Course Description
"Empowering Climate Action: Exploring Climate Risk and Pathways to Adaptation" is a hands-on undergraduate summer school. It introduces students to the major climate risks facing Europe, drawing on the European Environment Agency's European Climate Risk Assessment on heat, drought, flooding, ecosystem change, and impacts on daily life.
Classes are delivered in a blended format: five days of online sessions will be followed by a week on site in Berlin. You will investigate real scenarios, work with actual data, and learn how climate risks intersect with food systems, health, infrastructure, and social justice. You will also gain experience in designing feasible local adaptation measures, guided by university mentors and visiting experts.
As well as the subject knowledge, a key focus will be on the development of skills: Would you like to learn more about how we can communicate climate science effectively, have agency, and make a difference in our local communities? No matter whether you study political science, history, agricultural sciences, mathematics, or something else altogether – the summer school “Empowering Climate Action” is for you!
A truly international experience
The programme is taught by a team of international experts and professors, joining from the Circle U. partner universities and external organisations. Lecturers include Hillary Briffa, Senior Lecturer in National Security Studies at King’s College London; Marcel Robischon, Professor of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin; Xiaofeng Guo, Professor at the Faculty of Science at Université Paris Cité; Professor Hermann Lotze-Campen from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, and many others.
In addition, you will get to connect and work with peers from all over Europe. You will enjoy the benefits of international exchange, which will stay with you long after you've returned to your home university. Here is what some of our previous participants have had to say:
“The programme seamlessly merged different disciplines, illuminating their intersections and impacts on climate change.”
Matilda Løvgren, political science student at the University of Oslo
“What I appreciated most was connecting with fellow students from the Circle U. university alliance. These meaningful connections opened doors to future academic collaboration and personal growth.”
Marija Bursać , student of Chinese language, literature and culture and Comparative literature at the University of Belgrade
Programme and how to apply
The programme will start with five days of online sessions (20, 22, 24, 27 and 29 July), followed by a week of in-person classes and activities (3 – 7 August) in Berlin. All components of this summer school will be taught in English. Please note that participation is mandatory both during the online and in-situ phase.
Download the full programme (PDF)
Applications are accepted through the MoveOn portal until 23:59 CET on 28 February. Please register here and enter the required information. Along with the application form, please submit your CV and motivation letter (both in English), your Transcript of Records, as well as proof of enrolment at one of the Circle U. universities.* By 4 May, all applicants will be notified by email about the results of the selection procedure.** If you have any questions regarding the application process, feel free to contact us by email.
Certificates and travel arrangements
Participants are expected to actively contribute to the discussions, fulfil a small portfolio of online tasks to receive accreditation, and share their work in group presentations. Their contributions are assessed on a pass/fail basis and successful participants will receive a Certificate of Completion issued by Circle U. In addition, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin will provide a Transcript of Records (5 ECTS). Please consult your local examination office regarding course recognition in your study programme.
The summer school is free of charge. To find out about potential funding opportunities for travel and accommodation, please reach out to your international/Erasmus office at your home institution:
- Aarhus University: aarhus@circle-u.eu
- University of Belgrade: Nikola Savic nikola.savic@rect.bg.ac.rs
- Humboldt Universität zu Berlin: berlin@circle-u.eu
- King’s College London: Students are not eligible for Erasmus+ funding, but may have access to internal funding. Please check for funding opportunities or contact the Circle U. Team for more information: circle-u@kcl.ac.uk
- UCLouvain: infocircleu@uclouvain.be
- University of Oslo: oslo@circle-u.eu
- Université Paris Cité: circleu.iro@u-paris.fr and online at u-paris.fr
- University of Pisa: circleU.erasmus@unipi.it and on our website.
- University of Vienna: circle-u@univie.ac.at
Please note that successful applicants will be asked to make their own travel and accommodation arrangements. Humboldt-Universität will provide a list of recommendations to support this process.
* Only students from Circle U. Universities may apply for this summer school. Circle U. includes Aarhus Universitet, Univerzitet o Beogradu, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Universitetet i Oslo, Universität Wien, Università di Pisa, King’s College London, Université Paris Cité and Université catholique de Louvain.
** Please note that for the purpose of selecting summer school participants we intend to disclose your personal data (name, semester, letter of motivation, grade point average) to our Circle U. partner universities (Aarhus Universitet, Univerzitet u Beogradu, King’s College London, Université catholique de Louvain, Universitetet i Oslo, Université Paris Cité, Universität Wien, Università di Pisa).
