Lecture series “Responsibility for the Future”

The lecture series “Responsibility for the Future” will take place in the winter semester 2025/26 with four further events.

Climate change, consumption of raw materials, digitalization, mobility, the world of work, health, demographic change, urban development – these are just a few examples of problem areas that will intensively occupy our society in the future.

As a publicly funded university of applied sciences, the Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen has a social responsibility. In this lecture series, we therefore want to demonstrate that while we cannot save the world, we make very specific contributions through practice-oriented teaching and research when it comes to solving concrete problems. With our motto "Shaping the future together," we are always a cooperation partner of companies, associations, municipalities, and schools in the region.

We invite members of the university to the lecture series. Of course, all other interested parties are also welcome: representatives from companies and associations, from politics, administration and schools, as well as those who have a personal interest in the topics.

All lectures in the series will be streamed live. All streams can be found in the playlist .

Aims of the lecture series

Programme for Winter Semester 2025/26

There are currently no events taking place in this category.

Event archive

2026

Industrial Bioeconomy – Renewable Energy from Biowaste (January 14, 2026)

Link to the live stream

Welcome address
Prof. Dr. Stephanie Hanrath, Vice President Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen
Regional material and energy recovery of biowaste
Prof. Dr. Harald Weigand , Dr. Felix Brück, Daniel Krahe, Hannah-Sophie Tscherney, RegBioFerm Project Team THM
Development and operation of an innovative fermenter for organic waste
Steffen Geipert, Brunnenhof GmbH composting plant, Biebesheim am Rhein
panel discussion

The lecture series concludes in the winter semester with a current topic from research and practice: Regenerative energy from biowaste in the context of industrial bioenergy.

In view of the challenges posed by decarbonization, the energy transition and the goal of a more efficient circular economy, there is a need to develop sustainable and integrated solutions for the material and energy use of biogenic waste.

The presented joint project RegBioFerm is further developing an innovative process for the fermentation of biowaste, which has already been tested up to Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6. The aim is to scale it up to a large-scale, multi-input demonstration plant (TRL 8) with efficient cascade utilization of biogenic waste – embedded in a regional value creation network in the southern Hessian eco-model region.

The event highlights both the technical-scientific perspective and the operational implementation:

The THM project team presents the RegBioFerm-TecBil sub-project, focusing on the experimental development and investigation of the innovative fermenter on a model scale. The experimental results, together with the numerical process simulation from Münster University of Applied Sciences, form the basis for scaling up the project. This is complemented by an accompanying life cycle assessment, which evaluates the technology, the substrates used, and the regional network.

Steffen Geipert, Managing Director of the Brunnenhof GmbH composting plant, provides practical insights into the planning, construction, and operation of the large-scale drum fermenter at the Biebesheim am Rhein site. He explains technological details, its integration into existing composting processes, and the challenges of integrating new processes into existing structures.

2025

Sustainable mobility at THM (December 10, 2025)

Link to the broadcast

Welcome address
Prof. Dirk Metzger, Vice President Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen
Sustainable Mobility at Universities
Michael Schramek, EcoLibro GmbH
Mobility concept of THM – first measures
Felix Pflüger, Sustainable Mobility, Sustainability Unit THM
panel discussion

The mobility of employees and students commuting to work or study, as well as on business trips, often accounts for the majority of a university's total CO2 emissions. At THM of Applied Sciences, these journeys account for approximately 70% of greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, universities have even less influence over mobility patterns than most public authorities or companies, because there are no binding travel guidelines for students or teaching staff. However, because these emissions are operationally generated, THM has decided to report on and account for them in its sustainability report.

Reducing emissions can be achieved primarily through attractive offers and suitable infrastructure. Because a large proportion of the student body comes from the surrounding rural areas, Friedberg and especially Giessen are heavily reliant on cars, and commuting daily by public transport is significantly more time-consuming for many, it is difficult, but not impossible, to achieve a long-term shift in transportation choices. Felix Pflüger, responsible for sustainable mobility in the Sustainability Office, explains which measures are planned in the new mobility concept and what is already happening at THM in the area of sustainable mobility.

