Events

At the College for Social Sciences and Humanities, academic events in various formats take place on a regular basis. You will find lectures, conferences, workshops, or panel discussions linked to different fields of research within the social sciences and humanities. Open science formats addressing the general public are also part of the portfolio.

Most events are planned by resident researchers and Senior Fellows, organised with support from the College’s event coordinator. Moreover, the College hosts select events offered by other members of the University Alliance Ruhr working in the social sciences and humanities.

The following list provides an overview of upcoming and past events at the College.

Next Event

Workshop
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collage; background: a lightbulb filled with a handful of soil from which a small plant is growing

Global Sustainability Governance Workshop 2026: Towards Transnational Planning in the Age of Ecological Crisis

02/11/2026 - 03/11/2026, Essen

This two-day workshop explores the potential of different forms of transnational planning for leveraging transformative change. It fosters interdisciplinary dialogue on aspects such as transnational dynamics, the interaction of states, or the role of international organisations.

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Conference
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East Asian Statecraft under Pressure: Resilience and Adaptation

11/11/2026 - 12/11/2026, Essen

Organiser: Institute of East Asian Studies IN-EAST, University of Duisburg-Essen

This conference seeks to shed light on the rapidly evolving dynamics of destabilisation, strategic adjustments, and resilience in China, Japan, Korea, and beyond by bringing together diverse perspectives and disciplines.

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Workshop
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Economic Growth and Planetary Boundaries: The State, Democratic Economic Planning and Security

23/11/2026 - 24/11/2026, Essen

Organisers: Matthias Kranke (College for Social Sciences and Humanities) & Halliki Kreinin (University of Tallinn, Estonia), DKN Working Group 'Rethinking Sustainable Development through Post-Growth'

This interdisciplinary workshop brings together scholars to reflect on the future possibilities of post-growth transformations, focusing thematically on the state, democratic economic planning and…

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Workshop
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Sweat as Method. Explorations of the 'Lower Senses'

26/11/2026 - 27/11/2026, Essen | hybrid

What forms of knowledge emerge when sweat is not only an object but an epistemic operator? What can sweat reveal about bodies, atmospheres, and relations that remains inaccessible to distanced observation? This workshop explores sweat as a paradigmatic phenomenon through which the 'lower senses', particularly smell and touch, come into focus.

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Talk
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The Impact of Mining on Vulnerable Communities

08/12/2026, Essen

The film Where We Used to Sleep documents how the few remaining inhabitants of the former Romanian village of Geamăna are struggling with environmental degradation. Following the screening of the film, director Matthäus Wörle and environmental humanities scholar Eunice Ngongkum will discuss about the inspiration for the film and the impact of mining on vulnerable communities.

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Workshop
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Digital Transformation and Wealth Dynamics in Africa: Pathways to Inclusive and Sustainable Rural Futures

11/12/2026, Essen | hybrid

Digital transformation is reshaping African economies, but inequalities in access to digital technologies remain. This interdisciplinary workshop brings together scholars, students, policymakers, and development practitioners from Africa and Europe to examine how digital transformation influences wealth accumulation, social inclusion, and sustainable rural futures.

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Newsletter

Past Events

Lecture Panel
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symbolic graphic: conference hall with rows of chairs

Future Made in Germany: Kapital als Turbo für Innovation & Tradition?

25/03/2026, Essen

Organiser: Chair for Energy Trading and Finance, University of Duisburg-Essen

Outreach talk and panel as part of the Climate, Energy and Finance Workshop 2026

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Catalyst GER Kick-off Event

12/03/2026, Essen

Organiser: GUIDE Centre for Start-up and Innopreneurship, University of Duisburg-Essen

How can research in the humanities, social sciences and educational sciences have an impact within society? This question drives the new ‘Catalyst GER’ programme. At this kick-off event you can get insights into programme, learn about exemplary projects and exchange views with other researchers. In a workshop,…

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Symposium PostdocLab
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Building Democratic Citizenship: Civic Education, Inequality, and Engagement

04/03/2026, digital

This virtual symposium brings together recent research on youth civic development and civic education, spanning classroom practices, political socialisation, and emerging challenges such as climate change. The contributions explore how young people can be prepared for informed and equitable civic participation in a changing world.

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Workshop PostdocLab
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Urban Property Ownership from a Conflict Sociological Perspective

27/02/2026, Essen

This workshop, hosted by the PostdocLab working group ‘Urban Conflicts and Property’, provides a platform for researchers from various disciplines to critically discuss how issues of property ownership are reflected in urban conditions, negotiations and conflicts.

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Conference
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Harnessing the Power of Digital and AI Transformation: Navigating Ethical, Societal, and Legal Challenges

23/02/2026 - 24/02/2026, Essen

This conference focuses on the societal, legal, and ethical challenges posed by AI and data-driven technologies, including data governance and cybersecurity, across different jurisdictions. Speakers will elucidate the roles of governments, corporations, and civil society and assess policy options at national, regional, and international levels. Discussions will explore how to build inclusive and…

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Workshop
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Ethnic-Racial Socialisation in Racially / Ethnically Minoritised Families in Europe

04/02/2026 - 05/02/2026, Essen

While research on ethnic-racial socialisation is well-established in the United States, it is still in its infancy in Europe. This workshop brings together researchers from Europe working in this field to discuss the state of research and methodological aspects.

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Lecture
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Norms Adherence and United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKOs): The Case of Bangladesh

03/02/2026, Essen

Participation in peacekeeping operations implies engagement with peacekeeping norms including respect for democratic rule, balanced civil-military relations, and gender mainstreaming. At the example of Bangladesh’s involvement over the past five decades, Rashed Uz Zaman discusses to what extent such norms have shaped the country’s armed forces and what this means for the foreign policy of…

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Workshop
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Collaboration between Universities and Industry in the Global North and the Global South: Similarities and Differences

28/01/2026, Essen | hybrid

One of the dimensions of the ‘Third Mission’ of academic institutions is collaboration between universities and companies. Based on the examples of Germany and Mozambique, this workshop reflects on and discusses patterns of collaboration in the Global North and the Global South, exploring similarities and differences.

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Lecture
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Africa in Great Power Competition: China, the USA, and Global Governance

16/01/2026, Essen

In this lecture, Qingxiu Bu examines Africa’s pivotal role in the evolving great power competition between the USA and China, exploring various aspects such as trade, investment, governance, and technological dynamics. The event is open to policymakers, academics from different disciplines, and practitioners to foster dialogue.

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Lecture
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International Cooperation, Inclusion and Democracy in Higher Education in Brazil and Latin America

15/01/2026, Essen

Organiser: UA Ruhr Liaison Office Latin America

What significance does higher education have in Latin America, and Brazil in particular? What challenges does it face? In this lecture, Professor Sandra Regina Goulart Almeida, President of Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (Brazil) and a renowned expert in Brazil’s higher education landscape, will discuss the influence of international…

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Contact us

Event Coordination

Laura Ziewitz

Event Coordinator

Phone: +49 201 183 - 6545

E-mail: