In an increasingly interconnected world, where the pursuit of sustainability transcends boundaries, are we doing enough to apply our scientific knowledge to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and a sustainable society? Do we already have all the knowledge and ideas to manage the climate crisis, requiring only sufficient funding and political will? What are the differences in goals and measures between the United States and Europe?
From the remote expanses of the Arctic to the bustling cities of the global south, the imperative to safeguard our environment and foster sustainable development resonates deeply. Scientific innovations in sustainability offer transformative solutions to pressing challenges. Across diverse fields—from renewable energy to climate resilience, from biodiversity conservation to equitable access to resources—innovators and thought leaders are pioneering responses that align with the SDGs.
From educating the next generation to producing relevant research, and sharing their knowledge with society, higher education institutions on both sides of the Atlantic—alongside communities and businesses—have a global responsibility and an enormous impact on the actions of their citizens.
On May 23rd, we hosted a panel discussion with the new Rector of the University of Cologne, and DAAD President, Professor Joybrato Mukherjee, and special guests to:
learn about the local, national, and global opportunities and challenges stakeholders face when working toward affordable and clean energy as well as broader climate action goals
focus on German and US approaches to close the gap between knowledge and action
discuss how we can overcome societal impatience for climate progress with the help of transformative innovation
exchange new ideas for pathways to a sustainable future
network with stakeholders from universities, businesses, and communities from Germany and the United States
Our Experts:
Prof. Joybrato Mukherjee, Rector, University of Cologne, and President, German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
Prof. Michael B. Gerrard, Andrew Sabin Professor of Professional Practice, Columbia Law School
Dianne Anderson, Director, Office of Sustainability at NYU
Moderated by:
Dr. Yaena Kwon, Freelance Journalist, Harvard University
Welcoming remarks by:
Dr. Eva Bosbach, Executive Director, University of Cologne New York Office
Prof. Dr.-Ing. René Haak, Minister-Counselor, Head of Section Science and Technology, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany Washington, D.C.
Benedikt Brisch, Director, German Center for Research and Innovation (DWIH) and German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) New York
Photos: Roshni Khatri
Biographies
Prof. Joybrato Mukherjee began his term as President of the DAAD on January 1, 2020. According to the association charter, the President represents the DAAD in all organization-related matters. He serves as the chairperson of the Executive Committee, prepares its deliberations and resolutions, and ensures their implementation. He also chairs the meeting of the Board of Trustees and the General Assembly. His responsibilities include appointing the Secretary-General following confirmation by the Executive Committee and supervising the organization's management.
On October 1, 2023, Prof. Dr. Mukherjee took office as Rector of the University of Cologne. In cooperation with the other members of the Rectorate, he represents the university externally and is responsible for its management and strategic development. He chairs the Rectorate and the Senate and is the chief supervisor of the university’s scientific staff. He also defines the guidelines for the execution of the Rectorate's tasks.
Prof. Dr. Mukherjee completed his studies in English, Biology, and Education at RWTH Aachen University in 1997. In 2000, he received his doctorate at the University of Bonn; he also completed his habilitation in 2003 and was awarded the venia legendi for English Philology.
Prof. Michael B. Gerrard, Andrew Sabin Professor of Professional Practice at Columbia Law School, teaches courses on environmental law, climate change law, and energy regulation, and founded and directs the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law. He also chaired the faculty of Columbia University’s Earth Institute from 2015 to 2018. From 1979 through 2008, he practiced environmental law in New York, most recently as partner in charge of the New York office of Arnold & Porter. Upon joining the Law School faculty in 2009, he became the senior counsel to the firm. His practice involved trying numerous cases and arguing many appeals in federal and state courts and administrative tribunals; handling the environmental aspects of numerous transactions and development projects; and providing regulatory compliance advice to a wide variety of clients in the private and public sectors. Gerrard was the 2004-2005 chair of the American Bar Association’s 10,000-member section of environment, energy, and resources. He also chaired the New York City Bar Association’s executive committee and the New York State Bar Association’s environmental law section. He has served on the executive committees of the boards of the Environmental Law Institute and the American College of Environmental Lawyers. Several independent rating services ranked Gerrard as the leading environmental lawyer in New York and one of the leading environmental lawyers in the world.
