18.11.2024 12:13
Research projects, science policy
The hub addresses the links between human health, climate protection and biodiversity conservation / The University of Cologne collaborates with international partners such as the Club of Rome, Princeton University and institutions other scientific.
UNESCO has chosen the University of Cologne as the headquarters of a research center in the MOST program (Management of Social Transformations). The “MOST-BRIDGES Hub Theme for Planetary Well-being and Ecological Flourishing” will be anchored in two major research centers at the University of Cologne: the Hub for Multidisciplinary Environmental Studies in the Humanities (MESH) and the Global South Studies Center (GSSC) . It is also supported by the Global Responsibility Unit and the Sustainability Council of the University of Cologne, the European University for Wellbeing (EUniWell) and the Interdisciplinary Research Center for Didactics in the Humanities (IFDG).
The new BRIDGES thematic Hub brings together research, outreach and policy expertise to explore the links between human health and well-being, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and biodiversity conservation and ecological restoration. The center will bring the results of the Environmental Humanities into the concept of One Health. This concept looks at well-being from a perspective that focuses on transcendence and the ecological well-being of our shared planet Earth for current and future generations.
“We look forward to working with our Cologne and international partners, especially as the BRIDGES Hub focuses on research as well as mobility and communication. “In this way, we can meaningfully bring together the experiences and knowledge of the various disciplines – from environmental anthropology to cultural studies to specialist didactics – and further develop common perspectives on ecological well-being, intergenerational justice and diversity ,” said Prof. . Roman Bartosch, co-director of Hub BRIDGES Köln.
“The establishment of the UNESCO research center is a great success for our scientists. “I am pleased that the members of the GSSC and MESH can once again demonstrate the importance of the research strength of the Cologne Humanities for the development of sustainability science that takes into account all aspects of our planetary responsibility,” said Prof. Joybrato Mukherjee, Rector of the University of Cologne.
UNESCO-MOST BRIDGES is a humanities-based transdisciplinary consortium of sustainability sciences focused on solutions to social problems identified in the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It includes the Club of Rome, the Central Hub at Arizona State University, the South African Hub at the University of Pretoria as well as hubs at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UK) and City University New York (CUNY) – Princeton (United States). Together, they represent a humanities-oriented approach to sustainability science that integrates traditionally neglected knowledge systems into already established approaches to to find innovative solutions to the most pressing social and environmental challenges. The consortium advocates for a meaningful co-production of knowledge that connects the methods of the humanities and the arts with MINT subjects.
The “BRIDGES Hub” is embedded in an extensive network of international research partners and increases its reach through partners from the South who promote collaborations within the Environmental Humanities between Global North and South and between actors within the Global South.
Media and communication:
Jürgen Rees
+49 221 470 3107
j.rees@verw.uni-koeln.de
More information:
https://bridges-hub.cologne/
https://bridges.earth/news/post/fantastic-start-mesh-symposium-bridges-cologne-hub-launch
Responsible: Dr. Elisabeth Hoffmann – e.hoffmann@verw.uni-koeln.de
Scientific correspondent:
Content contact:
Professor Dr. Roman Bartosch
MESH – Multidisciplinary Environmental Studies in the Humanities
+49 221 470 4642
roman.bartosch@uni-koeln.de
More information:
https://bridges.earth/news/post/fantastic-start-mesh-symposium-bridges-cologne-hub-launch
2024-11-18 23:32:00
#University #Cologne #receives #UNESCOs #BRIDGES #Hub #Planetary #Success
What are the key research initiatives being undertaken at Hub BRIDGES Köln to address sustainability challenges?
Guest 1: Prof. Roman Bartosch, Co-Director of Hub BRIDGES Köln and Leader of MESH (Multidisciplinary Environmental Studies in the Humanities).
Guest 2: Dr. Elisabeth Hoffmann, Representative of the Global Responsibility Unit and Sustainability Council at the University of Cologne, Germany.
Host: Hello and welcome to our program. Today, we have with us Prof. Roman Bartosch and Dr. Elisabeth Hoffmann to discuss an exciting new development at the University of Cologne, Germany. Prof. Bartosch, could you elaborate on Hub BRIDGES Köln’s main objectives and its significance as a research center?
Guest 1: Yes, of course. Hub BRIDGES Köln is part of the UNESCO-MOST BRIDGES program, which focuses on the interdisciplinary study of sustainability science. Our center is specifically dedicated to exploring the links between human health, climate change and biodiversity conservation. We believe that a multidisciplinary approach is crucial in addressing these pressing global issues, and we hope to bring together experts from various fields to find innovative solutions. The Hub also aims to promote knowledge exchange and collaboration between researchers from the global north and south.
Host: That’s fascinating! Prof. Bartosch, could you tell us more about the role of environmental humanities in the research conducted at the Hub?
Guest 1: Environmental humanities has always been at the core of our work at MESH, and we are excited to integrate it into the One Health concept through the BRIDGES Hub. This means looking at humans as part of a larger ecosystem, where our health and well-being are inextricably linked to that of the planet. By combining diverse perspectives, including cultural studies, ethnography, and environmental science, we hope to create a more comprehensive understanding of these interdependencies and develop more sustainable solutions.
Host: Dr. Hoffmann, what is the importance of the University of Cologne hosting this UNESCO research center?
Guest 2: The University of Cologne is thrilled to host Hub BRIDGES Köln. It reflects our commitment to sustainability and interdisciplinary research, and
