09-25-2025

KU Summer Camp connects health and climate protection

Early-career researchers from all over the world met at the Catholic Uni-versity of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt to discuss current issues in the fields of cli-mate protection and health as part of the Transformation Summer Camp. The 20 international researchers came to Ingolstadt from all over Germany, Europe and various countries on other continents to work on their own research projects in exchange with researchers from the KU. One of the highlights of the program was the exchange with doctors from the Ingolstadt Hospital. This was the third time that the summer camp sponsored by the "Exzellenzstiftung Ingolstädter Wissenschaft - Ignaz Kögler” (Ingolstadt Science Excellence Foundation - Ignaz Kögler) took place.

"What I particularly liked about the Summer Camp was the exchange with international researchers who are interested in issues relating to global health and well-being. We had some incredibly interesting discussions on topics that are of great concern to us as a global society", explained Nina Stratil, who works on biodiversity at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) in Leipzig.

During the six-day exchange program, researchers from disciplines such as philosophy, nursing science, medicine and medical ethics, ecology, geography, history of science and economics offered insights into the latest developments in their respective fields of research. Climate change is one of the greatest threats not only to the planet, but also to human health. "The Covid 19 pandemic has made it particularly clear that an in-depth examination of the challenges that arise at the interface between the environment and health is particularly urgent", says Dr. Thomas Metten, who organized the camp at the KU.

With this in mind, the 2025 Summer Camp has deliberately focused on the connection between environment and health . The KU is thus continuing an established concept: The Summer Camp deals with topics that lie at the interface of the major challenges of our time, but which have not yet received enough attention in research. “In this way, we want to promote the development of new innovative research approaches and actively contribute to successful social development”, explained KU President Gabriele Gien at the start of the event. "The fact that we are bringing together young researchers from Finland, Greece, France, Mexico, Vietnam and Uganda is an important step towards international understanding, especially at a time of increasing crises and conflicts."

During the summer camp, the participants, who are about to complete their studies or are in the early stages of their doctorate, learned which research questions are being addressed by established academics. They also discussed their own ideas and projects with the experts. "It was absolutely inspiring for me to get to know people and their research ideas from all over the world. It really opened my eye", said Vu Huong Mai Nguyen, from Mary Immaculate College in Ireland. Vice President Prof. Dr. Jens Hogreve therefore emphasized once again at the end of the week: "The research camp is an important component of our strategy to promote academic careers. No other event has such a strong interdisciplinary and international focus and is aimed specifically at graduates and early-career researchers."

Visit to Ingolstadt Hospital

The summer camp participants visited Ingolstadt Hospital. — Researchers exchange ideas with doctors at Ingolstadt Hospital. From left: Prof. Dr. Martina Nowak-Machen, Dr. Katharina Walther, Dr. Hans-Georg Palm, Dr. Thomas Metten

Part of the program was reserved for an exchange with doctors from Ingolstadt Hospital. Prof. Dr. Hans-Georg Palm, Prof. Dr. Martina Nowak-Machen, Dr. Katharina Walther and Jairo Jose Ferniza Garza gave the participants an insight into the work of the clinic. They explained that in addition to caring for the well-being of the patient, which is always the focus, the well-being of the medical and nursing staff is also important. However, they also discussed the challenges posed by an increasingly ageing society. "The event offered an inspiring exchange with international students and opened up new perspectives on the opportunities and challenges of the healthcare system in Germany and worldwide as part of an exciting discussion", says Prof. Dr. Hans-Georg Palm, Director of the Center for Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery at Ingolstadt Hospital, who organized the summer camp on behalf of the hospital.

At the end of the research camp, the participants presented the results of the work process in a scientific poster exhibition. The results of the research workshops were incorporated into the development of the posters. In addition, the early-career researchers also highlighted how they would like to actively contribute to social development through their scientific commitment. "It was an important experience for me to be able to develop my ideas and my own research project further in exchange with the other participants", summarized Santiago Julio Urzúa. The sociologist from Chile is investigating the impact of environmental protection in Patagonia on the population groups living there, their cultural heritage and their livelihoods. In the final discussion, he showed how he would like to discuss his research findings in future in dialog rounds with all those affected in order to include the perspectives of those who have often been neglected in the past.

"I was impressed by the commitment of the young academics to successful social development", said Prof. Dr. Georg Rosenfeld, Chairman of the "Ingolstadt Science Excellence Foundation - Ignaz Kögler", during the discussion. "I am particularly pleased that the camp in Ingolstadt is laying the foundations for an international network of young researchers." This is the second time that the Excellence Foundation has funded the implementation of the research camp, making it possible to invite such an international group of participants. The organization and implementation of the summer camp also took place as part of the "Mensch in Bewegung II" project funded by the federal-state initiative "Innovative University".