months between May and September 2022 and two groups of up to 5 researchers are chosen to work (both physically and virtually) on topics relating to the EPIChallenges (Sustainability, Mobility/Migration/Identity, and the transition of Public Health). There is no limit on the scientific profiles – researchers from all areas and disciplines are encouraged to participate. Participation in an EPICradle is open to Early Career Researchers of various stages, BUT our funding (3.000€ individual stipend + 5.000€ group budget) is limited to Early Career Researchers who are within a 6 year range of their PhDs, unless they can argue particular hardship (parenthood, care responsibilities, other personal reason). As such, EPICradles are an opportunity to prepare a joint research proposal for the last step of the “EPICUR Pathway to Research”, the EPIClusters, offering up to 150.000 € to chosen research groups of ECRs.

Applications for EPICradle are currently open until April 15th, 2022 and must be submitted through the official application portal.

If you wish to join our Info session, please join our zoom meeting here.

Connecting European Entrepreneurial Ecosystems / Workshop 06.04.2022. INVITATION
2022-04-06 13:00 - 14:30
EPICUR is a vital hub for various research, education, and innovation initiatives. As a European international consortium of nine partner universities, we aim to connect European institutions, provide student and staff mobility options, and develop effective and innovative frameworks for collaborations and knowledge exchange.

In our second workshop on connecting entrepreneurial ecosystems, we aim to discuss options to develop an international forum on sustainability with EPICUR student associations, EPICUR university members, and experts on sustainability, climate, and environmental change.

We, therefore, invite interested participants to join us in our participatory event development workshop to create a programme with impactful outreach and value for people and the planet.

ZOOM Event:

Registration

For further questions, please contact Alexander Tittel (alexander.tittel@kit.edu) EPICUR WP5.2 Task Leader

EPICamp V: Sustainable cities and regional transitions
2022-03-31 08:00 - 2022-04-01 17:00
The EPICamp will take place online and is hosted by the BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna. It will take place on March 31th to April 1st 2022, submission deadline for all types of thematic contributions is 7 March 2022, registration is open until 30 March 2022.
Please find attached a PDF version of the Call for Participation
Conference abstract
Rapid urbanisation turns cities into highly dynamic building blocks of sustainable development. Urban sustainability is regularly examined in relation to the living environment, its design, supply of ecosystem services, its appropriation and transformation, both on an object scale (e.g., what do streets or urban green spaces look like, how can they be transformed along the mobility shift and what are their effects) and on a larger scale (e.g., green space provision and green space justice), and includes both immediate and long-term effects of the XXI century crisis such as effects of climate change or the COVID-19 pandemic on societal needs, expectations, and behaviour. Sustainability at the urban scale is thought of not only as an interdisciplinary, cross-cutting issue between different topics like urban landscape planning, mobility, urban environmental justice, or waste management, but also as tightly related to the relationships with the urban hinterland.Cities are already characterised by a relatively low per-capita resource use and emissions as compared to national averages. However, cities also heavily draw on complex supply chains from their national hinterland or from other countries, inducing significant resource use and emissions elsewhere which increases the overall ecological footprint of goods and services consumed by city residents. Considering this spatial disconnection between production and consumption is essential in urban sustainability analysis. Consequently, cities have to be thought of as embedded in their regional rural hinterland, as well as in the wider national and global economy and in a multi-scale and multi-layer ecosystem services system. Promoting local circular commerce and reducing outsourcing of environmental burdens in production chains may allow reducing emissions, ecological footprints, and increasing care for the environment. This EPICamp will identify contemporary challenges and best practice examples for cross-border, interdisciplinary research collaboration.List of keywords and sub-themes (other related topics are welcome):

Relationships between cities and rural hinterland in the context of sustainability
Urban and regional sustainability transition and environmental justice
Urban metabolism, incl. trade and resource footprints
Renewable and efficient energy production
Landscape and urban planning
Green infrastructure, nature-based solutions and human-nature interactions in urban context
Social aspects of urban sustainability transformation and citizen engagement in decision making
Digitization, smart cities and bio-cities
Water and solid waste management, resource use, and circular economy
Urban remediation to recover the land and the original value
Built-environment and land take, incl. land sealing
Sustainable transportation and mobility
Urban climate change mitigation and adaptation
Urban and peri-urban ecosystem services and biodiversity
Public health in urban areas and role of landscape planning, incl. COVID-19 related issues

Early career researchers
Potential participants of the EPICamps should have a general interest in conducting interdisciplinary research and/or working in a transdisciplinary manner with non-university partners. You should have a proven interest in the topic of the EPICamps you wish to attend. However, no previous experience in the field and/or inter-and transdisciplinary work is required.
Based on the format of the barcamp/unconference, the program of each EPICamp will look different and open up opportunities to present and discuss research and projects in mini-thesis presentations, poster sessions, panel or group discussions, etc., but also space for ad-hoc meetings, one-on-one video chats, academic speed dating sessions and methodological exchange.

