Raum 114

Exhibition Opening & Panel Discussion

How do Mediterranean cities embody both coexistence and contestation? This panel brings together AGYA members and alumni Tamirace Fakhoury (International Politics and Conflict, Medford), Claire Bullen (Anthropology and Sociology, Tübingen), Amro Ali (Sociology, Cairo), and Ayham Dalal (Architecture and Urban Design, Cairo) to examine how socio-economic forces, migration, memory, and urban design shape the ways people live together across lines of difference. The discussion explores how conflict, displacement, and creativity converge in Mediterranean cities, revealing how urban spaces – fragile yet resilient – can inspire new imaginaries of belonging and conviviality across the region.

Panel Discussion
 

How can we sustain global food supplies as climate change transforms what can be grown, and where? This panel examines the cascading effects of climate change on food systems – from crop failures and shifting agricultural zones to questions of nutrition and food access – and explores adaptation strategies across different scales and contexts. Join Arab and German experts – AGYA alumnus Tilal Abdelhalim (Plant Breeding & Physiology, Khartoum/Tübingen), Christoph Gornott (tbc, Agricultural Science, Potsdam), AGYA alumna Henda Mahmoudi (Plant Biology & Ecophysiology, Dubai), and Hermine Mitter (Environmental Economics & Sociology, Graz) – as they discuss how farmers, institutions, and policymakers can build more resilient food systems in the face of climate uncertainty, drawing on experiences from the Arab world and Europe. Constanze Bickelmann (Molecular Biology, Berlin) will host the discussion.
 

In cooperation with the former BBAW’s Interdisciplinary Research Group ‘Nutrition, Health, Prevention’.

Panel Discussion
 

How can scholars navigate their roles in times of crises and uncertainty? How should academic knowledge shape societies in an age of post-truth and rising science scepticism? What challenges do scholars face in contexts of limited academic freedom, scarce resources, or political pressures? And how can education, research, and public engagement strengthen the societal relevance of scholarship in both the Arab world and Germany? These and further questions have been addressed at a recent international AGYA conference at the Tunisian Academy of Sciences, Letters and Arts in Tunis. Initial findings will be presented by AGYA alumni Luise Fischer (Human & Historical Geography, Tunis/Leipzig), Jan Völkel (Political Science, Ottawa), Ahmad Amro (Epidemiology, Abu Dis), and Mohammad Alwahaib (Philosophy, Kuwait City) and put up for discussion with the audience. Sascha Hein (Education & Psychology, Berlin) will moderate the discussion.

Soap Box Talks

To conclude the evening, AGYA members and alumni will present surprising, yet remarkably effective methods of conflict resolution from different regions and historical periods. How did our ancestors resolve conflicts beyond war and fighting? Can we learn from their examples? And what new paths might we forge towards a more peaceful and respecting future? Join us for an inspiring journey through the unusual and creative ways of finding agreements and common grounds.