This interdisciplinary CIVIS BIP brings together students and faculty from leading European universities to tackle the climate crisis through the lenses of climate science, social sciences, and psychology.
Hosted by the University of Salzburg, with contributions from Stockholm University and the University of Tübingen, the course is designed for advanced Bachelor’s, Master’s, and early-stage PhD students.
The programme includes three phases:
- Phase 1 (online, April 2026): students acquire foundational knowledge through virtual lectures and self-paced learning;
- Phase 2 (in-Person, 4–8 May 2025): in Salzburg, local and international students engage together in field trips, stakeholder meetings with an industrial company and at a power plant, and team activities;
- Phase 3 (online, May-June 2026): students collaborate in interdisciplinary teams to produce podcasts or videos proposing solutions to the real-world climate challenges they identified with the stake-holders.
Topics include climate modelling, water and energy management, societal adaptation, and psychological barriers to climate action. Students interact with local stakeholders such as Salzburg AG and sustainable industry leaders, applying their knowledge to practical problems.
The course awards 6 ECTS and aligns with CIVIS HUB 1 (Climate, Environment, Energy) and HUB 4 (Cities, Spaces, Mobilities), supporting EU priorities like the European Green Deal and the Digital Education Action Plan.
The physical mobility section of the BIP will take place between 4-8 May 2026, in Salzburg, Austria. The students will engage in interactive learning, team-building, and field trips to local climate stakeholders.
Activities include visits to flood-affected communities, a hydro-power plant, and a sustainable industry leader specializing in household products. Classroom sessions focus on water and energy management, climate adaptation, and team planning.
Social events like a city rally and group dinners foster intercultural exchange and collaboration, preparing students to tackle real-world climate challenges in interdisciplinary teams.
The course will start on 23 March. All the virtual meetings will be held Mondays, between 16.00-18.00 CET.
- 23 March 2026: course kick-off & overview with Lukas Thürmer (mandatory); online lectures for self-paced learning; online meetings for Q&A
- 30 March 2026: Climate Science: Earth System & Modeling (Qiong Zhang)
- 7 April 2026: Water Systems & Environmental Impacts (Christiane Zarfl)
- 13 April 2026: Energy Transition & Societal Adaptation (Olaf Kühne)
- 20 April 2026: Psychological Responses to Climate Threats (Johannes Klackl)
- 27 April 2026: Motivation & Behavior Change for Sustainability (Lukas Thürmer)
- 5 May - 14 June: teams will be encouraged to schedule additional weekly work-meetings to complete their assignments; they have the chance to get feedback by booking online meetings, available again Mondays, 16.00-18:00 CET.