Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences (HSRW)’s Ethics Day had set itself an ambitious central question on the topic: ‘Who will save the world?’. Although the world was not saved at the event, the day did highlight ways of overcoming the sense of powerlessness that can arise in the face of global and multiple crises.
However great the challenges may be, solutions are often to be found precisely in smaller contexts – within the family, in the workplace, in the local community. This may not be enough to save the world, but it certainly enables us to take small steps which, when taken together, can make a big difference. This was reflected in the event’s subtitle: ‘Shaping transformation in times of polycrisis’. Citizens, academics, students, entrepreneurs and local government representatives all addressed this topic.
Following a welcome address by the university’s President, Prof. Dr Oliver Locker-Grütjen, presenter Johanna Horn guided the large audience through the day’s programme. Ethics Day began with a keynote address by Prof. Dr Dr Stefan Brunnhuber, Medical Director and Chief Physician at Diakoniewerk Zschadraß. He explored the art of transformation and the question of what transformation means, explaining that it is not a linear process but one that proceeds in stages. To illustrate transformation, he used the image of a spiral staircase that one can ascend or descend in a spiral pattern. There can be no transformation without adjustments, a shift in consciousness and new rules. Brunnhuber explained that crises have always triggered learning processes.
The fact that transformation carries with it considerable potential for social division was highlighted from various angles in the dialogue lecture by Prof. Dr Alexander Brand and Prof. Dr Jakob Lempp: ‘Transformation of Europe? Will Europe be ruled by populists in the future?’. With regard to the European elections, the discussion centred on what a shift to the right in the European Parliament might mean for transformation. Among other things, it was noted that the polycrisis creates pressure to act whilst simultaneously giving rise to populist perspectives that resist change. Possible strategies for addressing this included closing a representation gap in politics, promoting political and media literacy, scaling back overwhelming crisis management measures, and demonstrating political resilience.
Other academics from the HSRW explored the topic in greater depth and highlighted practical courses of action: in her keynote address ‘Greening the Town – tackling the biodiversity crisis through participation’, Prof. Dr Daniela Lud addressed the issues of land scarcity and biodiversity loss. She highlighted the Zechenpark site in Kamp-Lintfort as an example of urban nature, which is being preserved through participatory efforts involving local residents. The citizen science project ‘Zechenpark’s Wild Flora’ offers an insight into the great plant diversity of this area, and insects will also be included in the project in future.
In their presentation “The blind spot in waste management: citizen participation against linear trends in the circular economy”, Prof. Dr Timo Kahl and Prof. Dr Kai Jörg Tiedemann discussed the various packaging materials and the associated challenges posed by existing recycling methods. Their ‘Transformers’ project focuses primarily on analogue and digital public participation and the future management of materials that are more difficult to recycle. Alongside a scientifically structured analysis, initial demonstrators are also putting these issues into practice at the Green FabLab.
Following the presentations, four workshops were on the programme. Prof. Dr Florian Wichern and Barbara Arntz addressed the question “Who is transforming agriculture? – Visions of a sustainable future”. The workshop led by Prof. Dr Irmgard Buder and Dr André Wenda was devoted to the topic “Energy: What do we need and what might our energy supply look like in the future?”. In the workshop ‘Science’s contribution to social transformation: Are established patterns sufficient, or do we need new forms of social cooperation?’, Dr Jan-Hendrik Kamlage, Dr Klaus Krumme and Dr Vanessa Meinen examined a research question from the TransRegINT project in greater detail. Meanwhile, the English-language workshop ‘Visionary solutions for sustainable recycling: citizen participation and the circular economy as a perfect match’, led by Ubaida Dib, Sandoval-Betanco Jefferson-Josue and Marwin Wiegard, presented the first demonstrators at the Green FabLab.
Prof. Dr Jean-Pierre Wils, Professor of Philosophical Ethics and Philosophy of Culture at Radboud University Nijmegen, opened the concluding panel discussion with a keynote speech on the concept of freedom in the context of transformation. He explained that readjustments and previously little-discussed restrictions on freedom might become necessary, particularly in order to preserve freedom. Cooperative practices and regionalisation, he said, were necessary to strengthen resilience. A socially sustainable transformation, he argued, required new practices of giving and taking.
The panel discussion was attended by Prof. Dr Dr Stefan Brunnhuber, Prof. Dr Jean-Pierre Wils and Bärbel Höhn, former Minister for the Environment and Agriculture of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, who discussed how the transformation should be shaped and the adjustments required to lifestyles. The former minister emphasised that the involvement of civil society is important and that the transformation should be shaped in a socially responsible manner.
A joint closing event organised by the General Students’ Committee (AStA) brought the programme to a close. This included live music from the band Soundscaper, whose members are lecturers at the university.
Image credit: ©Mirko Musumeci/HSRW
