
HCE College
“Climate Change and Society: mitigation and adaptation strategies”
The HCE College is an interdisciplinary program that equips young researchers with the skills to understand and address the impacts of climate change on society and the environment. It draws on insights and expertise from diverse concepts and disciplines. The initiative aims to foster innovative thinking and improve communication between different research cultures. The program includes regular meetings, workshops, interdisciplinary courses, and colloquia.
Application
The HCE College is aimed at doctoral candidates from the entire field of environmental research in the natural & life sciences, social sciences & economics, and cultural studies.
We are pleased to invite you to an information session for joining the HCE College!
Date: 14 October 2025
Time: 17:00 – 18:00
Location: Marsilius-Arkaden, INF 130.1, 1st floor, room 01.105
During the information session, you will:
- Learn more about the mission and vision of HCE College.
- Discover the various activities planned for the upcoming academic year
- Get informed about how to join
If you are unable to attend the information session but would still like to join the HCE College, please feel free to contact us by email.

Program
The college's core program includes regular meetings throughout the academic year and an integrative summer workshop. In addition, the HCE College organizes additional courses and workshops tailored to participants' priorities and needs, provides direct access to the interdisciplinary 4EU+ training program Collegio futuro, and offers participants the opportunity to invite a guest speaker.
CORE PROGRAM ACTIVITIES:
Networking and Community Building: Provide a space for participants to get to know one another and develop a collegial, trust-based atmosphere.
Research Communication Across Disciplines: Encourage participants to explain their own research to colleagues from different fields in accessible language.
Collaborative Engagement with Literature: Pairs of participants from different disciplines jointly present and discuss an interdisciplinary publication from the field of environmental studies.
“Lens Shift”- Broadening Research Perspective: Create opportunities for participants to reframe their own research questions by exploring them through other disciplinary lenses, thereby integrating new perspectives and approaches.
The summer workshop allows participants to dive deeper into a topic of shared interest, synthesize insights gained during the program, and engage with an invited guest speaker who brings additional expertise.
CORE PROGRAM SCHEDULE, ACADEMIC YEAR 2024/25
Location: Marsilius-Arkaden, INF 130.1, 1st floor
Jour fixe:
Session I: 4.12.2025, 15:00 - 18:30 (Room 01.105); kick-off
Session II: 26.02.2026, 16:30 -18:00 (Room 01.105); Journal club
Session III: 30.04.2026, 16:30 -18:00 (Room 01.105); Journal club
Session IV: 18.06.2026, 16:30 -18:00 (Room 01.106); Journal club
Integrative Summer Workshop:
30.07.2026, 13:00 -18:00 (Room 01.105)
EXTENDED PROGRAM - OUTLOOK
November 2025
A look behind the scenes of COP30 (online session; live report from UN Climate Change Conference in Belém, Brazil)
January-February 2026
Outreach: 4EU+interdisciplinary training - Collegio futuro
November 2025 – June 2026
Networking: Heidelberg Bridge Colloquia
Member's Grant
To be able to build up one's own professional network and to make one's research visible in the community, the HCE provides funds for networking activities. These funds can be used to attend conferences or workshops or to meet with potential collaboration partners (e.g., in the context of preparing a joint proposal). Regular participation in the core program is a prerequisite for getting the grant.