There is no single, standardized mobility concept for universities; rather, the framework for mobility varies depending on the size and location of the university town, the size of the catchment area, the Degree Courses offered, and thus the different preferences and possibilities of students and staff, among many other factors. Therefore, meaningful analyses are needed as a basis for deriving tailored business mobility management (BMM) measures. Accessibility analyses and a mobility survey were conducted as the foundation for developing the mobility concept at THM . For the first time, subjective factors were also considered in the accessibility analysis. Decisions regarding the choice of transportation mode are usually not based solely on objectively measurable criteria such as time, costs, emissions, or physical activity, but preferences and perceptions also play a crucial role. Michael Schramek, Managing Director of EcoLibro GmbH, will present these analyses in more detail in his presentation.

Focus on Raw Materials (November 19, 2025)

Link to the broadcast

Welcome address: Prof. Dr. Stephanie Hanrath, Vice President Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen
Conspicuous consumption: When status determines raw material consumption, Prof. Dr. Christa Liedtke, Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy gGmbH
Resource competence: Key to the sustainable use of raw materials, Prof. Holger Rohn, Department Business Administration and Engineering , Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen
Panel discussion: The event will be streamed live; you can submit your questions via chat.

The lecture series celebrates its 50th anniversary with the theme "Focus on Raw Materials." The efficient and sustainable use of natural resources is one of the major challenges of the 21st century, globally, in Europe, and also in Germany. Reasons for this include the dramatic increase in global raw material consumption, the criticality of raw materials, Germany's strong dependence on raw materials as an economic hub, ecological and social issues in the supply chains of global raw material systems, and resource efficiency as a competitive factor.

The two speakers of the evening, Prof. Dr. Christa Liedtke from the Wuppertal Institute and Prof. Holger Rohn (THM), have been working together for over 30 years on the necessary transformation for a resource turnaround in politics, economics, education and society.

In her lecture "Conscious Consumption: When Status Determines Resource Consumption," Prof. Dr. Christa Liedtke, a renowned expert in sustainable production and consumption, addresses how we consume in different areas of life and thus influence the consumption of natural resources. She also refers to her book "Prosperity in Times of Transition: A Reassessment for a Sustainable Future," published in autumn 2025.

In his presentation, Prof. Holger Rohn focuses on resource competence as a key to the sustainable use of raw materials. He will present key findings from the research project "Resource Competence for Raw Material Use in Global Value Chains," which examined engineering and design degree courses nationwide. He will also discuss practical examples from the nationwide BilRess network, which, as part of the "VDI ZRE – the Competence Center for Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency," has been dedicated to implementing and promoting resource competence in all areas of education since 2012.

Common Good Economy (November 6, 2025)

Link to the broadcast

Welcome address
Prof. Dirk Metzger, Vice President Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen
Greeting from
Kjetil Dahlhaus, Mayor of Friedberg
The Economy for the Common Good: An ethical economic model.
Christian Felber, initiator of the Economy for the Common Good.
Holistic corporate management in medium-sized businesses:
Yasar Sköries, Managing Director, biokaiser GmbH
panel discussion

The 2025/26 winter semester begins with the 49th lecture series on the topic of the common good economy in Friedberg. It builds upon the theme of the common good explored at the Friedberg Summer University 2025 and deliberately chooses the unique setting of the Friedberg town church. The event is a collaborative effort between THMUniversity of Applied Sciences, its Sustainability Office, the City of Friedberg, and with the generous support of the Friedberg Evangelical Church.

