In mid-April Studium generale and Colloquium politicum at the University of Freiburg will kick off their events that are open to the general public

In the upcoming summer semester, Studium generale and Colloquium politicum at the University of Freiburg are offering lectures, discussions and readings on scientific, cultural and political topics to the general public. Two special formats are being added this time: seminars on topics from the history of literature, art and ideas, and half-day excursions. “Despite the troubling current events, we have deliberately not planned a ‘crisis program’ for this post-Corona semester, neither in terms of content nor formats,” says Prof. Dr. Werner Frick, director of the Studium generale.

Seminars, Excursions, “Saturday University”

The seminars on the history of literature, culture and ideas, led by experienced university lecturers, will each take place over six evenings. "For us, this is an experiment that we definitely want to try out, especially in times of regained presence, in order to enter into the closest possible exchange with our audience," says Frick. There are no specific prerequisites for participation other than curiosity and open-mindedness. "The events are aimed at anyone who is interested in the topics and willing to learn a little bit," Frick says. The number of places is limited, however, so he recommends registering soon, just as he does for the excursions (see below).

The flagship of Studium generale this summer semester remains the "Saturday University" offered jointly with the Volkshochschule Freiburg (community college), which will again be held in solely on-site in the lecture hall. This time, renowned speakers will take a “Look at Europe” in 14 individual lectures. The series is interdisciplinary in nature. “We want to examine this topic, which is relevant to all of us, from as many different angles as possible and focus on significant milestones in European history as well as the current constitution of the European Union,” says Frick.

Lectures, Discussions, Readings

The series “Books to Talk About” and “Talks about Selected Productions” are designed as discussion podiums and are intended to serve the participatory exchange about new publications and selected productions at the Theater Freiburg. The lecture series “Contours of the Next Society” in cooperation with the Katholische Akademie (Catholic Academy) will be continued in the summer semester, and an art studies series will be devoted to the currently much-discussed questions: “Does politics shape art? Does art change politics?” In addition, the program offers a series of individual lectures. These range from topics in literary and cultural history to biotechnology and current questions about the regulation of artificial intelligence technologies to the role of science communication in science and society.

And finally, for the first time in more than three years, events from the “Readings and Theater” section will also take place: In July, Georg Paul Aichner brings his version of Joseph Roth’s “The Legend of the Holy Drinker” to the stage. And in May, the Freiburg Goethe Society, together with the Studium generale, will put on a “Poetry Slam with Goethe.” In seven minutes each, self-written texts are presented that creatively deal with one of three given Goethe quotes. “For this offering, we especially hope for the active participation of the creative cadre among Freiburg’s students,” says Frick.

Colloquium politicum

The program of the Colloquium politicum deals in detail with political, economic and social developments in many individual lectures, panel discussions, debates and lecture series. On April 17, the Colloquium politicum will open the summer semester as part of the “FRIAS Freiburg Horizons” with a debate on “The End of Capitalism?”. The journalist Ulrike Herrmann and the economist Prof. Dr. Lars Feld from the University of Freiburg will discuss the topic.

Other events include "Colonial Science and Forgotten Collateral Damage in German Togo," the German Revolution of 1848/49 and the war in Ukraine, direct democracy, environmental politics in China, and the relationship between emotions and politics. Four lecture series deal with the topic “Forgotten Wars – In the Shadow of Western Reporting,” with 75 years of the Marshall Plan, with the developments of the Turkish Republic and – as webtalks – with Freiburg and the region during the time of National Socialism.

Access the complete Studium generale program here
www.studiumgenerale.uni-freiburg.de/sg
and the Colloquium politicum program here
www.studiumgenerale.uni-freiburg.de/cp

The associated program booklet will be available starting Wednesday, April 12, 2023, in the university buildings, in Freiburg bookstores, and in the Studium generale office at Belfortstraße 20, among other places.

Register for seminars and excursions through the Studium generale office with Rainer Dausch: rainer.dausch@studgen.uni-freiburg.de

Media contact:
Office of University and Science Communications
University of Freiburg
Tel.: 0761/203-4302
E-Mail: kommunikation@zv.uni-freiburg.de