Institutions must communicate many topics, including sustainability, often with limited resources. Beyond these practical constraints, a more fundamental question arises: What role should universities play in communicating sustainability?

Universities play an important institutional role in safeguarding scientific integrity and facilitating meaningful public engagement. One key question is how scientific knowledge can remain credible and relevant beyond academic circles, particularly during polarizing debates. However, universities do not necessarily have to choose just one communication role. 

One open question that we hope to explore together is whether institutions can more consciously reflect these roles and perhaps assign them to different actors, formats, or public "faces." Can a university communicate through multiple voices without confusing its audience? How can communication professionals navigate these questions when working with researchers who may not have reflected on these roles?

Please find here the available Call for Proposals with further information here [PDF].

This workshop is organized by:

Karin Bauer-Leppin is chief communication officer at Freien Universität Berlin.

Bastian von Lehsten is co-founder and managing director of the Berlin-based design agency Novamondo, which he founded in 2004. The agency specialises in issues relating to social change – including the transformation of regions and organisations, change processes in public institutions, and sustainability communication. In 2024, he also founded Novisio GmbH, which implements challenge-based innovation projects.

*To participate in this workshop, please register via our conference registration platform.