The Basic Law laid the foundation for a free and democratic order in Germany. However, these values are increasingly coming under pressure. How resilient is our democracy in the face of current crises? What freedoms does a democratic society need?These questions are the focus of the Autumn Academy (23-26 September) at the University of Ulm Centre for General Scientific Continuing Education (ZAWiW). ZAWiW is also celebrating its 30th anniversary. Registration for the Autumn Academy is open until Sunday, 8 September.
The Autumn Academy 2024 is dedicated to the topic of "Freedom and Democracy", which is also the theme of the current Year of Science. Speakers will address the current challenges from different perspectives and discuss possible solutions with the participants. In addition to the lectures, visitors can deepen their knowledge of individual topics in 18 working groups (Monday and Tuesday afternoons) and take part in guided tours of Ulm museums, among other things, during the Wednesday programme. In addition, there are lunchtime events and an exhibition in the University Forum by the Oberer Kuhberg Documentation Centre on how to deal with anti-democratic and inhuman language.
The event will kick off on Monday at 9:30 a.m. in H4/5 with a welcome address by the President of Ulm University, Professor Michael Weber, and greetings from Ulm's Lord Mayor Martin Ansbacher and Professor Frank Kargl (speaker of the ZAWiW department management). Professor Ulrike Ackermann from the John Stuart Mill Institute for Freedom Research in Bad Homburg will be the first to speak. She will analyse the threats to freedom and democracy worldwide and take a critical look at the increasing polarisation within Western societies.
On Tuesday (10:00 a.m., H4/5), Professor Ursula Münch (Akademie für Politische Bildung, Tutzing) will show how crises can shake stable democracies and what role political decisions and the media world play in this.
On Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. in H4/5, Professor Markus Kiefer, head of the Section for Cognitive Electrophysiology at Ulm University Hospital, will address the question "How free is our will?" from a medical and neurophysiological point of view.
On Thursday at 10:00 a.m. in H4/5, the philosopher Eva von Redecker will call for a new understanding of freedom in order to meet current global challenges. Finally, at 3:00 p.m., Dr. Sandra Kostner of PH Schwäbisch Gmünd will warn against politicisation and moralisation in science, which can have consequences not only for the freedom of research but also for the culture of debate in society.
At the Autumn Academy, ZAWiW will also celebrate its 30th anniversary. On Monday evening (16:45, H4/5), one of Germany's leading educational scientists, Professor Bernhard Schmidt-Hertha (LMU Munich), will speak about the challenges and perspectives of senior studies. On Tuesday evening, the centre invites you to the "Anniversary Concert - Latin & Balkan" with the Duo Compagni (6:00 p.m., H4/5). The instrument of the year 2024, the tuba, will be heard.
About the Centre for General Scientific Continuing Education
The Centre for General Scientific Continuing Education was founded as a central institution of Ulm University in 1994, after the first academy week had taken place two years earlier and a support group had been set up. ZAWiW is always looking for new ways in the field of citizen science and promotes the transfer of science to society.
In addition to the continuing education weeks for people in the third age, the "Research-based Learning" programme line is dedicated to interested laypeople working on topics and questions using scientific methods. The Ulm 3-Generation University (u3gu) is also a pillar of the centre. In science camps, children and young people discover the natural and technical sciences together with scientists, students and volunteer senior consultants. In addition, ZAWiW has developed and implemented a large number of third-party funded research projects and model projects in the areas of intergenerational learning, digitalisation and education in old age, some of which have attracted attention throughout Germany and even Europe.
Since October 2012, ZAWiW, together with the Humboldt Centre and the Language Centre, has been a department of the then newly established Department of Humanities at Ulm University. In the course of this, the "studium generale" was assigned to ZAWiW. In the meantime, the Musical Centre (MUZ) has also been added to the responsibilities of the nine employees.
The participation fee for the whole week is 90 euros; members of the ZAWiW Support Association pay 80 euros. It is also possible to book individual lectures at the box office. The detailed programme and the link for online registration can be found at: https://akademie.zawiw.de
Further information:info(at)zawiw.de or ZAWiW Secretariat: 0731/50-26601
Text and media contact: Daniela Stang