Education
Sharing, developing, and fostering knowledge is essential for the global transition to a more sustainable society. This is why education is a central tenet of Ecologic Institute's mission. Education-based environmental work is international and cross-cultural, bringing together participants from different countries, continents, backgrounds, genders, age groups, and political orientations.
Our staff conceptualize and implement education, training, and capacity-building with activities ranging from education programs with schoolchildren and courses with university students to training for early to mid-career professionals and experts from science, academia, the public sector, journalism, civil society, and business.
Ecologic Institute's transdisciplinary expertise is key to our education approach, facilitating innovative, inclusive, and multifaceted training formats and tools that are implemented both at home and away. Ecologic Institute staff members include university professors and training experts in a variety of fields, ensuring that state-of-the-art research and timely discussions are vital components of our programs.
Examples of educational activities include:
- Activities with school children: Educating children on environmental topics is the first stop for achieving a more sustainable society. Ecologic Institute has been involved in many activities with school children over the years, with topics ranging from the future of cities and the issue of plastics in the environment to citizen science and ocean literacy.
- University programmes: Ecologic Institute partners with renowned US universities as a Berlin host of their study abroad programmes, including long-standing collaborations with the University of Colorado at Denver, University of Notre Dame, Duke University, and the University of Maryland.
- Training and capacity building: Ecologic Institute regularly organises training and capacity-building activities covering the design and implementation of environmental policies. The formats range from focused trainings to summer schools, including the ICAP Summer Schools on Emissions Trading, which have been given in 20 iterations over the last decade.
- International Study Tours: We regularly lead foreign study tours to Germany as a means of learning first hand about Germany’s energy transition, urban sustainability solutions, political system, and other aspects. Study tours are comprised of international groups of professionals from areas such as policy, journalism, and industry and integrate multiple program formats such as discussion sessions, individual lectures, excursions, and cultural programs.
- Teaching engagements: A number of our senior staff members teach at universities, including the University of Maryland, Bremen University of Applied Sciences, Braunschweig University of Technology, and the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development. Staff members also include training experts in disciplines such as mediation, innovative event formats, human resources coaching, and web user practices.
- Visiting scholars, trainees and interns: We regularly house visiting fellows and scholars, including international Humboldt and Bosch Fellowship recipients. We regularly employ university students for scientific and legal work experience. Ecologic Institute has a thriving 3- year apprenticeship program in a variety of fields, including IT and Events, and is recognized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Berlin (IHK Berlin). We are also committed to providing students with the opportunity to conduct a voluntary civil service year in ecology, taking on bright young minds since 2003 (some of whom are still with us today).
- In-house training and exchange: Ecologic Institute believes in the importance of further education within our institution. Staff are encouraged to take part in a variety of in-house training and exchange formats, including Brown Bag Lunches with external and internal speakers, reading groups, language tandems, and voluntary training courses covering topics such as scientific writing and negotiation training.
Selected Projects for Education
Advanced Training Course on the Design and Implementation of Emissions Trading Schemes in Haikou, China
- Duration
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Aug - Nov 2018
- Funding
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Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Germany
Reconciling Science, Innovation and Precaution through the Engagement of Stakeholders (RECIPES)
- Duration
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Jan 2019 - Dec 2021
- Funding
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European Commission, Directorate-General Research & Innovation (DG Research & Innovation), international
Information Platform for the Restoration of Rivers
- Duration
-
May 2017 - Jan 2020
- Funding
-
Federal Environment Agency (UBA), Germany
Online Information Service: Environmentally Compatible Plant Protection
- Duration
-
Nov 2013 - Sep 2016
- Funding
-
Federal Environment Agency (UBA), Germany
Wangeliner Workcamps – A green idea of future
- Duration
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Jul 2016 - Nov 2018
- Funding
Selected Publications for Education
McFarland, Keighley, Jennifer Reck, Alexandra Moormann, Lilian Leupold, Maria Korbizki, Karl Lehmann, Lina Röschel, Stefanie Krzyzniewski, Chiara Mazzetti (2017) Pilotbericht „Ein Geschmack der Zukunft der Meere“. Hrsg. Ecologic Institut gemeinnützige GmbH und Museum für Naturkunde Leibniz-Institut für Evolutions- und Biodiversitätsforschung. Berlin.
Umweltbundesamt (Ed.) 2016: Gartenfrust statt Gartenlust - Praxistipps zum Pflanzenschutz. UBA-Ratgeber Brochure. 32 Pages. Berlin.
Federal Environment Agency 2018: Spuren in der Arktis. Animated Video. Online: https://youtu.be/02C5sN98-RU.
Selected Events for Education
Expert Training
Webinar:Urban Nature-based Solutions in Germany – experiences, successes and future challenges – Expert workshop
- Date
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5 May 2020
- Organizer
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Ecologic Institute, Germany
Conference:Emissions Trading in China and Europe: Taking Stock, Thinking Ahead, Looking Beyond
- Date
-
13 December 2017
- Organizer
-
Ecologic Institute, Germany DEVELOPMENT Solutions (DS), China
Webinar: How to Integrate European Lessons Learned on Climate Laws in the Slovenian Context?