Following the welcome address by Vice President Prof. Dirk Metzger (THM) and the greetings from Friedberg's Mayor Kjetil Dahlhaus, we were delighted to receive a firsthand presentation on the Economy for the Common Good from its initiator, Christian Felber, from Vienna. He described the Economy for the Common Good as an alternative economic system to capitalism and communism. It sees itself as an ethical market economy based not on profit-seeking and competition, but on the pursuit of the common good and cooperation. The goal of the Economy for the Common Good is to align the laws of the market with the values of democratic societies. Entrepreneurial success is not primarily measured by financial indicators, but rather by the Common Good Balance Sheet for companies and by a Common Good Product for the national economy. The Economy for the Common Good movement, founded in 2010, is implementing this vision on an economic, social, and political level.

The practical portion of the evening will be presented by Yasar Sköries, Managing Director of biokaiser GmbH. biokaiser is a medium-sized company based in Mainz-Kastel and has been one of the organic pioneers in the bakery industry since its founding almost 50 years ago. Work at biokaiser is characterized by social value creation, consideration of the interests of various stakeholders, a sense of purpose, appreciation, and socio-political engagement – as stated in the company's Common Good Report. In his presentation, Yasar Sköries will address both the holistic corporate management approach within the company and the concrete implementation of the Common Good Balance Sheet at biokaiser.

Visitors will find out that evening why this event is taking place in Friedberg right now.

More sustainable clothing: Levers in the value chain (June 4, 2025)

Link to the transfer

Welcome address
Dr. Stephanie Hanrath, Vice President Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen
Greater sustainability in the textile industry: An overview of critical levers.
Dr. Julian Conrads, Department Economics, Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen
More sustainable textiles through cooperation: The Textile Alliance as a multi-stakeholder initiative.
Gina Burgard, Head of Secretariat, Alliance for Sustainable Textiles
panel discussion

Few industries are as visibly in the spotlight of sustainable transformation as the fashion industry. Along the textile value chain – from cotton cultivation to disposal – ecological and social challenges are evident: chemical use, water consumption, humane working conditions, and fair wages are just a few examples.

The collapse of the Rana Plaza textile factory in Bangladesh in 2013 brought corporate responsibility in global supply chains to the forefront of public awareness. At the same time, our consumer behavior significantly shapes the system – from fast fashion and greenwashing to a growing awareness of fair fashion.

In this event, the speakers of the 48th lecture series will highlight key levers for greater sustainability in the clothing industry – from both a business and political perspective:

Prof. Dr. Julian Conrads, formerly a sustainability manager in the textile industry, now a professor of sustainability management at THM Business School, begins by giving a practical overview of the most important levers along the textile value chain.

Gina Burgard, head of the Alliance Secretariat for Sustainable Textiles, presents the work of the multi-stakeholder initiative, founded in 2014, in which companies, policymakers, and civil society work together on systemic improvements – for example, through greater transparency, mutual support, and the implementation of joint projects in production countries to improve working conditions on the ground and avoid negative environmental impacts of the textile industry. She also reports on practical experience, including projects in cotton production in Uzbekistan, where she herself worked for several years.

Repair and circular economy in concrete terms (May 21, 2025)

Link to the transfer

Welcome address
Dr. Stephanie Hanrath, Vice President Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen
Greeting from
Kjetil Dahlhaus, Mayor of Friedberg
Network of "Repair Initiatives" in Germany
Tom Hansing, anstiftung – Network of "Repair Initiatives"
Repair knowledge as a key to sustainable innovation.
Dr.-Ing. Michael Arndt, Department IEM, Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen
Repair Café Friedberg – Insights into 10 Years of Practice
Barbara König-Guba, Volunteer Agency Friedberg, Repair Café
panel discussion

The 47th lecture in the series, focusing on repair and the circular economy, has a specific political context: In December 2024, the National Circular Economy Strategy (NKWS) was adopted by the German Federal Cabinet. The NKWS aims to make a significant contribution to reducing environmental pollution, protecting biodiversity, and combating climate change. Last but not least, the circular economy also has significant economic implications for established companies as well as startups with innovative products, technologies, and business models. A variety of different strategies and measures are being pursued to implement the circular economy.

