Welcome to Environmental Weeks at the University of Potsdam! Discover where and how we’re making a difference at the University of Potsdam—whether in research, teaching, administration, or through partnerships—and what steps we’re taking to ensure sustainable administrative practices. From April 22 through July 10, we’ve prepared a wide range of activities and information for you. Stop by and feel free to take this opportunity to actively participate in the Environmental Portal.
April 2026
April 22: Earth Day – Kickoff of the Environmental Weeks
Earth Day has been celebrated on April 22 in over 175 countries since 1970, each year under a specific theme, with the aim of raising awareness of environmental issues. Everyone is encouraged to get involved through activities focused on environmental and climate protection. This year’s theme is: Join in. Lead the way. Live sustainably.
That’s exactly what we’re taking to heart—with the Environmental Weeks at the University of Potsdam!
- German Intranet podcast for Earth Day: A look inside the Green Office—tune in on April 22, 2026, on the intranet
- Press tour of the new Research Building 32 in Golm, home to the Water Hub
- Veggie Wednesday in the dining halls at our campuses
April 25, 2026: Plant Bazaar at the Botanic Garden
The Circle of Friends of the Botanic Garden is once again hosting its traditional plant bazaar this spring. You can find more information here.
April 28, 2026 Cinema preview: “The Weight of the World” at the Thalia, featuring a pre-screening talk and discussion
Evening Schedule – Preview
5:45 p.m. Pre-screening talk with director/producer Mr. Florian Heinzen-Ziob: Motivation behind the film (conversation with Matthias Zimmermann)
6:00 p.m. Film screening
7:30–8:00 p.m. – Panel discussion with Dr. Nana Maria Grüning and UP alumna Dr. Maria Hörhold, together with Prof. Stefan Rahmstorf from P.I.K. Moderator: Matthias Zimmermann (Press and Public Relations Department)
To purchase tickets in advance, click here.
May 2026
May 5, 2026 44th Scientific Salon – “Polarstern” Expedition
The “Polarstern” expedition, one of the largest Arctic expeditions in history to date, has been ongoing for about a year. Expedition participants from 20 countries have been researching the Arctic throughout the year. The “Polarstern” spent the winter frozen into an ice floe and, with the help of a network of measuring stations stretching for kilometers, collected a wealth of data on the Arctic climate. More than 200 scientific publications have since been published on the subject. Prof. Markus Rex from the Alfred Wegener Institute will report to us on the course, challenges, and most important research findings of the expedition at the next Science Salon. If you want to register, click here.
When?: May 5, 2026, 6:00 p.m.
Where?: Science Floor at the Bildungsforum Potsdam, Am Kanal 47, 14467 Potsdam
May 9, 2026: Potsdam Science Day
On May 9, Potsdam Science Day will take place for the thirteenth time. This year, it will be held at the University of Potsdam’s campus in Golm. More than 40 universities, schools, and research institutions will present their projects. As part of the University of Potsdam’s program, we will showcase our environmental degree programs—Geoecology, CLEWS, and Geography—as well as our environmental research. We are looking forward to see you there. You can find more information here.
Where?: University of Potsdam, Campus Golm
When?: 12:00 PM–6:00 PM
11 May 2026: “Knowledge About Water” in the UP supplement in the Tagesspiegel and the PNN
What dangers do heavy rains pose? What makes floodplains so worth protecting? And how can cosmic radiation be used to measure soil moisture? Researchers from the Potsdam WaterHub provide answers in the latest supplement from the University of Potsdam published in the Tagesspiegel and the Potsdamer Neueste Nachrichten. The supplement also features information on AI and robotics in medicine, learning about democracy with music, and digital painting in art classes. Last but not least, it shows how scientific work can be combined with beer brewing. To read it, click here.
May 11, 2026: Groundbreaking water research – Prof. Thorsten Wagener awarded the John Dalton Medal
Prof. Thorsten Wagener, Ph.D., was awarded the John Dalton Medal for his groundbreaking contributions to the analysis of hydrological systems and the process-based evaluation of hydrological models. The water researcher and founder of the “Potsdam WaterHub” received the prestigious award on May 7, 2026, at the EGU General Assembly in Vienna. For more information, click here.
May 12, 2026 Potsdam Transfer: Open Sustainability Consultation Hour—Making Research or Startup Ventures Sustainable
Make your research or startup venture sustainable! Once a month, Potsdam Transfer hosts an open sustainability consultation hour. This event is aimed at researchers and those interested in starting a business who want to incorporate sustainability into their research, develop initial approaches to do so, or have questions about sustainability.
You can find more information about the event and how to participate here.
