Eichstätt – Space for Everyone?

The project “Eichstätt – Space for Everyone” aimed to design public spaces in Eichstätt in such a way that they are accessible, safe, and inclusive for all groups of the population. It sought solutions to reconcile the diverse and often conflicting needs of citizens. A central component of the project was the citizen science approach, which actively involves citizens in research. The participation of young people, who learn to contribute their perspectives through methodology training, was particularly innovative. One example of this was the use of a UNO game in the market square to explore the acceptance of different uses of space. The findings, such as the desire for more meeting places, were passed on directly to the city. An exhibition in the Civic Engagement Office illustrated the research process and invited people to get involved. The project is supported by the Hans Sauer Foundation, which promotes participatory approaches; it was implemented in collaboration between the Citizen Science Lab at the KU and the Chair of Political Education and Social Studies Didactics headed by Prof. Dr. Rico Behrens.

Climate-related changes in pollen load

As part of the citizen science project BAYSICS, Prof. Dr. Jochner-Oette, holder of the Chair of Physical Geography / Landscape Ecology and Sustainable Ecosystem Development, worked with citizens to research climate-related changes in pollen load. Through the systematic collection and analysis of pollen data, participants actively contributed to understanding the effects of climate change on health. These citizen science contributions help to identify regional differences and develop targeted measures for adapting to climate change.

The consequences of climate change require comprehensive adaptation and climate protection measures, which in democratic societies can be successfully implemented in practice above all if they are considered legitimate, acceptable, and feasible by citizens. Through the transfer of knowledge, the promotion of awareness, and the communication of complexity, the joint project BAYSICS (Bavarian Synthesis Information Citizen Science Portal for Climate Research and Science Communication) initiated by the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts specifically addressed selected groups of actors for whom climate change was made tangible through their own observations in their specific environment.

Citizen Science in connection with SEHAG

As part of the SEHAG project (Sensitivity of High Alpine Geosystems to Climate Change since 1850), a citizen science subproject is investigating how historical photographs can be used to visualize changes in landscapes and climatic conditions. Citizens are invited to contribute their own historical photographs and locally based knowledge to enrich the scientific analysis. This collaboration between science and the public will collect valuable data that will help to better understand and document the effects of climate change.

The SEHAG project, funded by the German Research Foundation and the Austrian Science Fund since 2019, is using an interdisciplinary approach and an international network of six universities to research climate change and its consequences for alpine landscapes. The project is coordinated by the Chair of Physical Geography at the KU.

Rural educational environments for young refugees

“laeneAs” was a research project funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) from 2021 to 2024, which was carried out in collaboration between the Potsdam University of Applied Sciences and the KU Eichstätt-Ingolstadt. The aim was to identify educational barriers for young refugees in vocational training in rural areas and to promote successful educational pathways. The project was implemented using a participatory research design. This included jointly developing innovative educational programs for refugees in rural regions in Bavaria and Brandenburg. In line with the premise of applied research, the researchers combined scientific knowledge with practical development. They organized four living laboratories in which they conducted research with social practice actors in four districts in order to develop strategies for good practice.

Prof. Dr. Annette Korntheuer was the head of the laeneAs subproject in Bavaria. From 2020 to 2024, she was Professor of Fundamentals and Theories of Social Work at the KU Eichstätt-Ingolstadt.

Cultural self-organization of young people

The research project „Cultural Self-Organization of Young People in the Bavaria-Saxony-Thuringia Triangle" (2023-2026) examines the living environments of youth cultures in rural areas such as Upper Franconia, the Thuringian Forest, and the Vogtland. It aims to understand the conditions that promote or restrict self-organized cultural activities. A central approach is participatory research, in which young people are actively involved in the process, for example in workshops and interviews. The findings will benefit not only young people, but also local authorities and funding institutions.

The Social Pedagogy Department at the University of Bamberg and the Economic Geography Department at the KU Eichstätt-Ingolstadt are combining their expertise and perspectives and work in close collaboration. The project was initiated by Professor Dr. Rita Braches-Chyrek (Bamberg) and Dr. Andreas Kallert (Eichstätt) and is being implemented by Franziska Imhoff and Tilman Kallenbach. The project is also supported by the cooperation partners of the IDZ and Professor Dr. Karin Bock (TU Dresden) in an advisory capacity.

