The week looks at the role of sustainability and “Energiewende” in today’s society. Events include a student symposium, study abroad presentation, film screening, demonstration of renewable energies and panel of speakers.
A photo to accompany this story may be downloaded at: http://www.montana.edu/news/18097/innovative-energy-technologies-the-focus-of-msu-s-shaping-germany-week-oct-22-26
BOZEMAN – A week of events focused on innovative renewable energy technologies, sustainability and culture in Germany is set for Oct. 22-26 on the Montana State University campus.
“Shaping Germany” week focuses on “Energiewende,” which refers to Germany’s shift toward renewable energies. Made possible by a $3,000 grant from the German Embassy in Washington, D.C., the week will include a student symposium, a film screening, a renewable energies presentation and a panel featuring speakers from the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety and MSU’s Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering and School of Art.
“We’d like to reach out collaboratively and connect with the campus about sustainable energy, and we’d also like to demonstrate that German studies is not only about language,” said Peter Schweppe, professor of German studies in MSU’s Department of Modern Languages and Literatures in the College of Letters and Science. Kate Kithil and Liana McKelvy, MSU German lecturers, also are co-authoring and organizing the events. The trio explained that the topic was selected because Germany has been recognized as a global leader in renewable energy innovation since a policy shift that began in the country in 2010.
The first event in the week’s activities will be an interdisciplinary student symposium on sustainability featuring student research at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 22, in the Strand Union Building’s Leigh Lounge. Prizes will be given for best poster presentations in STEM and the humanities.
Following the symposium, Rebecca Langlois from the German Academic Exchange Service will host an informational session about funded research opportunities at 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 22, in SUB Ballroom C. Schweppe said there have long been many different kinds of MSU student exchanges with Germany as well as internships in German speaking countries cultivated by grant co-author and former German coordinator Karoline Krauss.
A free documentary screening about an ecologically-friendly treehouse designed by the famous German architect Frei Otto will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24, in MSU’s Black Box Theatre. The screening will be accompanied by a virtual tour of an energy efficient house that is being built by Stephan Löhr, a professor at the University of Kempten. MSU student Spencer Dansereau, an engineering major who is also president of MSU’s German Club, will power the virtual tour by pedaling a stationary bicycle in a demonstration of alternative energy sources.
A panel of experts will present the latest developments and research on sustainability and “Energiewende” at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26, in SUB Ballroom C. The panel will include Anton Hufnagl from the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety; Brett Gunnink, dean of the engineering college; Vaughan Judge, director of the MSU School of Art; Cecily Ryan and Kevin Amende, professors of mechanical engineering at MSU. Refreshments will follow.
Sponsors of MSU’s German week include the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, the Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering and the Germany Embassy. For more information about “Shaping Germany” go to: https://msugerman.weebly.com/campus-week-oct-22-26.html.
