Report on bilateral workshop

The US/ German bilateral working group which has existed now for the past 25 years met at the beginning of march in Leipzig. The scoping workshop was initiated to plan phase five of the cooperation. Over the years the focus of the cooperation has slightly shifted from a site based approach to the newly proclaimed topic of urban environments. The challenge which will be addressed is how to tackle the tasks within urban environments in order to improve and encourage sustainable and resilient land use.

The cooperation is aimed at a systems approach while considering urban dynamics. Of great importance are place based solutions and transferability in this context. 

Over the period of the next five years cooperation and case studies with cities but also which leading environmental agencies and research institutes are going to be established or deepened.  Over the course of phase five stakeholder involvement will be emphasized.

The agenda as well as presentations held can be found by scrolling downwards.

Leipzig workshop

US-German Bilateral-Working-Group Workshop on “Research for More Sustainable Urban Land Management – Enhancing Transatlantic Transfer of Knowledge” will take place in Leipzig, Germany on 6th – 7th March 2014.

The flyer is available for download here.

OVERVIEW

The United States and German Bilateral Working Group is a cooperative effort to share information and evaluate new approaches and technologies and then transfer lessons learned throughout the U.S. and Germany as to increase the resilience of environmental, social, and economic systems; and expanding the capacity of these systems to provide goods and services that sustain human life.

The goal of this workshop is to frame problem-focused, outcome-oriented and applied transfers of knowledge concerning science and technology for achieving urban sustainability between Germany and the U.S. through collaboration under the umbrella of the U.S.-German Bilateral Working Group.

Introduction and Future Research (0830-1015)

Moederated by Stephan Bartke,

with Prof. Dr. Georg Teutsch, Ann Vega, Dr. Verle Hansen, Detlef Grimski, Annette Gatchett, Prof. Dr. Reimund Schwarze and Dr. Katrin Großmann

• Welcome and Opening Ceremonies/Goals of Workshop
• Welcome by hosting UFZ
• Background of U.S.-German Bilateral leading to Phase 5
• Presentation of Phase 5 Concept Paper
• UBA perspective on future research
• EPA perspective on future research
• UFZ perspective on future research

Strategic Programs (1030-1215)

Facilitated by Dale Medearis & Reimund Schwarze

Framing New Opportunities for Strategic Long-Term, Outcome-Oriented Transfers of Urban Sustainability Policies for German and US Cities

1. Revisit principles and objectives established in frameworks relevant for the strategic agenda, such as TTIP, Transatlantic Climate Bridge, HORIZON 2020 and the EU/US S&T Agreement, US/German S&T Bilateral
2. Discuss building blocks of a holistic picture of applied and place-based Scientific and Technological research
3. Identify assets/results

Tool (1315-1800)

Moderated by Stephan Bartke

• 1315-1700 Presentation of Tools.
• 1700-1800 Discussion: Identify how these tools can/cannot help achieve sustainable urban futures.

Research Intrests (0845-1100)

Facilitated by Stephan Bartke & Ann Vega

• Introduction to the session’s objective and approach
• Introduction to the potential research topics and collection of additional research interest
• Summary evaluations and discussion of tools from day 1
• Forming of breakout groups of interest and identification of rapporteurs
• Group discussions

Further Steps (1300-1700)

Facilitated by Reimund Schwarze, Annette Gatchett

• Agree on concrete steps and timeline for producing performance benchmarks, milestones, products and outcomes.
• Discussion on collaborators, application venues, additional financing and resources…
•  Compile list of prerequisites to the concrete steps outlined in the previous discussions
• Final words

Field trip

Facilitated by Kersten Roselt and Ingo Quaas

• Field trip to "City of Light" Jena and Bauhaus City Weimar
• Explore revitalization of former Carl Zeiss plant to be transferred to Jena Univ. campus
• Break and transfer to Weimar
• Meeting with IBA Thüringen Managing Director Prof. Dr.-Ing. Engelbert Lütke Daldrup at
  Internationale Bauausstellung Thüringen GmbH | Gutenbergstr. 29a | Weimar, Germany
• City tour Weimar