What does this mean in concrete terms? The lecture series will examine the circular economy from various perspectives, using repair as one possible strategy. After an introduction and welcome by the presidium and greetings from Mayor Kjetil Dahlhaus, the series will begin with an overview of repair initiatives in Germany. These initiatives and their associated network will be presented by Tom Hansing from the Anstiftung Foundation in Munich.

In his subsequent presentation, Prof. Michael Arndt addresses repair knowledge as a key to sustainable innovation. He covers this topic not only in his lectures, practical exercises, and research projects, but also puts it into practice by promoting self-help initiatives at the Repair Café Friedberg and the OPENA5 future space on the Friedberg campus of THM .

The third presentation of the evening addresses how local implementation can succeed: Barbara König Guba from the Friedberg Volunteer Agency provides various insights into repair practices that have been successfully implemented for 10 years.

The audience present in the future space of the city of Friedberg, as well as the online viewers, are invited to a joint discussion round with the speakers.

Sustainable supply chain (May 14, 2025)

Reusable instead of disposable – Just ask about reusable options (January 15, 2025)

2024

Implementing the energy transition – the THM wastewater heat recovery plant (November 13, 2024)

The lecture series was not broadcast live.

Welcome by
Dirk Metzger, Vice President Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen
Wastewater heat recovery as a contribution to the energy transition.
Dr. Ulf Theilen, Department of Civil Engineering Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen
The THM wastewater heat recovery plant: from planning to operation.
Erik Greß, Facility Management / ECO2, Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen
panel discussion

The 44th lecture series "Responsibility for the Future" is dedicated to the topic of the heat transition as an important contribution to a sustainable energy supply.

A specific application is the THMwastewater heat recovery system. At the beginning of 2023, a heat/cooling pump system was commissioned at building C10 of the THM in Giessen . This system draws its energy primarily from the wastewater of the Wieseck collector, which runs directly past the THM . The wastewater is extracted from the sewer via a shaft and pumping system, largely freed of coarse solids by screening, and then fed into a heat exchanger. There, the wastewater is cooled by a few Kelvin, and the extracted heat is raised to a usable level by a large heat pump system and fed into the THM district heating network. In this way, up to 585 kW of heat can be recovered from the wastewater and raised to a usable level of up to 800 kW via the heat pump. In summer, the system can also be used to generate cooling for the building's air conditioning.

Prof. Dr. Ulf Theilen from the Department Civil Engineering / Competence Center ZEuUS and Erik Greß from the Facility Management / ECO2 team at THM present the wastewater heat recovery system at THM , from the initial idea and planning stages through installation and operation. They also discuss the system as a real-world laboratory for research and teaching: For example, an inter- and transdisciplinary project module is always conducted in the summer semester together with students from the Departments of LSE Life Science Engineering (UHSI Environmental, Hygiene and Safety Engineering), WI Business Administration and Engineering (FG Life Cycle Management), and BAU (Master's programme in Infrastructure - Water and Transport).

Sustainable and climate-friendly consumption (October 30, 2024)

Successfully managing transformation (June 12, 2024)

Link to the broadcast

Welcome address
Prof. Dr. Katja Specht, Vice President Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen
How transformation succeeds: Success factors for societal transformation.
Prof. Dr. Kora Kristof, Vice President for Digitalization and Sustainability, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
THM Impulses on the status of the university-wide development process
Prof. Dirk Metzger, Vice President and Prof. Dr. Katja Specht, Vice President Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen
panel discussion

The 42nd lecture in the series addresses the question of how transformation can be successfully managed. We currently face – as a society and as a university – a wide range of ecological, social, and economic challenges. These require, in some cases, profound changes in various societal sectors and fields of activity. Partial improvements are insufficient for these changes to succeed; comprehensive transformation processes are necessary, and these can only be achieved with the active participation of the relevant stakeholders.

