News
oikos Roundtable: Discussing economics curriculum for a sustainable future
Calls for reform in economics have intensified significantly in recent years. The financial crisis highlighted the risks of relying on a narrow set of neoclassical economic models and amplified demands for a more diverse approach to teaching and research in the field. Growing challenges to sustainable prosperity add further urgency to the need to shift. Rising inequality and environmental threats are cases in point. The need for change is further amplified by the economic story that shapes our lives. In the words of F. S. Michaels “In these early decades of the twenty-first century, the master story is economic: economic beliefs, values and assumptions are shaping how we think, feel and act”. On 28th March 2019, oikos organized... »
oikos Winter School “Growing Cities, growing responsibilities – taking the lead to a sustainable future”
The oikos Winter School 2019 explored a range of topics from Megacities and Smart Cities to new energy and transportation concepts to civic participation. In this interactive blog prepared by Janina Hoffmann, one of the participants of the winter school and oikos communications and marketing working group member, you can take a closer look at the topics covered by inspiring speakers and passionate participants. The shaping of us This story is relevant to you, as urban space is about your living space. Central to this topic are the questions: How do we want to live? How do we imagine our living spaces? How can we shape our habitat? I joined this year’s Winter School to find answers to... »
30 seconds with the oikos Spring Meeting 2019 Team
They are the reason behind the success of the Spring Meeting 2019, and who can better tell their story but the team itself. In this edition of the 30 seconds with segment meet our amazing organizers from oikos Belgrade! When it comes to challenges, our team always faces them with courage and always tries to go beyond our capabilities. But by accepting the challenge of organizing such a big and important conference, we surpassed all our ambitions. This small, but unique team of six invested a lot of efforts and worked hard to deliver the Spring Meeting 2019. The result is an unforgettable experience, new knowledge, skills, and life-long friendships, as well as the inevitable fun – because... »
oikos Spring Meeting 2019: understanding challenges and opportunities in Sustainable Urbanism
Rising sea levels, increased precipitation and inland floods are but a few challenges facing cities amidst increasing global temperatures. Add to it worrying number of deaths from air pollution, overpopulation, waste-disposal problems, poverty and one cannot help but see the need for urgent action. The question is what can be done to slow down and eventually reverse these trends? From 16th to 17th March 2019, the oikos Spring Meeting 2019 focused on the topic of Sustainable Urbanism in an attempt to find an answer to the question. By bringing together students from around the world and leading sustainability professionals based in Belgrade, Serbia the event assessed the extent of urban problems, looked into the world of sustainable cities... »
The LEAP Mid-Term Meeting 2019: Sailing on the sustainability wave
In March 2019, oikos LEAP Advanced Participants met in Belgrade, Serbia. In this pesonal blog story Maike and Hannah, two of the meeting participants recount their brief LEAP journey. In March 2019 seventeen oikos LEAPers from all over the world set sails to continue their journey of self-development and leadership training. The unique setting on a picturesque houseboat on the Danube river in Belgrade entailed not only a floating conference room but also a comfy fireplace and individually decorated dorm rooms which fostered our creativity and helped us discover more about our personalities. Cooking dinner for each other in the evenings did not only serve as a teambuilding activity but also, as a matter of fact, sustained us.... »