EPICamp IV: Hydrosphere: Challenges of preserving and using WATER (Eco-)Systems in the Anthropocene .
2022-03-23 08:00 - 2022-03-24 17:00
The EPICamp will take place online and is hosted by the University of Freiburg. It will take place on March 23-24 2022, submission deadline for all types of thematic contributions is February 15 2022, registration is open until 19 March 2022.
Please find attached a PDF version of the Call for Participation
Conference abstract
Addressing the hydrosphere, this EPICamp will look at water (eco-) systems impacted by both natural processes and human intervention. Water is equally a natural and social resource at the core of human existence which in turn has deeply shaped the waters that flow through the Earth. Taking an Anthropocence perspective, we invite a fully interdisciplinary approach – combining ecological, biological, earth, and social sciences – to discuss challenges, opportunities, and solutions for the socio-ecological systems of water.
This includes thinking about sustainable management of water resources, the preservation of biodiversity, the ecosystem functioning for healthy societies but also the interconnection between the environment and cultural identities, such as the conservation of traditional ways of life and the creation of resilient economies based on water(s).
Aquatic ecosystems are fragile and sentinel systems of reckless human-induced global change. In the future, they are likely to become even more fragile in terms of ecosystem functions and services. Human-induced environmental changes including elevated greenhouse gases, over-fertilization of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, habitat fragmentation, increasing extraction of resources from terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and the mass production of harmful substances worldwide all negatively affect ecosystem functioning, global natural cycles, and biodiversity. They also have long-term consequences on the human health and the viability of entire communities. Therefore, it will be a precondition to identify the complex interplay of local and global human actions which lead to local environmental impacts and adaptation. Considering far-reaching challenges related to the global changes we are facing, this EPICamp will integrate knowledge on adverse human impacts on the ecosystems formed by lakes, rivers, water sheds, marshes, and marine waters. It will stimulate discussion on adaptive and mitigation efforts against these challenges, identifying solutions which provide a balance between satisfying human needs and ecosystem demands. In order to balance the natural / engineering sciences with more human-centred approaches, this EPICamp in particular invites scholars from the emerging field of Environmental Humanities. The EnvHum address ecological and sustainability-related issues through historical, political and cultural lenses to aid in the development of appropriate forms of resilience and sustainability as well as their communication to society.
Potential subthemes include but are not limited to:

Hydrology and ecosystem adaptation
Water as a source of life and change
Inland waters – pollution, restoration and management
Community activism for water protection: sociological & natural science perspectives
History(ies) of Waterways and Water Bodies: from local cases to global challenges
Changes in human metabolism, connectivity and the effects on aquatic systems
Scaling up or Scaling Down: impacts of global environmental change on the hydrosphere
Balancing human needs and ecosystem demands: sustainable management of water resources
Global water cycles: arctic waters and climate change, marine waters and pollutionEPICUR-Research EPICamp IV Hydrosphere Page 2 on 3
Hydrological extremes: challenges of intensifying droughts and floods
Masses of water, water of the masses: land use, forests and human settlement
Socio-ecohydrological systems in the tension between natural processes and human intervention
Multi-functionality of aquatic systems to conserve biodiversity and ecosystem functions
The fragility of water body’s ecosystem functions: surface and groundwater systems
Scarcity, migration, war: the economics and politics of / for water
Water science & engineering: technological innovation, ecological challenges and social impact

Early career researchers
Potential participants of the EPICamps should have a general interest in conducting interdisciplinary research and/or working in a transdisciplinary manner with non-university partners. You should have a proven interest in the topic of the EPICamps you wish to attend. However, no previous experience in the field and/or inter-and transdisciplinary work is required.
Based on the format of the barcamp/unconference, the program of each EPICamp will look different and open up opportunities to present and discuss research and projects in mini-thesis presentations, poster sessions, panel or group discussions, etc., but also space for ad-hoc meetings, one-on-one video chats, academic speed dating sessions and methodological exchange.

EPICUR course proposals. Info session for teachers - Focus: European identities
2022-03-09 15:00 - 16:00
This information session aims to explain the concrete steps to propose a course, the selection process, feedback from teachers and students who have participated in these courses, the content of the European identites and answer any questions you may have.

You can join the session by logging on to the EPICUR Campus or by finding the Zoom link here

For our 2022-2023 offerings, we particularly welcome course proposals that enable students to complete a European Track. These include:

Interactive, engaging, and student-centered courses in Natural and Societal Sustainability, preferably pertaining to one or more of the following pilot challenge areasInteractive, engaging, and student-centered courses in European Identities, preferably pertaining to one or more of the following pilot challenge areaInteractive, engaging, and student-centered courses fostering Key Competences

With this call for course proposals, we invite instructors at the EPICUR partner institutions to propose courses that would fit one of our three pilot themes by 21 March 2022.

