Potsdam Summer School 2026 Programme

Programme

We are in the process of preparing for the Potsdam Summer School 2026 and will update the programme accordingly.
Last update June 23, 2026

PROGRAMME OVERVIEW AS PDF DOWNLOAD

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

09:30 - 11:30

Onboarding Part
Dr. Susanne Schmitt incl. Flying Coffee Break

11:30 - 13:00

Opening Keynote on Sustainability and Geopolitics
Achim Steiner/Oxford Martin School Oxford University

13:00 - 14:00

Lunch Break

14:00 - 15:00

Introduction to Science Communication Working Groups
Matthias Tang & Dr. Bianca Schroeder/RIFS

15:00 - 16:30

The Age of Geoeconomics: Power, Interdependence and the New Logic of Global Copetition
Dr. Mikael Wigell/Economic Security Forum

16:30 - 16:45

Coffee Break

16:45 - 18:15

Multilateralism Under Pressure: Implications for Climate Diplomacy and Climate Policy
Prof. Dr. Charlotte Streck/University of Potsdam, Climate Focus

18:30 - 20:30

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/Building A45 S)

09:00 - 10:30

Sustainable Ocean Governance in Times of Great Power Rivalry
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 in Times of Geopolitical Rivalry
Dr. Volker Rachold/Arctic Office/AWI

12:30 - 14:00

Lunch Break

14:00 - 15:00

The Political Geology and Geopolitics of Arctic Resources
Dr. Marianne Pascale Bartels/RIFS

15:00 - 15:15

Coffee Break

15:15 - 16:30

Governance of Deep Sea Mining
Dr. Barbara Neumann/RIFS

16:30 - 16:45

Coffee Break

16:45 - 17:45

Just Transition in the Amazon
Dr. Maria Cecilia Oliveira & Dr. Bernardo Jurema/RIFS

17:45 - 18:30

Transfer to 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

10:00 - 10:15

Coffee Break

10:15 - 11:45

Geoeconomics in Agriculture – Old & Recent Challenges and New Policies in the EU
Dr. Bettina Rudloff/German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP)

11:45 - 12:00

Coffee Break

12:00 - 13:00

Geopolitics of Fertilisers
Prof. Dr. Rainer Quitzow/RIFS

13:00 - 14:00

Lunch Break

14:00 - 15:30

Guided Tour around ATB Campus

15:30 - 16:00

Coffee Break

16:00 - 17:30

Workshop/Co-Creation Session: Geopolitics in the Eyes of Food System/ Energy Relations
Dr. Hyunjin Park & Naser Reyhani/ATB

17:30 - 21:00

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

USA - EU Climate Policy Relations: Traditional Allies or Constantly Unreliable?
Dr. Charlotte Unger/RIFS

10:30 - 11:00

Coffee Break

11:00 - 12:30

Implementing the Paris Agreement in a Changing Political Landscape
Dr. Kathleen A. Mar/RIFS

12:30 - 13:30

Lunch Break

13:30 - 15:30

Planetary Politics: The Origins and Ends of the Climate Crisis
Dr. Stefan Schaefer & Dr. Hilton Simmet/RIFS

15:30 - 16:30

Transfer to WIssenschaftsetage

16:30 - 18:30

Coffee Break followed by joined Afternoon Session 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

10:30 - 11:00

Coffee Break

11:00 - 12:30

The New Resource Game: Geopolitics and Sustainability in Mineral Supply Chains
Dr. Melanie Mueller/German Institute for International and Security Affairs

12:30 - 13:30

Lunch Break

13:30 - 15:00

Final Reflections & Discussion
Dr. Laima Eicke, Prof. Dr. Rainer Quitzow, Dr. Yana Zabanova,/RIFS
& Jennifer Morgan/Hertie School of Governance as Guest (via video)
& Jennifer Morgan/Hertie School of Governance as guest (remote via video)

15:00 - 15:30

Coffee Break

15:30 - 17:30

Science Communication/Working Group Presentations
Matthias Tang & Dr. Bianca Schroeder with all Participants

17:30 - 18:00

Wrap Up
All Participants & Angela Borowski/RIFS
Angela Borowski/RIFS

18:30 - 22:30

Farewell Dinner

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