Miranda Massie is the founder and director of New York City’s Climate Museum, the first climate-dedicated museum in the U.S. The Museum mobilizes the power of arts and cultural programming to invite visitors into climate engagement and to transform our public culture for action at scale. Massie is active within several coalitions focused on climate-oriented work within the cultural sector, serves on numerous international design juries, and speaks frequently on the need to integrate programming on climate across the cultural sector. She is a Public Voices Fellow with the OpEd Project and the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication.
Dianne Anderson is the Director of Sustainability. Her team runs a variety of programs that empower and guide the NYU community to enact and embrace sustainability practices and behaviors. Dianne joined NYU in 2007 and developed a coherent, campus-wide sustainability program. Prior to NYU Dianne worked in County-level government in California developing and implementing energy and waste management polices for new construction while retrofitting County buildings for energy efficiency. Dianne holds a Master of Public Administration from NYU Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies from San Jose State University. She is a LEED Green Associate and Certified Energy Auditor.
Dr. Yaena Kwon is a multilingual broadcast journalist from Germany, primarily reporting for the public broadcasters ZDF and WDR. She studied at the University of Cologne and received her Ph.D. in Political Science, after research stays at Korea University, Waseda and U.C. Berkeley. As an expert on transatlantic relations, Asia and U.S.-Asia relations, Yaena Kwon has been working as a moderator and speaker in multiple countries. Currently, she is a Visiting Scholar at Harvard University.
Dr. Eva Bosbach is the Executive Director of the University of Cologne New York Office. Born in Prague, she received both her Masters and Ph.D. degree from the University of Cologne. Prior to coming to New York, she was Program Manager at the German Rectors’ Conference in Bonn, Germany, and is author of several comparative studies about doctoral education and the humanities in Germany and the U.S. Dr. Bosbach was awarded NYC Council and NY State Assembly Honorary Citations in 2017 and currently serves on the Boards of the German Centers for Research and Innovation (DWIH) New York and San Francisco.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. René Haak has been the Head of the Science and Technology Department of the German Embassy in Washington DC since April 2021. Prior to coming to Washington DC he was the Head of the Unit Climate Research, Biodiversity Research and Global Change at the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). As the Head of this unit he developed the climate research centers in West Africa (Wascal) and Southern Africa (Sasscal). He joined the BMBF in 2005. Between 2011 and 2014 he was the Head of the Science and Technology section at the German Embassy in Beijing (China). He was previously the Head of the Business and Economics Section and Deputy Director at the German Institute for Japanese Studies (DIJ), Tokyo which he joined in 1999. He has a PhD degree in Engineering from the Technical University of Berlin and a degree in business administration from the Free University of Berlin. Research experiences include the Fraunhofer Institute for Production and Design Technology (IPK) and the Institute for Machine Tools and Manufacturing (IWF) of the Technical University of Berlin. He is Professor at the Johannes-Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany.
Benedikt Brisch has been Director of the German Academic Exchange Service - DAAD North American regional office and the German Center for Research and Innovation DWIH New York since 2019. He studied history, Slavic languages and political science at the University of Cologne and has been with DAAD since 1998. Among other positions, he was Deputy Director of the DAAD Moscow Office and Head of the Division for Europe and North America at DAAD Headquarters in Bonn, Germany. As director of DWIH in New York, he developed the new "Future Forum" format that brings together researchers and innovators from business and industry in Germany and the U.S. In 2021 he successfully negotiated an agreement between DAAD and IIE for the “Gilman-DAAD Germany Scholarship”. This partnership between the U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program and the DAAD supports a wider effort to increase and diversify student mobility among German and American higher education institutions.
The event is hosted by the University of Cologne New York Office, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) New York, the German Center for Research and Innovation (DWIH) New York, the German Research Foundation (DFG) North America, American Friends of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the German Embassy, Washington DC, and 1014. It is part of the NRW-USA Year 2023-2024.
VENUE ACCESSIBILITY
Unfortunately, 1014 Fifth Avenue is in the process of being refurbished, and is not fully accessible in its current state. We apologize to our guests and kindly ask you to contact j.isaacs@1014.nyc if you need further information or assistance. We will do our best to enable everyone to join us.