Making Eichstätt better

“Making Eichstätt better” was a participatory initiative that brought together citizen participation, local government, and academia to improve climate protection and quality of life in Eichstätt. The initiative took place as part of the “Making Germany better” project implemented by the Körber Foundation. The project ran throughout 2023. By using the creative potential of civil society and working closely with the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, solutions were developed that were not only theoretically substantiated, but also practical and feasible. The process was dialog-oriented: In so-called table talks, citizens, as well as representatives of civil society groups and institutions, were able to contribute and jointly develop their own concerns and project ideas on topics such as waste, climate adaptation measures, renewable energies, and climate gardens. In many cases, expert input in the table discussions helped to achieve a common understanding of the issues to be addressed, which served as the basis for the development of solutions. The results of the roundtable discussions were reviewed and feedback provided by the city administration.

“Making Eichstätt Better” was implemented in cooperation between the city administration of Eichstätt, the sustainability network fairEInt, and the Citizen Science Lab at the KU and was funded by the Körber Foundation.

Accompanying evaluation of citizen participation

The “Making Eichstätt better” project initiated by the Körber Foundation was scientifically monitored and evaluated during the project period with regard to its central method, the “table talks.” The evaluation was carried out by the Chair of General Sociology. It made it possible to analyze the quality and effectiveness of participatory urban development processes using the example of the table talks and to highlight their potential and limitations. The aim was to find out how inclusive, transparent, and effective participation processes can be designed that meet both the needs of citizens and the requirements of the city administration. The evaluation was funded by the Körber Foundation.

The evaluation focused on:

• Process quality
• Design of local participation processes
• Role of the stakeholders involved
• Optimization of idea generation
• Inclusion

Eichstätt - the engaged city

As a committed University, the KU places particular emphasis on combining academic knowledge with social commitment. Taking on the coordination of the “Engagierte Stadt Eichstätt” (Committed City of Eichstätt) initiative in 2021 will enable the KU to actively shape and strengthen this connection.

In its coordinating role, the KU can directly contribute its scientific expertise to local participation processes, thereby promoting community engagement in the city in a sustainable manner. With an interdisciplinary approach, the University strengthens the exchange between citizens, civil society actors, and the city administration. This not only promotes civic engagement, but also creates space for innovative ideas and solutions based on scientific findings.

Since 2015, the network program “Engagierte Stadt” (Engaged City) has been promoting the development of lasting engagement landscapes in selected cities and municipalities in Germany. It is funded by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth and supported by numerous foundations. It currently consists of 113 cities.

Participatory science communication

From October 2020 to March 2021, the KU Eichstätt-Ingolstadt carried out the project "Wissenschaft in Bewegung“ (Science in motion). The aim of the project was to develop a concept for participatory science communication that actively and practically involves citizens in the University's communication processes aimed at the general public.

The project thus took up the call made by the German Federal Government's Scientific Advisory Council on Global Environmental Change in its main report in 2011 to develop a “differentiated and participatory form of science communication.” According to the authors of the report, in the context of a participatory knowledge society, science communication not only has the task of presenting research in a comprehensible and differentiated manner, but also of communicating it to society in a participatory way.

The model developed as part of the project enabled a first step toward the design, testing, and implementation of participatory science communication. Central components of the model were participatory agenda setting and a citizen editorial team. The project was led by Dr. Thomas Metten, head of the Office for Strategy and University Development.

"Civic Engagement" Cluster

The “Civic Engagement” cluster was established as part of the BMBF's “Innovative University” funding line in the “Mensch in Bewegung I” project (2018–2022) to actively involve citizens and stakeholders in sustainable regional development. The aim was to mobilize the creative potential of civil society in order to improve the quality of life and innovative strength in the region — a contribution to an active civil society and an expression of the KU's social responsibility.

Civic engagement strengthens social cohesion and imparts key skills for the challenges of our time. It creates a third educational space that enables co-creation, responsibility, and active democratic learning, combined with personal development and social impact.

The KU promotes transdisciplinary projects, service learning, and cooperation with civil society stakeholders in order to create synergies between science and practice and to emphasize the importance of engagement for responsible citizenship.

Through research and dialog, we want to make the achievements of civil society more visible and establish the KU as a place of shared learning and action that sustainably strengthens quality of life and innovative strength.