Keep Cool: Stories of Adaptation in the Warming City

online course

Climate change is one of the most urgent and complex problems we face today. With the publication of the latest IPCC synthesis report in March of this year, climate scientists issued their “final warning” to act. UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, refers to the crisis as a “climate timebomb.” All signs indicate that the world is headed for two degrees or more of global heating by the end of this century.

In this virtual summer school in collaboration with infernum, we will focus on how we must adapt various biological, social, and technological systems to cope with the warming climate we can expect to see in the coming years. The summer school will focus on three main areas of climate adaptation:


- the biological and other changes we should expect through 2050 – from heat waves and drought to heavy rains and more extreme storm fronts, as well as the social and economic impacts of these climatic changes
- the actions that governments, businesses, private citizens, and others are taking around the world to make homes, crops, and cities more resilient in the face of these changes
- how to use storytelling and speculation to raise awareness of the challenge of climate change, build momentum for action, and imagine a resilient future we’d like to inhabit

Course leader

Dr. Lisa Pettibone
FernUniversität in Hagen, Chair for Policy Research and Environmental Politics

Target group

The summer school primarily targets students at the Master’s level, but also welcomes advanced Bachelor’s students, space permitting. All disciplines are welcome. Students are required to have an English language proficiency level of at least B2 (CEFR).

Course aim

During this one-week summer school, international experts from throughout academia and beyond will shed light on the topic from different disciplines, based on state-of-the-art knowledge and research. Students will broaden their perspectives through direct exchange by learning about different regional conditions and approaches. The summer school offers a great opportunity to learn about successful collaboration in digital and international settings and practice using creative tools and methods to communicate about climate change and develop ideas that make a difference.

Credits info

1.5 EC
After successful completion of the course, students will receive a certificate showing the course content and title, including ECTS.

Fee info

EUR 0: None