GCE at COP 29: Experiences, Outcomes, and Key Takeaways

In November 2024, four GCEs had the opportunity to attend the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan as observers. This event is held every year in different countries by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) with the aim of negotiating and agreeing on global strategies to combat climate change. […]

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Planetary Health: A Vision for The Future

As we have highlighted in previous blog posts, our planet’s and its people’s health is deeply interconnected and depends on thriving ecosystems and a stable climate.However, unprecedented challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and growing health disparities underscore the need to change our current approaches to, for example, economics and ecosystems. Therefore, in this […]

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From Anxiety to Action: Embracing Hope in a Planetary Health Crisis

Every day, news about rising temperatures, natural disasters, biodiversity loss, or melting ice caps seems to get worse. It’s challenging not to feel a growing sense of worry about the future. Emerging global difficulties are weighing heavily on an increasing number of people, and they are not just environmental issues; they are also impacting our […]

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an old world map and a compass

All maps are wrong, but some are useful

Maps are fun, colourful, and informative. In my faculty at the University, almost every research paper comes with maps. However, I believe that there is a lack of “mapucation” (map education) or understanding of how to properly use, interpret, and even misinterpret maps. This blog entry will hopefully be thought-provoking and add additional angles to […]

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GCE Excursion to Bamberg 2023

What an exciting (and early) morning! The new GCE cohort from 2023 met on the 13th of October 2023 at 7:45 am at the GEO bus stop to start our first trip together as the new cohort. Together with Prof. Köllner, we got to explore interesting and beautiful places in Upper Franconia, an area that […]

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Reflections on IPBES 9

This year, Global Change Ecology students had the opportunity to join representatives from 139 member states, high-profile stakeholders and NGOs in attending the ninth session of the Plenary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES 9). Every year, this intergovernmental panel convenes to address the state of biodiversity and ecosystem services […]

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CALL FOR APPLICATIONS for the M.Sc. Global Change Ecology

Apply now for the master’s programme Global Change Ecology at the University of Bayreuth, an interdisciplinary graduate programme that deals with global change and its environmental, ecological and societal aspects. It aims to train highly qualified leaders for tasks and problem solving in science, environmental protection and political or economic decision making. Part of the […]

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Wishing you a merry Christmas: A Winter Poem

The pulse that brings life The beginning of the world A life-changing decision The start of a new season ______ I see nature enduring winter With the beauty of the snow The lost leaves in Autumn Leading to future growth ______ It’s a time to hibernate And a time to reflect Moment to celebrate And […]

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Global Change Ecology at COP26

On Sunday, the 31st of October, governments, industries, NGOs, and other stakeholders, come together in Glasgow for the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP). Expectations for this year’s COP are high, some voices even say too high, preparing for a failure because they believe that the countries will not be able to deliver.   Why are expectations so high?   Since Paris, Glasgow is the […]

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Potsdam Summer School 2021: Water Our Global Common Good

            In the words of American anthropologist Loren Eiseley, “If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water.” Without water, there would not be life on this planet – that means no trees, nor fruits, no vast oceans, nor stunning waterfalls, no us… Simply put, there wouldn’t be Earth. Water is a […]

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