EPICUR course proposals. Info session for teachers - Focus: Key competences
2022-03-08 15:00 - 16:00
This information session aims to explain the concrete steps to propose a course, the selection process, feedback from teachers and students who have participated in these courses, the content of the Key competences and answer any questions you may have.

You can join the session by logging on to the EPICUR Campus or by finding the Zoom link here

For our 2022-2023 offerings, we particularly welcome course proposals that enable students to complete a European Track. These include:

Interactive, engaging, and student-centered courses in Natural and Societal Sustainability, preferably pertaining to one or more of the following pilot challenge areasInteractive, engaging, and student-centered courses in European Identities, preferably pertaining to one or more of the following pilot challenge areaInteractive, engaging, and student-centered courses fostering Key Competences

With this call for course proposals, we invite instructors at the EPICUR partner institutions to propose courses that would fit one of our three pilot themes by 21 March 2022.

EPICUR course proposals. Info session for teachers - Focus: Sustainability
2022-03-07 15:00 - 16:00
This information session aims to explain the concrete steps to propose a course, the selection process, feedback from teachers and students who have participated in these courses, the content of these different themes and answer any questions you may have.

You can join the session by logging on to the EPICUR Campus or by finding the Zoom link here

For our 2022-2023 offerings, we particularly welcome course proposals that enable students to complete a European Track. These include:

Interactive, engaging, and student-centered courses in Natural and Societal Sustainability, preferably pertaining to one or more of the following pilot challenge areasInteractive, engaging, and student-centered courses in European Identities, preferably pertaining to one or more of the following pilot challenge areaInteractive, engaging, and student-centered courses fostering Key Competences

With this call for course proposals, we invite instructors at the EPICUR partner institutions to propose courses that would fit one of our three pilot themes by 21 March 2022.

3rd EPICamp “Collective identities and/or European identities”
2022-02-25 08:00 - 2022-02-26 17:00
The EPICamp will take place online again and is hosted by UHA. It will take place 25/26 February 2022, submission deadline for thematic contributions is 7 January 2022, registration is open until 20 February 2022. If you would like to present a poster or do a mini-presentation, please reach out to us at epicur-research@mail.uni-freiburg.de The full programme will be announced later
Please find attached a PDF version of the CfP.Here is the link to the application form: https://forms.office.com/r/9rtUuTiFJh

Conference abstract
One societal challenge that EPICUR Research addresses is the importance of “(European) identities”. Yet what does that mean and how can we transform this politically charged term into a scientific object? Culture is a main repository of available identities within a given space, and developing a shared identity is a prerequisite for the proper functioning of social and political institutions such as the European Union. Financial solidarity means to pay for other nations and this requires sharing a common sense of belonging. That is why European parliamentarians and commissioners regularly invoke European identity. In a time in which the European idea has come under much scrutiny, this EPICamp will provide a space to develop new approaches to European identity. Instead of invoking a hypothetical singular European identity, we propose to use interdisciplinary and international advances on collective identities in general, including non-European identities, to challenge and rethink this basis of community as well as social and political action. Through comparing our ways of understanding collective identities (disciplines, research fields, theories, methodologies, results), we will hopefully reach new conclusions and best practices for Europe.
Early career researchers
Potential participants of the EPICamps should have a general interest in conducting interdisciplinary research and/or working in a transdisciplinary manner with non-university partners. You should have a proven interest in the topic of the EPICamps you wish to attend. However, no previous experience in the field and/or inter-and transdisciplinary work is required.
Based on the format of the barcamp/unconference, the program of each EPICamp will look different and open up opportunities to present and discuss research and projects in mini-thesis presentations, poster sessions, panel or group discussions, etc., but also space for ad-hoc meetings, one-on-one video chats, academic speed dating sessions and methodological exchange.
Call
Please check out our Call for Participation and follow us on twitter for regular updates on upcoming EPICamps regarding European Culture, Sustainability and more. Applications are due January 17.

Conference: "Europe of the future, what challenges?" on 13 and 14 January.
2022-01-13 08:00 - 2022-01-14 17:00
As part of the upcoming French Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the University of Strasbourg, in partnership with the Franco-German University, is organising a hybrid event entitled “Europe of the future, what challenges? on 13 and 14 January at the Château de Pourtalès in Strasbourg.

These two days will be an opportunity to address a wide range of issues relating to the future of the European Union: multilingualism and identities in Europe, scientific issues, economic recovery and technological innovation, Franco-German cooperation…

Conference, round table, workshop; the plurality of the programmed formats aims to encourage the exchange and mutual enrichment between scientific experts, professionals, PhD students and students.

For more information and to register, please contact Thibault Delabarre: tdelabarre@unistra.fr

Upcoming programme

A4-Conférence-co-organisée-par-lUnistra-et-le-lUFA-13-14-janvier-2022-Affiche

EPICradles. Online info session
2021-12-16 10:00 - 11:00
Online Info Session on the EPICUR Pathway to Research10-11 am (CEST) Zoom. https://forms.office.com/r/4mMMQDfJJY

Did you attend one of our EPICamps and are now wondering how the “EPICUR Pathway to Research” continues? If yes, come join us for this info session!

