Earth system scientist Johan Rockström is Albertus Magnus Professor 2026
In two public lectures, the Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research will speak about planetary boundaries and how the consequences of changes to the Earth system can still be mitigated
As Albertus Magnus Professor, Johan Rockström will visit the University of Cologne from 15 to 17 July 2026 to deliver two public lectures and lead a seminar. He is the founder of the Stockholm Resilience Centre, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, and Professor of Earth System Science at the University of Potsdam as well as of Water Systems and Global Sustainability at Stockholm University. In his work, Rockström focuses in particular on the future of the Anthropocene and global water resources. His research on tipping points in the Earth system attracted particular attention, especially through his contribution to the concept of planetary boundaries.
Dates:
Wednesday, 15 July, 7:30 p.m.
Lecture ‘Scientific Update on the State of the Planet’
Lecture hall B (Lecture Hall Building), Universitätsstrasse 35, 50931 Cologne
The lecture will be followed by a drinks reception in the foyer of the Lecture Hall Building.
Thursday, 16 July, 7:30 p.m.
Lecture ‘Transformation Pathways for a Prosperous and Equitable Future Within Earth’s Safe Operating Space’
Lecture hall B (Lecture Hall Building), Universitätsstrasse 35, 50931 Cologne
Friday, 17 July, 12 p.m.
Public seminar: Johan Rockström in conversation with Kate Rigby
Conference room (Seminar Building 106), Universitätsstrasse 37, 50931 Cologne
The lectures are open to the public; participation in the seminar is limited to registered attendees: https://amp.phil-fak.uni-koeln.de/anmeldung
The events will be held in English.
In his first lecture, Johan Rockström discusses the planetary boundaries that govern the stability of the Earth system. As the Earth loses resilience, global warming is accelerating, bringing us ever closer to major tipping points. Rockström outlines ways in which humanity can minimize the risk of crossing critical thresholds and take decisive action to prevent tipping points from being reached. In his second lecture, he will focus on the two transformations with the greatest potential to bring the world back within safe planetary boundaries: the transformation of the global food system and the transition to a sustainable energy system. In the seminar, Johan Rockström discusses the Environmental Humanities with Kate Rigby.
Following many distinguished scholars, including Bruno Latour, Judith Butler, Achille Mbembe, Eva Illouz, David Wengrow and N. Katherine Hayles, another internationally renowned scholar has been appointed to the Albertus Magnus Professorship, which was established in 2005. The appointment marks the nineteenth edition of the professorship. It is named after the medieval polymath Albertus Magnus, who led the Dominican Order’s studium generale in Cologne in the mid-thirteenth century and is regarded as one of the intellectual founders of the University of Cologne, which was founded in 1388.
Wissenschaftlicher Ansprechpartner:
Professor Dr Andreas Speer
Thomas Institute of the University of Cologne
+49 221 470 2309
andreas.speer@uni-koeln.de
Weitere Informationen:
https://Photos:
https://www.pik-potsdam.de/portal/members/johanro/portrait-gallery
https://More Information:
https://amp.phil-fak.uni-koeln.de/
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