This blog post was written by participants of the 2025 edition of Potsdam Summer School: Lena Rölfer, Mariam Bedir, Lum Sonita Awah, Orlando Timmerman, Anna Sperber, Frances Varty Bayar, Dedar Salam Khoshnaw, Christine Li, Betty A. Antwi, Nataliia Miroshnyk, Priscilla Badaweh Coffie & Sahana Ghosh

What do the words Yekîtî, Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ, and Ubuntu* have in common with sustainable development? This question sparked lively conversation during an evening dialogue with high school students and the participants of the 2025 Potsdam Summer School themed “Beyond 2030 – Trajectories and Priorities for a Sustainable Future”. 

Jointly organised by the Research Institute for Sustainability at GFZ (RIFS), the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), the Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB) and the University of Potsdam, Potsdam Summer School brought together 29 researchers and practitioners passionate about sustainable development and climate action. Hailing from 18 countries and various professional backgrounds, from bachelor students to postdoctoral researchers and practitioners, the summer school offered an incredible opportunity for knowledge sharing, discussion, and good times.

“For me, the most striking moment was realising how quickly we built a sense of trust and community. On the first day, we were just 29 strangers from 18 countries. By the end, it felt like we had known each other for years. I especially enjoyed the evening reflections, where honest thoughts and even a few jokes created a safe space to share not only our ideas but also our doubts.” 

The summer school was an intensive and immersive journey into what it truly means to look beyond 2030 in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We explored the science-policy interface of the SDGs, reflecting not only on the achievements so far but also on the gaps and challenges that remain. Our discussion on oceans and coastal zones underscored the vulnerability of our blue planet, while the focus on agriculture and ‘One Health’ highlighted the deep interconnections between human, animal, and planetary health. Cooperation-by-negotiation was a central theme. In one ‘Living Lab’ session, we role-played as different stakeholder groups united by the goal to protect Eckernförde Bay in the Baltic Sea from environmental threats such as plastic pollution and nutrient leaching. Sessions on digitalisation and AI triggered spirited debates: are these tools our pathway to meaningful solutions, or do they risk opening a new Pandora’s Box? The introduction of the Data Workers’ Inquiry, a global participatory research initiative led by data workers to uncover inequities in data work and build collective workplace power, spurred us to question the hidden costs of the technology we use every day and recognise the importance of striving for both environmental and economic sustainability. Across all topics, speakers and participants alike pushed us to connect different disciplines and viewpoints, reinforcing the complexity and interdependence inherent in sustainable development.

“It became a call to action to push science journalism beyond the reporting of scientific discoveries to place science within a broader societal context, including human rights, economy, justice, governance, and geopolitics. Just as researchers are increasingly urged to burst their disciplinary ‘bubbles’ and pursue transdisciplinarity, science journalists, too, face the challenge of widening their lens.” 

Some moments stood out as unforgettable. A tour at Telegrafenberg, a hill on the outskirts of Potsdam named for its historic visual telegraph station, gave us a sense of walking in the footsteps of giants of science; while our visit to the Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB) revealed how agrotechnical innovations can translate research into tangible bioeconomy solutions. Evenings were equally enriching: engaging in the dialogue with high school students brought a refreshing honesty (and sometimes brutally direct questions) that reminded us why we care about these issues in the first place. And of course, our science communication session was a crash course in stepping away from PowerPoint presentations and rethinking how to make sustainability sound exciting and relatable to our everyday lives. What surprised many of us was how quickly strangers from across the globe could turn into a community. From sun-drenched shared meals on rooftops to breakfast banters and late-night brainstorming, the experience was less about lectures and more about people. 

"Here’s what we need: academics and journalists joining forces to critically investigate the ethical and societal implications of emerging research and innovation, shaping public understanding, decolonising science and communication, and ensuring science-prudent and just societal transformations."

And what of Yekîtî, Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ, and Ubuntu? It will come as no surprise that their meanings relate to concepts like interconnectedness, togetherness, community, and cohesion. The summer school offered a powerful demonstration  of these concepts by bringing together participants from different age groups, cultures, and academic and professional backgrounds. We all felt a strong sense of unity and self-empowerment – something that is often lacking when working individually or within isolated fields. These exchanges fostered empathy and broadened perspectives, which are crucial for addressing complex sustainability challenges. When people from diverse backgrounds connect deeply, they strengthen social cohesion and empower collective action. If more people could experience this kind of exchange – with its critical reflection, respectful dialogue and open inquiry – societies could move much closer towards sustainable development for people and the planet.

“As someone who often feels removed from the international academic world, meeting researchers and scientists from around the world left me feeling more inspired and excited to continue my work and maybe one day do a PhD. Everyone’s friendliness and warmth also helped me feel connected and I left with more hope for a better future.” 

* Yekîtî (Kurdish: یەکیتی) means "unity" or "togetherness" and is widely used to emphasise collective strength and solidarity in Kurdish culture. Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ from the Lakota language is translated as “All My Relations” and stands for a spiritual acknowledgement of interconnectedness with all beings, including humans, animals, plants, waters, soil, stones, winds, celestial bodies, and more. Ubuntu is Xhosa and means “I am because you are”.

“I came to Potsdam as a stranger to participate in the summer school, but by the end, it truly felt like home. This transformation was largely due to the excellent coordination of the facilitators, with special mention to Angela Borowski for her outstanding support and guidance. The variety of presentations and collaborative group work allowed me to engage deeply with this year’s theme, expanding both my knowledge and perspective. What made the experience even more enriching was the incredible diversity of the participants, a unique element that made this summer school truly special.”