This informational session aims to explain the “EPICUR Pathway to Research” to interested early career researchers (ECRs), including late-stage PhD Candidates and PostDocs. EPICradles, building on the EPICamps, are the second step of our EPICUR Pathway to Research and give ECRs the opportunity to strengthen their research collaboration, develop skills and tools for inter- and transdisciplinary research, and engage with experts in the field. It will allow ECRs to create potential research projects with the benefits of both funding and institutional support provided through EPICUR.

Hard facts: EPICradles will take place over the course of three months (2nd/3rd quarter of 2022) and two groups of up to 5 researchers are chosen to work (both physically and virtually) on topics relating to the EPIChallenges (sustainability, mobility, migration & identity, and the transition of public health). As such, EPICradles are an opportunity to prepare a joint research proposal for the last step of the “EPICUR Pathway to Research”, the EPIClusters, offering up to 150.000 € to chosen research groups of ECRs.

If you wish to join us, please sign up for our info session here: https://forms.office.com/r/4mMMQDfJJY

2nd EPICamp "Sustainability, material use and climate justice"
2021-12-02 08:00 - 2021-12-03 17:00
In order to tackle the climate crisis and to enable a sustainability transformation, we need to recognize planetary boundaries and adapt our demand accordingly while considering intra- and intergenerational justice. A sustainability transition is required, away from fossil fuel use towards a circular bioeconomy, where limited resources such as land and raw materials are used carefully and in a way that intra- and intergenerational justice at multiple social and spatial scales is assured. The resulting societies, and their production and consumption patterns, are envisioned to rest on renewable resources (biomass, wind, solar, hydro, etc.) and on non-renewables (like metals or sand) that are used only in a circular manner and within planetary boundaries. But this transition entails changed resource requirements potentially resulting in new sustainability concerns regarding the expected additional pressure on land ecosystems (for biomass production as well as surface area for conservation or infrastructure etc.) which are already in competition with provisioning for agricultural, forestry, infrastructural, and settlement needs, as well as competing with challenges of biodiversity conservation and human well-being more broadly.
Questions arise not only about how such a transition can be achieved, but also which justice implications are entailed to different societal groups.
Traditionally, large scale transformation scenario modelling has paid little attention to equity and justice questions at the national and, in particular, the sub-national scale. Here, strong commitments to rapidly curb greenhouse gas emissions by transitioning to a decarbonized economy meet with local efforts to address the impacts of climate change. Consequently, climate action needs to be tackled in accordance with resource use (energy, materials, land) and socio-economic drivers accounting for regionally and internationally specific justice concerns.

Get access to the programme

List of keywords and sub-themes:

Social metabolism as key to understand the material and energy underpinnings of sustainability
Land-use changes within planetary boundaries that support a bioeconomy
Climate change and climate justice: inter- and intragenerational perspectives
Material wealth, services, sufficiency, and equity
Ecosystem impact of human activities incl. climate change
Energy and sustainability transitions
Trade and teleconnections in the course of sustainability transformations
Sustainable agriculture and forestry, incl. agroforestry
Afforestation and Reforestation of marginal lands
The role of agriculture and forestry combating climate change
Supporting biodiversity conservation and ‘non-material’ human well-being in context of conflicting demands on land

Early career researchers

Potential participants of the EPICamps should have a general interest in conducting interdisciplinary research and/or working in a transdisciplinary manner with non-university partners. You should have a proven interest in the topic of the EPICamps you wish to attend. However, no previous experience in the field and/or inter-and transdisciplinary work is required.

Based on the format of the barcamp/unconference, the program of each EPICamp will look different and open up opportunities to present and discuss research and projects in mini-thesis presentations, poster sessions, panel or group discussions, etc., but also space for ad-hoc meetings, one-on-one video chats, academic speed dating sessions and methodological exchange.

Call

Please check out our Call for Participation and follow us on twitter for regular updates on upcoming EPICamps regarding European Culture, Sustainability and more. Applications are due November 15.

If you have any questions, please contact: epicur-research@mail.uni-freiburg.de

EPICUR Forum & Festival 2021
2021-11-24 09:00 - 2021-11-26 18:00
The EPICUR Alliance is organizing its second public FORUM!

The 2nd Annual EPICUR FORUM, hosted this year by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, will take place virtually, on the 24 – 26 November 2021.

The objective of the Forum is to engage all 8 University communities in passionate activities & exchanges around topics which are directly linked to the activities of the EPICUR Alliance. This year’s Forum aims at gathering together students and staff members from our universities around different activities dedicated to the topics of Innovation & Inclusion. In the frame of this year’s Forum, there will be various formats addressing different topics, themes and audiences in an interdisciplinary and intercultural fashion.