May 14, 2026 What are our Mensen doing to offer Sustainable and Delicious Food? — Guest Post by the Studierendenwerk
We’re taking small steps every day toward greater sustainability in our Mensen. But what exactly are our Mensen doing to offer sustainable and delicious food? The Studierendenwerk has written a guest post on this topic. Click here to read the guest post.
You can find the guest post here.
Veggie Wednesday is back! Every Wednesday, the Mensen serve exclusively vegetarian and vegan meals.
May 28, 2026 – May 31, 2026 Green Visions Festival – Potsdam Climate Prize Award Ceremony
The Green Visions Festival is taking place again this year, and the Potsdam Climate Prize will once again be given out. The award ceremony will take place at the Filmmuseum Potsdam at 4:00 p.m.
When?: May 28, 2026, 4:00 p.m.
Where?: Filmmuseum Potsdam
For more details on the Green Visions Festival program, click here.
May 29, 2026 On the Right Track Toward a Sustainable University—University of Potsdam Receives the Potsdam Climate Prize
The University of Potsdam’s Green Office was honored with the Potsdam Climate Prize. The university received the award for its initiative to reduce campus-wide heating energy consumption. In addition to numerous other measures aimed at sustainable operation, the University of Potsdam has been offering a so-called Heizenergiesparprämie (“heating energy savings bonus”) since 2020. Departments that have registered for the Heizenergiesparprämie and reduced their heating costs receive half of the savings—which they can then use to fund projects related to climate protection, sustainability, or improving the work environment. In addition to the University of Potsdam, another institution, a school, and a company were honored. The climate awards were presented on May 28 as part of the Green Vision Film Festival at the Potsdam Film Museum. If you want to take a look at the article. click here.
June 2026
June 2, 2026 – June 22, 2026 CITY CYCLING 2026
This year, our “University of Potsdam” team is once again participating in the CITY CYCLING competition organized by the City of Potsdam. The goal is to cycle as many kilometers as possible from June 2, 2026, to June 22, 2026, and to compete against other teams in Potsdam based on the total number of kilometers accumulated. Every kilometer cycled counts—whether on the way to work, while doing shopping, or on a weekend bike trip.
Of course, there will also be an internal university trophy again this year for the most active workgroup with the most kilometers covered.
You can find more information and the registration link here.
June 5, 2026 Campus Festival
The Campus Festival will take place again this year. There will once again be many booths focused on sustainability. As part of Environmental Weeks, the festival is organized with sustainability in mind—whether it’s food, tableware, or the energy supply for the booths. We encourage you to bring your own tableware to help reduce waste. You can find more information here.
When?: June 5, 2026, 2:00 p.m.
Where?: At the Neues Palais
June 6, 2026 After Campus Festival Clean-Up Event
It’s time to clean up again! The last clean-up event was such a success that we want to do it again this year. We’d love to have lots of volunteers to help make our campus shine again.
When?: June 6, 2026, 10:00 a.m.
Where?: Am Neuen Palais Campus, Main Entrance, Building 11
June 9, 2026 Potsdam Transfer: Open Sustainability Consultation Hour—Making Research or Startup Ventures Sustainable
Make your research or startup venture sustainable! Once a month, Potsdam Transfer hosts an open sustainability consultation hour. This event is aimed at researchers and those interested in starting a business who want to incorporate sustainability into their research, develop initial approaches to do so, or have questions about sustainability.
You can find more information about the event and how to participate here.
June 10, 2026: Can They Still Be Saved? — Protecting Wild Plants in Botanical Gardens
Ella Krummenacher and Angelika Schröter will explain how botanical gardens help to protect wild plants threatened with extinction during a guided tour of the University of Potsdam Botanical Garden. For more information, click here.
When?: June 10, 2026, 5:00 p.m.
Where?: Botanical Garden, Maulbeerallee 2, 14469 Potsdam
June 19, 2026 Sustainable Events
The University of Potsdam is committed to environmentally responsible and sustainable development. Events play an important role in this effort: They shape the university’s image both internally and externally, serve as role models, and can actively contribute to protecting the climate and the environment. Sustainable events save resources, promote responsible behavior, and raise awareness among all participants. You can find more information here.
July 2026
July 10, 2026: Celebration of CLEWS’ 5th Anniversary at the Neues Palais
Understanding climate change, assessing its consequences, and developing solutions—that is the focus of the international master’s program “Climate, Earth, Water, Sustainability,” or CLEWS for short, which celebrated its fifth anniversary last week. At the anniversary event on the campus Am Neuen Palais , University President Prof. Oliver Günther, Ph.D., emphasized the importance of such international degree programs for jointly addressing global challenges. In addition to presentations by faculty and students in the program, there were numerous discussions and interesting reunions with alumni, who shared updates on their professional development and current work. For more information, click here.