Public lecture series explores responsibility for the climate

"The climate is saved. Or is it?" is the topic of the third event in the "AlterPerimentale" lecture series at the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU). The guest speaker is climate researcher Prof. Dr Hartmut Graßl. BTU President Prof. Dr Gesine Grande welcomes the participants and Dr Maria Reinisch, Managing Director of the Vereinigung Deutscher Wissenschaftler e. V., moderates the event.

There is a lot of talk about the climate - from climate researchers, climate sceptics, climate activists and climate deniers. The voices are numerous, the opinions diverse, the discussions often heated. It's worth listening more closely. Because there is a lot to know - and even more to understand. What is certain? Where are there uncertainties? What is controversial? And how can we as a society - especially with regard to older generations - act responsibly?

Climate researcher Graßl provides answers to questions such as:

• What do we know about climate change - and what do we not (yet) know?
• What responsibility does science have - and how does it communicate?
• How can scientific findings help to shape processes in such a way that they benefit us all?
• What role does an ageing society play in a sustainable world? What responsibility do older people have? Do you have one?

Date: Wednesday, 9 July 2025, 5 to 7 p.m.
Venue: Central Lecture Theatre Building (ZHG) - Lecture Theatre A Konrad-Wachsmann-Allee 3, 03046 Cottbus
All interested parties are invited. The event is free of charge.

About the scientist

Prof. Dr Hartmut Graßl was already a member of the German Bundestag's Enquête Commissions "Precautions for the Protection of the Earth's Atmosphere" and "Protection of the Earth's Atmosphere" in the 1990s, long-time director of the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) in Geneva, director of the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology and board chairperson of the German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU). He is also editor of the scientific journal Theoretical and Applied Climatology.

About the event

In the lecture series, a total of six exciting lectures on the topic of "Age" will be offered to the interested public until June 2026. It is part of the "AlterPerimentale - Alter-Peripherie-Experiment" project, which is part of the "T!Raum - TransferRäume für die Zukunft von Regionen" programme of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and is being carried out in cooperation with the Association of German Scientists (VDW).