The registrations to the Forum are now open. you can sign up now and have a look at our rich and diverse programme!

More information

Registration form

Short overview of the programme

"How Bilingualism Changes Minds" LAS lecture by Prof. Ellen Bialystok
2021-10-21 18:00 - 19:00
Participate in the first online lecture in the LAS (Liberal Arts & Sciences) Invited Lectures in Bilingualism and Multilingualism series, which will take place on October 21 at 6:00 pm on the zoom platform.

Everyone can attend, but you need to register.Registration link: https://forms.office.com/r/0UGaWVBtvh

This will be the inaugural lecture of the IAS Invited Lecture Series in Bilingualism and Multilingualism organised by the Faculty of English and Bilingualism Matters@Poznań in 2021-22.

IAS_ulotka_3_FINAL

COURSE. Intercultural Understanding in the Euro-Mediterranean Region (KIT). Info session
2021-10-16 10:00 - 10:30
Intercultural Understanding in the Euro-Mediterranean Region

Feel free to join us for the information session and decide afterwards if you want to participate. Please register here before the information session, so that we can provide you with the link. The registration becomes binding only after this first session. During the information session (Sat, 16. Oct 21 10:00 on zoom) we will provide you with an overview on the online format, with information how to register on the online platform and on the requirements to receive 1 credit point.

Start: Wednesday, 27th October 2021, 15:00-16:30Online (in English)

The online course aims to provide insights into the mutual perceptions of people from different European and Southern and Eastern Mediterranean (SEM) countries. Using concrete examples, this video-based and interactive course enables participants to discuss their own and common identities, values and fears, as well as the influence of religion on their views and of different media on their opinions, and to discuss effective measures to combat radicalisation and to live better together in multicultural cities and societies with peers from other cultures. Participants learn to adopt other perspectives; they acquire and test important intercultural competences and train their English discussion skills. The course duration is 4 weeks, with an estimated time commitment of 2-3 hours of self-study per week. One module will take place each week (4 modules in total). In addition, two online meetups (90 mins) will be organised to facilitate further real-time small group discussions among participants (27 October and 10 November 2021). The course is jointly organised by the Anna Lindh Foundation and UNIMED.Referent:Eleonora Insalaco, Racha Omeyri

Learn more about the course in this video!Seminar dates and registration: https://www.zak.kit.edu/anmeldung.php/event/44715?

Contact: swenja.zaremba@kit.edu

EPICUR-RESEARCH // First EPICamp in October 2021: “Mobility, Migration, Multilingualism”
2021-10-15 08:00 - 2021-10-16 17:00
The EPICUR team is pleased to be able to organise three EPICamps this year in the context of EPICUR Research; the first of them “Mobility, Migration, Multilingualism: Shaping European Identities and Languages Past and Present” organised by Freiburg/Poznán/Strasbourg will take place on October 15/16, 2021. EPICamps are virtual, interactive events aimed at Early Career Researchers from the EPICUR alliance in order to create a space for exchange, collaboration and academic matchmaking between scholars from different disciplines and research areas. Researchers from all – especially early – career stages, from all disciplines and from all partner institutions can participate.

Potential participants of the EPICamps should have a general interest in conducting interdisciplinary research and/or working in a transdisciplinary manner with non-university partners. You should have a proven interest in the topic of the EPICamps you wish to attend. However, no previous experience in the field and/or inter-and transdisciplinary work is required.

Based on the format of the barcamp/unconference, the program of each EPICamp will look different and open up opportunities to present and discuss research and projects in mini-thesis presentations, poster sessions, panel or group discussions, etc., but also space for ad-hoc meetings, one-on-one video chats, academic speed dating sessions and methodological exchange. Please check out our first Call for Participation [insert link] and follow us on twitter for regular updates on upcoming EPICamps regarding European Culture, Sustainability and more.

If you have any questions, please contact: epicur-research@mail.uni-freiburg.de

Mobility, Migration, Multilingualism:

Shaping European Identities and Languages Past and Present

EPICUR’s first EPICamp will take place 15/16 October 2021 fully online. The EPICamp will be an immersive experience bringing together researchers, non-university partners and from our eight partner universities and beyond.

Mobility, migration, and multilingualism have shaped and challenged European society(ies) for centuries; from the middle ages to contemporary times, movements of diverse population groups have changed the production and communication of knowledge and impacted linguistic, social, cultural as well as economic and political systems. The first EPICamp of 2021 will take place under the umbrella of the EPIChallenge “Mobility, Migration, Identity”, bringing together scholars from a broad spectrum of disciplines and fields so as to invite multiple perspectives on these topics.

