Research between insight and responsibility
In collaboration with the Green Office, the Faculty of Natural Sciences hosted a film screening followed by a panel discussion, highlighting research as an active part of society’s engagement with the climate crisis. On 10 May, the film “The Weight of the World – Natural Sciences in Times of Climate Change” was shown at Apollo Cinema in Hanover.
Premiering globally on 7 May 2026, the film focuses on the role of researchers in the climate crisis. At the heart of the matter is the question of the weight scientific knowledge carries and the responsibility that comes with it. The researchers featured in the film are united by their work on pressing issues relating to climate change and sustainability. Their perspectives show that research does not remain without consequences. It generates insights that provide guidance – and create a sense of urgency to act.
In the following discussion, Marie Weinhart, Maria Hörhold and Sebastian Seiffert shared their thoughts. The conversation highlighted that scientific findings do not end in the laboratory. It became clear that scientific findings do not end in the laboratory. They relate to real-life situations – for example, when climate change shapes entire landscapes. At the same time, many researchers see their responsibility in passing on and contextualising knowledge, as a basis for informed decisions in society and politics. The discussion also highlighted different forms of scientific engagement – from teaching and outreach to social activism.
Dialogue as part of academic education
The event forms part of a more comprehensive approach to education. Researchers engage in dialogue with interested members of the public, while questions from attendees addressed both current research topics and possible courses of action. The format demonstrated that scientific knowledge unfolds its full impact only through exchange.
This close link between research and public debate is structurally embedded within the faculty. In a new interdisciplinary sustainability module, students explore topics such as soil health, microbial recycling strategies, and nature-based solutions for urban biodiversity. In a new interdisciplinary sustainability module, students explore topics such as soil health, microbial recycling strategies, and nature-based solutions for urban biodiversity. The module responds to strong student demand and continues to expand. Its aim is to establish sustainability not as an add-on, but as an integral component of scientific education.
- Open to all interested parties: Sustainability research at the Faculty of Natural Sciences
- Raschplatz-Cinema Hanover: film dates and trailer [in German]
- Details about the documentary The Weight of the World
- distributor mindjazz pictures [in German]
- Director’s website
