Global UNESCO Chair Lecture Series IV: The World in 2050
In a rapidly evolving world, preparing for the future requires innovative thinking, interdisciplinary perspectives and collaborative action. The 4th edition of the international UNESCO Chair Lecture Series “The World in 2050: Global Futures” explores the critical challenges and transformative opportunities that are reshaping our social, economic, political and ecological systems.
Bringing together leading experts and UNESCO Chairs from different disciplines and world regions, the lecture series creates a platform for dialogue on possible futures and the choices that may shape them. Topics include anticipation and foresight, innovation, finance and education, as well as the complex relationships between global transformation processes and local realities. By connecting diverse perspectives, the series seeks to deepen our understanding of how more equitable, sustainable and resilient futures can be imagined and created.
The lecture series is an integral component of the module Designing Futures: Themes, Methods and Technics of ‘Futures Studies’ of the digital Master’s programme “Transformation and Sustainable Living Spaces – Reshape Tourism” at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt.
The lecture series programme is organized by the UNESCO Chair in Interdisciplinary Anticipation and Global-Local Transformation at Eurac Research Bolzano/Bozen, Italy, in cooperation with the School of Transformation and Sustainability at the Catholic University Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Germany, and UNESCO’s Futures Literacy and Foresight, Management of Social Transformations Programme.
Together, these partners create an interdisciplinary and international space for exploring one central question:
What kind of world might we live in by 2050 and how can we actively contribute to shaping it?
Information
All lectures will take place online via Zoom. To participate, please register using the link below:
ZOOM-LINK
A certificate of attendance is available upon request to participants who have attended at least eight units and must be requested by 15.02.2027. Please send your request to: elina.stoermann(at)ku.de
Participation is free of charge.
Language: English
Programme
You can find the full programme in the programme overview.
October 2026
15.10.2026 | 12:00 – 14:00
Opening remarks
Professor Harald Pechlaner, Founding Chair of the School of Transformation and Sustainability, Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Germany
Roland Benedikter, UNESCO Chair in Interdisciplinary Anticipation and Global-Local Transformation, Eurac Research Bolzano/Bozen, Italy
Clare Stark, Head of UNESCO Futures Literacy and Foresight, Paris, France
Inaugural Lectures:
Professor Andrea Lenzi, UNESCO Chair on Education and Research for Urban Health, Sapienza University Rome I, Italy, Spokesperson of the Italian UNESCO Chairs Network (Rete delle Cattedre UNESCO Italiane) ReCUI, President of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR), President of the Italian Committee for Biosafety, Biotechnology and Sciences of Life of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers (CNBBSV), former President of the Italian National University Council (CUN)
Professor René Rohrbeck, UNESCO Chair for Organizational Anticipation, Resilient Leadership and Educational Innovation, EDHEC Business School, Paris, France, Member of the World Economic Forum’s Advisory Board for Strategic Foresight, Head of the Center for Net Positive Business and Inventor of the Future FITness Model
22.10.2026 | 12:00 – 14:00
Professor Adam Gordon, UNESCO Chair in Anticipatory Leadership and Futures Capabilites, Aarhus University and Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies (CIFS), Denmark
29.10.2026 | 12:00 – 14:00
Professor Aleksandra Temenugova, UNESCO Chair in Futures, Media and Information Literacy at the Institute of Communication Studies (ICS) Skopje, North Macedonia
Professor Felipe Koch, UNESCO Chair on the Futures of Education for Health and Living Well, Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC), Paris, France
November 2026
05.11.2026 | 12:00 – 14:00
Professor Benno Werlen, UNESCO Chair on Global Understanding for Sustainability, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany
Professor Kewulay Kamara, UNESCO Chair in Futures Studies, Story-telling and Anticipation: Living Traditions, Transitions, and Resilience at the University of Makeni, Sierra Leone
12.11.2026 | 12:00 – 14:00
Professor Jorge Saavedra Utman, UNESCO Chair in Mass Media and Citizen Participation, Universidad Diego Portales UDP, Santiago de Chile, Chile
19.11.2026 | 12:00 – 14:00
TBA, UNESCO Chair in Religious Studies and Comparative Study of World Religions, International Islamic Academy of Uzbekistan, Tashkent
Professor Fabio Scarano, UNESCO Chair on Futures Literacy, Planetary Wellbeing and Regenerative Anticipation at the Museum of Tomorrow, and Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
26.11.2026 | 12:00 – 14:00
Professor Cornelius Holtdorf, UNESCO Chair in Heritage Futures, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
December 2026
03.12.2026 | 12:00 – 14:00
Professor Claudia Roda, UNESCO Chair in Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Director MSc Human Rights and Data Science, American University of Paris, France
Professor Carmen Sippl, UNESCO Chair in Learning and Teaching Futures Literacy in the Anthropocene, Head of the Centre for Futures Literacy, Pädagogische Hochschule Niederösterreich / University College of Teacher Education Lower Austria
10.12.2026 | 12:00 – 14:00
Professor Steven Shankman, UNESCO Chair in Transcultural Studies, Interreligious Dialogue, and Peace, Co-Director of the UNESCO Crossings Institute for Conflict-Sensitive Reporting and Intercultural Dialogue, University of Oregon, USA
17.12.2026 | 12:00 – 14:00
Professor Saled Reza Ameli, UNESCO Chair on Cyberspace and Culture, University of Tehran, Iran
January 2027
07.01.2027 | 12:00 – 14:00
Professor Mario de Caro, UNESCO Chair in Ethics of Artificial Intelligence and Practical Wisdom, University Rome, Italy
Professor Pietro Daniel Omodeo, UNESCO Chair in Water Heritage and Sustainable Development, University of Venice, Italy
14.01.2027 | On-campus week: student presentations
On-site in Ingolstadt
04.02.2027 | 12:00 – 14:00
Concluding session: Summary, Teachings and Perspectives and Panel Discussion
Professor Harald Pechlaner (Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Germany), Roland Benedikter (Eurac Research Bolzano/Bozen, Italy), Clare Stark (Head of UNESCO Futures Literacy and Foresight, Paris, France) and Professor Elyés Jouini, UNESCO Chair on Women and Science at Université Paris Dauphine–PSL, Director of the Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France
Contact & Organization
Scientific and organizational coordination:
Professor Harald Pechlaner, Founding Chair of the School of Transformation and Sustainability, Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Germany
Roland Benedikter, UNESCO Chair in Interdisciplinary Anticipation and Global-Local Transformation, Eurac Research Bolzano/Bozen, Italy
Clare Stark, Head of UNESCO Futures Literacy and Foresight, Paris, France
For further questions, please contact: elina.stoermann(at)ku.de