From the impact of exploration and expansion by early elites to the many forms of voluntary as well as forced migration throughout the past centuries, Europe’s peoples have shaped and been shaped by the interactions with global forces as much as by inner-European movements. Many issues that affect our European Society(ies) today mirror developments which have recurred throughout Europe’s long and complex history, creating linguistic and socio-cultural (e.g. ethnic, religious) plurality. This in turn engendered manifold forms of governing institutions and economic systems to address and steer such plurality. Trends and attitudes towards migration, mobility, and multilingualism observed today can be traced back to the past that in turn foreshadowed the present. Encouraging a broad dialectical dialogue identifying new interdisciplinary research, scholars hailing from medieval studies to modern linguistic research and current social studies are invited to explore intersections of past and present.

The EPICamp will offer thematic subsections within the broad range of topics and disciplines, including (but not limited to) medieval studies, linguistics, history, sociology, cultural studies, philosophy and law:

Subsection: Movement, Diversity, Language  Subsection: Knowledge in Motion Subsection: Migration, Language, Identity  Subsection: Language Acquisition and Development Subsection: Migration, Multilingualism, Educational Systems Subsection: Multilingualism, Emotions, Identity

For more information, please consult our website on EPICamps or the Call for Participation.

Applications are due September 15. Registration is open until October 5, 2021.

EPICUR celebrates multilingualism! At the University of Strasbourg
2021-09-25 13:00 - 18:00
Under the scope of the EPICUR European University Alliance, the University of Strasbourg wishes to bring together experts, teaching and administrative staff, students and high school pupils for an afternoon of exchange on issues related to multilingualism. This event is planned on the eve of the European Day of Languages organised by the Council of Europe every 26 September.

The event consists in a plenary session with introductory speeches from various institutional personalities, and a presentation of the first results of the questionnaire on students’ incentives to learn foreign languages, followed by two sessions happening simultaneously:

On the one hand, a workshop aimed at EPICUR students and French high school students will allow them to discuss in groups around students’ motivation to learn foreign languages. On the other hand, a workshop-conference will take place, where researchers, experts, teachers and staff will be able to give presentations followed by discussions on multilingualism topics encountered daily in EPICUR, namely the management of multilingual and multicultural classrooms and the role of English in higher education.

For any questions, please contact multilingualism@epicur.education

EPICURmaps - Invitation to a Prototype Validation Workshop
2021-09-14 09:00 - 16:30
Within EPICUR, we took the challenge to develop a web-based solution that could be helpful for you and your organization! With EPICURmaps we aim to connect stakeholders from different European countries and foster collaboration, entrepreneurial activities, and innovation.
This exciting product is now in the prototype phase, and we need your help to validate its functionalities, features and requirements for a successful launch. For that, you are warmly invited to our EPICURmaps Validation Workshop to help us with your feedback, to improve our tool, and become a part of the EPICUR network.
As a student, entrepreneur, or professional you can take the first steps towards our goal: connect with people from six European regions with a common interest: “Sustainable Entrepreneurship” and have the chance to expand your personal and professional network
Find the schedule according to your role below and register to our online workshop on Sept. 14th!

Students: 09:00-10:30 CET (open for all fields of studies)
Entrepreneurs: 13:00- 14:30 CET (Interest in Sustainable & Responsible Entrepreneurship)
Professionals: 15:00- 16:30 CET (e.g. HR/int. R&D, Marketing/Network Management etc.)

Click here to register

Registration is open until Sept. 10th 2021. For further questions, please contact Alexander Tittel (alexander.tittel@kit.edu)

Launch of the EPICUR European Model Language Policy
2021-09-09 15:00 - 17:00
The language policy launch will be a hybrid event and will feature the “unboxing” of the EPICUR European Model Language Policy. The 9 September 15:00 CEST.

After signing a joint statement on Multilingualism, the EPICUR alliance has been working hard to develop the first-ever European model language policy for European universities which will be presented during a hybrid event.

The launch event is open to all European universities and public institutions and will feature the “unboxing” of the EPICUR European Model Language Policy by EPICUR student and staff representatives.

The model language policy aims to offer a framework in which linguistic and cultural inclusiveness, diversity and accessibility within higher education institutions is highlighted at both the institutional as the European universities alliance level. It also contains a range of best practices and examples from EPICUR universities and European universities alliances on the implementation and promotion of multilingualism in the fields of teaching & learning, research, governance and communication.

The University of Amsterdam is happy to host the launch event as the coordinating partner on the theme of Multilingualism & Inclusive Governance within the EPICUR alliance. The European model language policy will be made available on the EPICUR website during the launch event. You can register via this link, if you wish to receive more information and an invitation to the launch event.

EPICUR Internship Programme - info session
2021-09-08 13:00 - 14:30
Please register for the Info Session by Monday, September 6th, 2021 via email at internships-epicur@intl.kit.edu.

Are you EPICurious to gain practical experiences abroad through an internship in an enterprise or in a civil society organisation?Are you looking for opportunities to broaden your horizons and improve your intercultural skills?Would you like to gain work experience in an international environment?Then the EPICUR Internship Exchange Programme might be right for you!

What is it about?

