Programme
We are in the process of preparing for the Potsdam Summer School 2026 and will update the programme accordingly.
Last update February 10, 2026
Day 1
From Multilateralism to an Era of Geopolitics: Key Trends and Conceptual Foundations
28/09/2026
28/09/2026
From Multilateralism to an Era of Geopolitics: Key Trends and Conceptual Foundations
Research Institute for Sustainability at GFZ (RIFS)
09:00 - 09:30
Welcome to the Potsdam Summer School 2026
Prof. Dr. Rainer Quitzow/RIFS
Prof. Dr. Rainer Quitzow/RIFS
09:30 - 11:00
Onboarding Part I
Dr. Susanne Schmitt
Dr. Susanne Schmitt
11:00 - 11:30
Coffee Break
11:30 - 12:30
Onboarding Part II
Dr. Susanne Schmitt
Dr. Susanne Schmitt
12:30 - 14:00
Lunch Break
14:00 - 15:00
Opening Keynote on Sustainability and Geopolitics
Achim Steiner/Oxford Martin School Oxford University (tbc)
Achim Steiner/Oxford Martin School Oxford University (tbc)
15:00 - 16:00
Multilateralism Under Pressure: Implications for Climate Diplomacy and Climate Policy
Prof. Dr. Charlotte Streck/University of Potsdam, Climate Focus
Prof. Dr. Charlotte Streck/University of Potsdam, Climate Focus
16:00 - 16:30
Coffee Break
16:00 - 17:30
Conceptual Foundations – Geopolitics and Geoeconomics
Dr. Mikael Wigell/Economic Security Forum
Dr. Mikael Wigell/Economic Security Forum
17:30 - 18:30
Introduction to Working Groups Science Communications
Matthias Tang & Team/RIFS
Matthias Tang & Team/RIFS
18:45 - 21:00
Dinner at RIFS Rooftop Terrace
Day 2
Governing the Global Commons in Times of Geopolitical Rivalry
29/09/2026
29/09/2026
Governing the Global Commons in Times of Geopolitical Rivalry
Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI)
09:00 - 10:30
Sustainable Ocean Governance in Times of Great Power Rivalry
Dr. Sebastian Unger/Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN)
Dr. Sebastian Unger/Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN)
10:30 - 11:00
Coffee Break
11:00 - 12:30
Arctic Governance
Dr. Volker Rachold/Arctic Office/AWI
Dr. Volker Rachold/Arctic Office/AWI
12:45 - 14:00
Lunch Break
14:00 - 15:00
The Political Geology and Geopolitics of Arctic Resources
Dr. Marianne Pascale Bartels/RIFS
Dr. Marianne Pascale Bartels/RIFS
15:00 - 16:00
Governance of Deep Sea Mining
Dr. Barbara Neumann/RIFS
Dr. Barbara Neumann/RIFS
16:00 - 16:30
Coffee Break
16:30 - 17:30
Just Transition in the Amazon
Dr. Maria Cecilia Oliveira & Dr. Bernardo Jurema/RIFS
Dr. Maria Cecilia Oliveira & Dr. Bernardo Jurema/RIFS
18:30 - 20:30
Dinner at RIFS Rooftop Terrace
Day 3
Climate, Agriculture and Geopolitics
30/09/2026
30/09/2026
Climate, Agriculture and Geopolitics
Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB)
09:00 - 10:00
How Resilient is Our Daily Bread? Rethinking Food Systems in a Volatile World
Prof. Dr. Barbara Sturm/ATB
Prof. Dr. Barbara Sturm/ATB
10:00 - 10:30
Coffee Break
10:30 - 12:00
Geoeconomics in Agriculture – Old & Recent Challenges and New Policies in the EU
Dr. Bettina Rudloff/German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP)
Dr. Bettina Rudloff/German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP)
12:00 - 13:00
Geopolitics of Fertilisers
Prof. Dr. Rainer Quitzow/RIFS
Prof. Dr. Rainer Quitzow/RIFS
13:00 - 14:00
Lunch Break
14:00 - 15:30
Guided Tour around ATB
15:30 - 16:00
Coffee Break
16:00 - 17:30
World Café Innovations in Agriculture
Dr. Philipp Grundmann/ATB
Dr. Philipp Grundmann/ATB
17:30 - 22:00
Evening at Own Leisure
Day 4
Geopolitics, Climate Governance and Diplomacy
01/10/2026
01/10/2026
Geopolitics, Climate Governance and Diplomacy
University of Potsdam – Campus Griebnitzsee
09:00 - 10:30
Civil Society and the Future of Climate Diplomacy
NN
NN
10:30 - 11:00
Coffee Break
11:00 - 12:00
Implementing the Paris Agreement in a Changing Political Landscape
Dr. Kathleen A. Mar/RIFS
Dr. Kathleen A. Mar/RIFS
12:00 - 13:00
USA - EU Climate Policy Relations: Traditional Allies or Constantly Unreliable?
Dr. Charlotte Unger/RIFS
Dr. Charlotte Unger/RIFS
14:00 - 15:00
Climate, Energy and the Transformation of the Middle East
Karoline Steinbacher/Guidehouse (tbc)
Karoline Steinbacher/Guidehouse (tbc)
15:00 - 16:30
Planetary Politics: The Origins and Ends of the Climate Crisis.
Introduction by Dr. Stefan Schaefer followed by the talk Growth: The Endless Frontier Dr. Hilton Simmet/both RIFS
Introduction by Dr. Stefan Schaefer followed by the talk Growth: The Endless Frontier Dr. Hilton Simmet/both RIFS
16:30 - 17:00
Transfer to WIS
17:00 - 19:00
Afternoon with High School Students from Potsdam
18:30 - 22:00
Evening at Own Leisure
Day 5
Geoeconomics of Clean Energy
02/10/2026
02/10/2026
Geoeconomics of Clean Energy
RIFS
09:00 - 10:30
Energy Dominance and Clean Tech Hegemony. How Power Politics shape the New Geoeconomics of Energy
Prof. Dr. Andreas C. Goldthau/University of Erfurt
Prof. Dr. Andreas C. Goldthau/University of Erfurt
10:30 - 11:00
Coffee Break
11:00 - 12:30
Geoeconomics and Critical Mineral Supply Chains
Dr. Melanie Mueller/German Institute for International and Security Affairs (tbc)
Dr. Melanie Mueller/German Institute for International and Security Affairs (tbc)
12:30 - 13:30
Lunch Break
13:30 - 14:30
Geoeconomics of Industrial Decarbonisation and Hydrogen
Dr. Laima Eicke, Yana Zabanova/RIFS
Dr. Laima Eicke, Yana Zabanova/RIFS
14:30 - 16:30
Science Communication/Working Group Presentations
Matthias Tang & Team with all Participants
Matthias Tang & Team with all Participants
16:30 - 17:30
Wrap Up & Feedback on the Week´s Programme including Flying Coffee Break
19:00 - 22:30
Farewell Dinner