In her habilitation thesis, "Models of Change – Introduction and Dissemination of Social Innovations and Societal Changes from a Transdisciplinary Perspective," Prof. Dr. Kora Kristof explored how societal change can be implemented more successfully. In addition to a theoretical analysis of various models of change processes, she conducted in-depth interviews with 40 leading change experts from the field. Her presentation will focus on the success factors for societal transformation.

As a university, THM is part of these societal changes and assumes responsibility. To further develop itself as a university, the university's presidium initiated the Further of the strategy process and the identification of THM 's future goals. Under the name "Future.THM" a vision of the "University of the Future" has been developed since 2023 with broad participation from university members. As part of the lecture series, Prof. Katja Specht and Prof. Dirk Metzger will provide insights and inspiration on the current status of the university-wide development process following the completion of the future workshops in the Departments , the collaboration in future spaces, and the future conference.

Create a Difference (May 15, 2024)

Learning sustainably from startups (April 17, 2024)

The event was streamed live: go.thm.de/ringvorlesung-40

Welcome address
Dr. Katja Specht, Vice President Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen
Greeting from
Kjetil Dahlhaus, Mayor of Friedberg
Integrating sustainability aspects into innovation and start-up activities.
Dr.-Ing. Claus Lang-Koetz, Institute for Industrial Ecology (INEC), Pforzheim University
What established companies can learn from start-ups:
Dr. Katrin Pertschy, Department Business Administration and Engineering , Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen
panel discussion

The 40th lecture in the series focuses on the topic of learning sustainably from startups, thereby highlighting innovation and entrepreneurship. As a publicly funded university THM assumes social responsibility and makes practical contributions in teaching and research to address current societal challenges. Innovation can be seen as the key to these future-oriented solutions. A wide range of skills are necessary to systematically develop innovations, whether incremental or radical. At the same time, innovation is a crucial component of entrepreneurial activity; in the context of startups and business formations, innovative products, services, business models, or technologies take center stage.

In the first presentation of the evening, Prof. Lang-Koetz will report on his activities promoting innovation and sustainability in startups at Pforzheim University and with green entrepreneurs in Baden-Württemberg. As a professor of sustainable technology and innovation management, he has many years of experience in shaping innovation processes while integrating sustainability aspects into companies, experience he also applies to startup support through the "Design Factory Pforzheim" project. Prof. Lang-Koetz will discuss intra- and extracurricular support programmes offered by Pforzheim University, such as the Startup Summer Camp – Sustainable Innovation and the "Green Check Your Idea" support programme.

Prof. Dr. Katrin Pertschy from the Department Business Administration and Engineering at THM will address innovations and Start-ups from a completely different perspective in her presentation. Prof. Dr. Pertschy was appointed professor for the first time in the winter semester of 2023/24. Her previous professional focus was on customer-centric development of digital product and business model innovations. Under the title "What Established Companies Can Learn from Startups," Prof. Dr. Pertschy will first address the challenges and obstacles to successful innovation in established companies and then demonstrate how established companies can improve their own innovative capacity by using methods and processes from the startup context.

2023

Sustainable Innovation and Entrepreneurship (November 29, 2023)

Link to the livestream

Welcome address
Prof. Dr. Katja Specht, Vice President Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen
Integrating sustainability aspects into innovation and start-up activities
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Claus Lang-Koetz, Sustainable Technology and Innovation Management, Pforzheim University
Ideeco: Insights and experiences from the idea contest and start-up support at THM
Christian Abt, Department Business Administration and Engineering , Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen
panel discussion

The 39th lecture series focuses on the topic of sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship. As a publicly funded university THM assumes social responsibility and makes practical contributions in teaching and research to address current societal challenges. Innovation can be seen as the key to these future-oriented solutions. A wide range of skills are necessary to systematically develop innovations, whether incremental or radical. At the same time, innovation is an important component of entrepreneurial activity; in the context of start-ups and business creation, innovative products, services, business models, or technologies are central.