The EPICUR Internship Exchange Programme is an EPICUR mobility programme offering advanced bachelor and master´s students the opportunity to complete a cross-border exchange in one of the 8 EPICUR universities’ locations*Participants from all degree programmes are welcome to apply (depending on the position requirements)Internships are offered at private enterprises as well as civil society organisations (to be completed as a civic engagement activity)Internships and civic engagement activities can be arranged on an individual basis between February and June 2022 with a minimum duration of 2 months

* In the upcoming run, internship positions are available in the regions of Karlsruhe, Vienna, Poznan, Strasbourg and Thessaloniki.

Learn more about the EPICUR Internship Exchange Programme and how to apply in the online information session taking place on September 8th from 13h00 – 14h30 (CET)!

Please register for the Info Session by Monday, September 6th, 2021 via email at internships-epicur@intl.kit.edu.

Please note that for the upcoming round positions will primarily be offered as physical internships. If required, virtual internships may be possible in consultation with the providing organisations.

PhD Exchange Programme - info session
2021-09-07 13:00 - 14:30
Please register for the Info Session by Monday, September 6th, 2021 via email at phd-epicur@intl.kit.edu.
Be EPICURious – be an Explorer!

Are you EPICurious to gain first-hand interdisciplinary research experience with world-leading experts and access to research infrastructures at other European universities?
Are you looking for opportunities to develop intercultural competence and other transversal skills through additional training to support and complement your research expertise?
Would you like to expand your research networks and enhance your CV?
Then the EPICUR PhD Exchange Programme might be just the thing for you!

What does the programme offer?

The PhD Exchange Programme – Research, Training and Skills Development is an EPICUR mobility programme offering PhD candidates the opportunity to complete a cross-border exchange in one of the 8 EPICUR universities’ locations.*

Programme participants from all research fields are welcome (depending on the position requirements) and will be involved in current research projects at the providing research institutes (at the EPICUR university or in its region)

Programme participants will be invited to participate in virtual workshops on the topic of intercultural competence and other additional skills to support and complement research expertise (not mandatory)

Participants will be assigned a mentor at the receiving institute to provide ongoing guidance and support

The exchanges will take place between February and July 2022 with a minimum duration of 2 months

Participants may have the option to complete the exchange on site, virtually, or in a blended format (in consultation with the hosting research institutes)

* During the 2022 pilot run, exchange positions may not be available in all locations.

Learn more about the EPICUR PhD Exchange Programme and how to apply at the online Info Session on September 7th, 2021 from 13h00 – 14h30 (CET)!Please register for the Info Session by Monday, September 6th, 2021 via email at phd-epicur@intl.kit.edu.

EPICURtalks - SUMMER SOCIAL (postponed)
2021-07-06 17:30 - 18:30
The EPICUR Alliance cordially invites you to its EPICURtalks SUMMER SOCIAL on July 6th, 2021, at 5.30pm (CET)

Register now until July 5th. Please RSVP to: k.kiefel@zv.uni-freiburg.de or register directly via the EPICURtalks group on the Community Platform

As temperatures rise and semesters close in our partner universities, our EPICURtalks – Series also heads for a summer break. But before we all head off to well-deserved vacations, the EPICURtalks ends its first successful semester with a less formal gathering: EPICURtalks first ever virtual apéro. This event will be an opportunity to exchange with colleagues from all partners about the semester, the EPICURtalks you have attended throughout the semester, and perhaps even find partners for future collaborations in EPICUR.

The Freiburg EPICUR team will organize some joint activities to jump start networking and exchange and then leave a lot of space for interaction and individual conversations.

Finally, the EPICUR team at University of Freiburg, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and Aristotle University have been hard at work to create an EPICUR Community of Teaching & Learning for teaching and educational staff. The EPICURtalks Social will be an opportunity to catch a first glimpse of this exclusive repository for didactic treasures.

While you have to bring your own apéro, we will certainly bring the entertainment. To set the mood, we also provide a few of our EPICouch backgrounds and invite you to share your favorite insider tips for summer vacationeers on our scrumblerboard.

To join our EPICUR Community Platform, follow these 3 steps:

Login to EPICUR Inter-University Campus (EIUC)Join the CommunityJoin the EPICURtalks group

Register now until July 5th. Please RSVP to: k.kiefel@zv.uni-freiburg.de or register directly via the EPICURtalks group on the Community Platform

Pros and cons of distance learning. An interdisciplinary perspective.
2021-06-22 08:00 - 2021-06-23 17:00
The last year and a half of struggling with the coronavirus made it necessary for the education sector to transfer didactic work to virtual reality and to alter existing learning methods. After a few semesters, a need has emerged to summarise what has been done so far and what are the results.

That was the motivation behind organising the International Student Conference „Pros and cons of distance learning. An interdisciplinary perspective.”

The conference was established to create space for an interdisciplinary discussion on the advantages and disadvantages of distance learning, its results and perspectives for the future.

Held entirely in English on 22nd and 23rd of June 2021, it will be a part of EPICUR Project.

