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In a world that is undergoing dramatic ecological, technological, and social change, it is more urgent than ever to find holistic solutions to the issues of our time across cultural and disciplinary boundaries. The Humboldt Colloquium in San Francisco brought together experts from the fields of artificial intelligence, urban development, energy management, climate science, and international cooperation to discuss resource-efficient living spaces.
Oliver Schramm, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in San Francisco, Christian Hänel, President of the American Friends of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, and Robert Schlögl, President of the Humboldt Foundation, opened the event. Schlögl emphasized: “We are living in times of enormous upheaval. Science can help create a sustainable future. With our global network of outstanding researchers, we share the Californian spirit of tackling challenges with optimism.” According to the President, the Humboldt Colloquia are beacons of science diplomacy, as ideas connect people, and constructive dialogue in science, in particular, helps stabilize global relationships – even in politically volatile times.
The three day-event featured keynote speeches and workshops on topics such as:
- developing human-centric technology
- the ethical, social, and economic dimensions of the energy transition
- innovative solutions in the fields of climate research and life sciences
- new models for a sustainable transformation of urban landscapes and building resilient communities, especially in regions of the world that are affected by climate disasters
- trust in science and fighting fake news and disinformation
- successful forms of international science collaboration
In addition, the alumni from the USA were able to network in subject-specific panels and connect with German partner organizations. A “World Café” was held to discuss urgent current and future challenges facing the German-American partnership in research and science.
The Colloquium
Every year, the Humboldt Foundation organises up to two major colloquia abroad to which all the alumni from the respective country or region are invited. The colloquium in San Francisco was sponsored by the Federal Foreign Office and took place in cooperation with the German Consulate General San Francisco, the German Center for Research and Innovation San Francisco, the American Friends of AvH (the professional partner of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in the United States), the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the German Research Foundation (DFG).