“In the Mood for the Forest”: Interdisciplinary Lecture Series

Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences presents “In the Mood for the Forest” and invites all interested visitors to an interdisciplinary lecture series under this title from 10 October to 12 December. Fascinating experts will open up a wide range of perspectives on this habitat, beloved by us humans yet equally under threat. Everyone is warmly welcome!

Forests are true all-rounders and not only provide a home for countless living beings, but also produce our most important resource: air to breathe. Nevertheless, we demand a great deal from our forests: they are expected to save the climate, provide sustainable materials, and serve as refuges for threatened biodiversity, as well as spaces for leisure and sport. “In eleven events, our interdisciplinary lecture series ‘In the Mood for the Forest’ draws on the full range of our academic departments and explores the topic of the forest from ecological, economic, philosophical, art historical, architectural, therapeutic, and educational perspectives, among others,” explains Maurice Saß, Junior Professor of Art History. As co-initiator of the lecture series, he will kick things off by taking participants on a “forest walk through art history,” in which forests, woods, groves, and thickets have long been romantic places of longing and settings for countless works of art, novels, and film scenes.

One of the central questions of the subsequent events will be how we can preserve forests for future generations in times of climate change. As coordinator of the newly established Green Office at Alanus University, Ruben Greif, for example, will discuss deforestation-free business practices with representatives of the tropical forest foundation OroVerde and the Global Nature Fund. Another special highlight is the screening of the documentary film “The Wild Forest” about the groundbreaking model project Bavarian Forest National Park, which is currently developing from a former commercial forest into a refuge of biodiversity. Afterwards, philosophy professor Martin Booms will speak with director Lisa Eder about why we need more wild nature. A particularly atmospheric event will be “From Tree Gods to the Memorial Forest: Where Does My Soul Find a Home?” at Bonn’s Lutherkirche, with spiritual and musical contributions from Pastor Joachim Gerhardt, forester Manfred Hören, and Johannes Rapp, cellist with the Beethoven Orchestra Bonn. The programme is rounded off by a forest exploration with forester Arne Wollgarten, who will explain interesting facts about the condition of the forest and reveal its secrets.

The lectures are open to the public and generally take place at Alanus University on Campus II – Villestraße, with one event at the University of Bonn. A spiritual and musical performance at the Lutherkirche in Bonn and a forest walk through the Kottenforst are also part of the series. The cooperation partner of the lecture series is the General-Anzeiger Bonn.

>>Download flyer for the lecture series

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