Authors are looking for various perspectives on distance learning from many countries and fields of study. The event will be held entirely remotely. Details of access will be published shortly before the conference on the FB page of the event.

EPICUR Early Career Researcher Workshop
2021-06-21 14:00 - 16:00
Are you an early career researcher (ECR)? Join the EPICUR-Research community for the workshop aimed to identify and address your early careers needs and opportunities!

The workshop on “Early Career Researchers within EPICUR: Definitions, Opportunities and Challenges” provides a unique opportunity for researchers early in their careers to discuss their experience with peers from the eight EPICUR partner universities. The goal of this workshop is to discuss different approaches to defining ECRs, to present an overview of possibilities and challenges that early career researchers currently face, and – consequently – to develop more concise concepts for their support and integration within EPICUR-Research.

The workshop will take place on June 21st, 2-4 pm (Zoom). To register for the workshop, please fill in the form before June 17th: https://forms.office.com/r/HNJUDUV1wZ

To learn more about EPICUR Research, please visit our website: https://archive.epicur.education/research/

EPICUR Design Thinking Workshop
2021-06-21 10:00 - 12:00
The EPICUR Team warmly invites stakeholders from the EPICUR regions to participate in an international Design Thinking workshop to design and create a stakeholder-oriented tool to connect entrepreneurial ecosystems, foster entrepreneurial activities, and develop innovative solutions for society.

If you are an entrepreneur, student, business angel, you work in an innovation-driven company, or social organisation, join our workshop and be part of an inspiring team and a valuable product!

Save the date and register here:https://www.soscisurvey.de/EPICUR_Workshop/

Launch of the 2021 Sustainable Development Report
2021-06-14 08:00 - 09:00
As the world begins its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, an emphasis must be placed on sustainable development. It is time to look for transformative pathways, collaboration amongst UN member-states, and to use the SDGs as a framework to “build forward better”. The annual Sustainable Development Report (SDR) tracks progress on the SDGs and analyzes key issues in sustainable development. It is written by a group of authors led by Prof. Jeffrey Sachs, President of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). The SDR synthesizes metrics and data to allow all 193 countries to view how they perform on each SDG. Published by Cambridge University Press, the report outlines the short-term impacts of COVID-19 on the SDGs and describes how the SDGs can frame the recovery. The 2021 Sustainable Development Report, which includes the SDG Index and Dashboards, will be released on June 14, 2021.

Agenda

08:00 – 08:10 Opening Remarks

Prof. Jeffrey D. Sachs, President, SDSN (lead author)

08:10 – 08:20 Presentation of Key Results and Findings

Mr. Guillaume Lafortune, Director of SDSN Paris (co-author)

08:20 – 08:45 Country Statements

Bangladesh (TBC)Mr. Ville Skinnari, Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, Government of Finland

08:45-08:55 Closing Remarks and Outlook

Dr. Christian Kroll, Co-Author of the Sustainable Development Report

Register Now

EPICURtalks N°5 «Carbon Forestry»
2021-06-01 17:30 - 18:30
The EPICUR Alliance cordially invites you to its fifth virtual EPICURtalk and discussion on June, 01st, 2021 at 05 :30 pm CET

Carbon ForestryField measurements, case studies, lectures: a three-week online course experience

withDr. Sabine ReineckeResearch Associate, Chair of Silviculture, University of Freiburg

With respect to climate change mitigation, the sequestration of carbon by forests and soils is one of the most important ecosystem services of terrestrial ecosystems. Large efforts have been undertaken and major political initiatives started to increase the carbon storage capacity of forests and their products.

As a response to the continuously increasing need of professionals with competencies and knowledge in this area at a national and international level, the Chair of Silviculture at the University of Freiburg (in cooperation with partners) has once more offered a three-week course in Carbon Forestry to practitioners and scientists in the forest project sector from all over the world from Feb-March 2021. In her talk, Dr. Sabine Reinecke will share her experiences and key lessons of this online course, connecting participants from 19 different countries on 5 continents, using formats such as video-lectures, interviews, workshops and life exchange with lecturers & peers, but also practical exercises such as field measurements.

The EPICURtalks lecture will be followed by a discussion with Stefanie Klose, Project Manager and Lecturer in the EPICUR study track “Natural and Societal Sustainability Studies”, University College Freiburg.

Please RSVP to: k.kiefel@zv.uni-freiburg.de by May, 31st. Attendees will receive their zoom link on June, 01st. The event will take approximately an hour.

The EPICURtalks series explores the advancement in teaching & learning, including Liberal Arts and Sciences approaches as well as developments of new tools and didactics in digital and hybrid settings. The EPICURtalks will highlight the innovative teaching & learning projects at the EPICUR alliance and its eight partner universities. Hosted by the University of Freiburg, the series will travel virtually from partner to partner, inviting speakers from across the disciplinary spectrum to share their diverse perspectives on the future of teaching & learning in brief talks that inspire and invite further discussion.
