“Social Policy & Ecological Sustainability”

Second Summer School by the Sustainable Welfare and Eco-Social Policy Network and DIFIS

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We are pleased to invite you to apply for the second Summer School organized by the Sustainable Welfare and Eco-Social Policy Network in cooperation with the German Institute for Interdisciplinary Social Policy (DIFIS). The summer school will take place from 7 to 13 September 2025 at the Domshof Forum of the University of Bremen, in the heart of Bremen's Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This years’ summer school “Social Policy and Ecological Sustainability“ focuses on new methods for sustainable welfare and transformative eco-social policy. We want to provide an interdisciplinary platform to explore the intersection of social policy, sustainability, and environmental justice. The program features lectures and methodological workshops on topics such as welfare provisioning within planetary boundaries, inequality and the polluter elite, social metabolism for planetary health and critical eco-social policy.

We are looking for early-career researchers (master’s students in their thesis phase, doctoral candidates, and early postdoctoral researchers) who are actively engaged in research within these fields. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with leading experts, present their work, and collaborate with peers from diverse academic backgrounds.

About us:

The Sustainable Welfare & Eco-Social Policy Network facilitates exchange between researchers and policy experts on the question of how welfare and social security can be organized in an ecologically sustainable society.  After the success of the first summer school, which took place last year at the University of Padova, we are pleased to be able to invite you to Bremen this year.

The German Institute for Interdisciplinary Social Policy (DIFIS) is an inter-university institution operated by the University of Duisburg-Essen and the University of Bremen. DIFIS acts as an independent think tank and service provider for social policy research, education, and political consulting in Germany. It addresses societal challenges and develops research to advance the welfare state and social security systems, offering knowledge and recommendations for policymakers, administration, and the public. The summer school is organized by the research field "Social Policy and Ecological Sustainability", one of six research fields of the DIFIS.  The research field investigates how environmental and social policy are mutually impacting ecological and human well-being targets and develops integrated eco-social instruments for sustainable welfare systems.

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Important Information:

• No participation fee for the summer school, financial support covering accommodation and travel available
• We will provide free lunch and coffee during breaks throughout the week
• Attendance is mandatory for the entire week (from 7 to 13 September 2025) 
  
• Deadline for application is 23 May
• Information about acceptance by 17 June
• Binding registration required by 8 July

If you have any questions please email to bsumscho@uni-bremen.de.

Best regards,
Dr. Pia Lange, Dr. Katharina Bohnenberger and Tilko Hobbie
Social Policy and Ecological Sustainability Summer School
University of Bremen

Preliminary Program

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Timeline

• ​​​​​​​28.04.: Start of application phase
• 23.05.: Deadline for applications
  
• 17.06.: Information about acceptance
  
• 08.07.: Binding registration needed for all accepted applicants
  
• End of July: provision of full program
  
• ​​​​​​​07.09.: Arrival in Bremen
  

Please send a short CV as a pdf file to your application (up to 3 pages) in a separate email to bsumscho@uni-bremen.de. ​​​​​​

Please provide a concise abstract of your research. The abstract should briefly describe the research question, methodology, key findings or contributions, and relevance to the themes of social policy and ecological sustainability. This will be used to assess the fit of your research with the objectives of the Summer School.

To which topics of the summer school would your research fit best (select up to 4 topics): ​​​​​​​

Please indicate whether you would like to present a poster or give a research presentation.

Do you require financial support for accommodation environmental-friendly travel and evening meals?

Please note: Please clarify in advance whether your institution will cover your costs. Please be aware that this offer is only available for participants with an active part in the summer school.

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Do you have any special needs or requests (e.g., accessible rooms, childcare, dietary restrictions etc.) that we should consider for your participation in the summer school?

We will provide vegan meals throughout the event. Please let us know if you have any specific dietary needs or allergies.

All information given by you will be handled confidentially.

By submitting this form, you consent to the collection and processing of your personal data for the purpose of the summer school registration and related communication. Your information will not be shared with third parties and will be kept confidential in accordance with the data protection laws of Germany and the EU (DSGVO).

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