- Date
-
5 March 2020
- Organizer
-
Ecologic Institute, Germany
Workshop:Training for Lebanese Climate Negotiators 2014
- Date
-
24 - 25 September 2014
- Organizer
-
Ecologic Institute, Germany
Webinar:Tackling Food Waste Across the Supply Chain – Webinar Series
- Date
-
9 April - 2 May 2019
- Organizer
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The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), United Kingdom Anthesis UK, United Kingdom
Webinar:Sustainable Environmental Education in Schools: Plastic waste in German rivers – the "Plastic Pirates" campaign
- Date
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13 September 2018
- Organizer
-
Ecologic Institute, Germany Kieler Forschungswerkstatt, Germany
Webinar:Arctic Summer College 2018 – Webinar Series
- Date
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11 July - 29 August 2018
- Organizer
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Ecologic Institute, Germany Ecologic Institute US (EIUS), United States
Webinar:Arctic Summer College 2017 – Webinar Series
- Date
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13 July - 31 August 2017
- Organizer
-
Ecologic Institute, Germany Ecologic Institute US (EIUS), United States
Webinar:Keeping it Legal - 4th ETS E-learning Course Webinar
- Date
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27 April 2016
- Organizer
-
Ecologic Institute, Germany Greenhouse Gas Management Institute Greenhouse Gas Management Institute (GHG Management Institute), United States
Webinar:POLIMP Expert Surveys and Webinar Series: Online Tools for Stakeholder Engagement
- Date
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1 July 2015 - 30 April 2016
- Organizer
-
Ecologic Institute, Germany
Summer/Winter Schools
Summer School:Plastics in the Environment – PhD-WinterSchool
- Date
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10 - 14 February 2020
- Organizer
-
Ecologic Institute, Germany
Summer School:Second ICAP Advanced Course on Emissions Trading
- Date
-
28 August - 7 September 2017
- Organizer
-
Ecologic Institute, Germany
Summer School:ICAP Training Course on Emissions Trading in Bangkok
- Date
-
24 April - 4 May 2017
- Organizer
-
Ecologic Institute, Germany DEVELOPMENT Solutions (DS), China
Summer School:ICAP Summer School on Emissions Trading in Brussels
- Date
-
4 - 15 July 2016
- Organizer
-
Ecologic Institute, Germany
Summer School:ICAP Training Course on Emissions Trading in São Paulo
- Date
-
3 - 12 May 2016
- Organizer
-
Ecologic Institute, Germany DEVELOPMENT Solutions (DS), China
Training Courses for Journalists
Summer School:Climate Change Training Course for Journalists in Berlin in Anticipation of COP21 Paris 2015 Media Coverage
- Date
-
11 - 20 May 2015
- Organizer
-
Ecologic Institute, Germany
Visitors Program:The New EU Commission's Climate Drive: What does it mean for member countries? – Research Tour for Journalists
- Date
-
2 - 4 December 2019
- Organizer
-
Clean Energy Wire (CLEW), Germany Ecologic Institute, Germany
Visitors Program:Climate and Energy Policy in Germany – Study Tour for Journalists from India
- Date
-
27 September - 3 October 2015
- Organizer
-
Ecologic Institute, Germany
Study Tours
Visitors Program:EFEX Study Tour on Energy Efficiency
- Date
-
25 - 29 June 2018
- Organizer
-
Ecologic Institute US (EIUS), United States Ecologic Institute, Germany
Visitors Program:Energy Policy in Germany – Information Tour for Canadian and US American Legislators
- Date
-
10 - 16 December 2017
- Organizer
-
Ecologic Institute, Germany
Visitors Program:"Post Cop21" – Climate Policy for 2050
- Date
-
15 - 21 October 2017
- Organizer
-
Ecologic Institute, Germany
Visitors Program:Green Economy – Opportunities and Challenges of the Energy Transition
- Date
-
18 - 24 June 2017
- Organizer
-
Ecologic Institute, Germany
Visitors Program:Greentech (made) in Germany
- Date
-
4 - 10 September 2016
- Organizer
-
Ecologic Institute, Germany
Visitors Program:Energy Policy and Structural Change in Germany – Study Tour for State Senators and Representatives of the US Midwest to Germany
- Date
-
15 - 21 November 2015
- Organizer
-
Ecologic Institute, Germany
Visitors Program:The Energy Transition in Germany – Canadian-German Study Tour
- Date
-
22 - 28 March 2015
- Organizer
-
Ecologic Institute, Germany
Visitors Program:The Energy Transition in Germany: Visitors Program for Members of the South African Energy Committee
- Date
-
24 - 28 November 2014
- Organizer
-
Ecologic Institute, Germany
Citizen Science
Workshop:Plastic Pirates – The Sea Starts Here!
- Date
-
1 May - 30 June 2019
- Organizer
-
Ecologic Institute, Germany
Selected Presentations for Education
Lectures and Seminars
Lecture:Climate Change Law – Overview of the Legal Frameworks at the International, European and National Level
- Date
-
4 November 2019
- Organiser
Lecture:Legal Aspects of Big Data in the Energy Sector – Summer School Lecture
- Date
-
15 May 2019
- Organiser
Lecture:Ecologic University Course on Think Tanks Policy Consulting (2018/2019)
- Date
-
27 February 2019
- Organiser
Lecture:The Governance of Plastics
- Date
-
30 November 2018
- Organiser
Lecture:Water and River Basin Management Policy
- Date
-
21 September 2015
- Organiser
Lecture:Duke University Course on Environmental Policy in Europe
- Date
-
22 August 2012
- Organiser
Lecture:Ecosystem Services and Land Use - University Course (2012)
- Date
-
15 April 2012
- Organiser
Activities with School Children
Lecture:Plastics Crisis? – Advantages of plastics and the problems of plastic consumption
- Date
-
29 May 2019
- Organiser
Expert Presentation
Panel discussion:The Role of Social Media in Communicating Climate Change – 61th Cairo Climate Talks
- Date
-
25 June 2019
- Organiser