In the first presentation of the evening, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Lang-Koetz will report on his activities promoting innovation and sustainability in startups at Pforzheim University and with green entrepreneurs in Baden-Württemberg. As a professor of sustainable technology and innovation management, he has many years of experience in shaping innovation processes while integrating sustainability aspects into companies, experience he also applies to startup support through the "Design Factory Pforzheim" project. Prof. Lang-Koetz will discuss intra- and extracurricular support programmes offered by Pforzheim University, such as the Startup Summer Camp – Sustainable Innovation and the "Green Check Your Idea" support programme.

Christian Abt from the Department Business Administration and Engineering will provide insights and experiences from the THM 's idea contest and start-up support programme in his presentation. He is the initiator of the THMstart-up competition Ideeco and the associated start-up consulting and coaching services. Within this framework, he has supported numerous successful teams from the initial idea generation stage over the past few years. These start-up activities are closely integrated with the Makerspace, the Learning Factory, and several Bachelor's and Master's courses in which sustainable innovation and Start-ups also play a role.

Success Factor Project Management (November 1, 2023)

Micromobility as a contribution to the mobility transition (July 5, 2023)

Link to the broadcast

Prof. Dr. Katja Specht, Vice President Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Sting, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Materials Technology, THM
Electric Micromobility in Urban Areas
Anja Zeller, Political Director of the German Transport Club (VCD), Hesse State Association: Taking the Transport Revolution into Your Own Hands
panel discussion

The 37th lecture series will focus on "Micromobility as a Contribution to the Mobility Transition." Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Sting, who conducts research on micromobility at THM of Applied Sciences, will open the event with his presentation "Electric Mobility in Urban Areas." The practice-oriented research primarily focuses on e-bikes and e-scooters of various types, their diverse drive and control options, and the individualization of existing vehicles through retrofitting. Implementation is achieved through customized 3D-printed components and various battery systems from other applications, such as garden equipment and tools, enabling users to utilize batteries efficiently and conserve resources.
Anja Zeller (Political Director of the German Transport Club (VCD), Hesse branch) will, in her presentation "Taking the Mobility Transition into Your Own Hands," explore the connection between the need for action in the transport sector and its practical implementation: Germany has not yet achieved its climate targets in the transport sector. The potential is therefore enormous. From the VCD's perspective, there are many ways to make mobility significantly more sustainable than before – without rigidly excluding certain modes of transport. The goal is climate-friendly, self-determined mobility for everyone, ideally around the clock. Cities face different challenges than rural communities. What can universities, students and employees, every individual, volunteers, municipalities, and politicians do?

The future viability of the internal combustion engine (June 14, 2023)

Bionics and 3D printing are gaining momentum (May 31, 2023)

Environmentally oriented traffic management (January 18, 2023)

Link to the broadcast

Welcome address - Prof. Dirk Metzger, Vice President Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen ( THM )
Prof. Dr. Jörg Pfister, Department of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Data Processing, THM
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Frank Lademann, Department of Civil Engineering, THM
discussion

In recent years, the effects of climate change have become increasingly apparent in Germany. Floods and droughts are occurring more frequently, forecasts are bleak, and protests against the current federal government's very cautious climate policy are growing louder. In this context, the possibilities for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are being discussed more and more, and these are then formulated as political demands. It is important to quantify and compare the effects of the various demands and measures. Furthermore, changes over time must be considered, noting that GHG emissions have declined significantly in almost all sectors in recent years – except for transportation. Frank Lademann discusses, with a focus on the transportation sector, which measures can be used to achieve the political climate protection goals and how realistic these goals are.

Due to increased traffic volume, emissions attributable to transport activities have risen significantly in recent decades. Motorized transport is among the largest emitters of CO₂ _, NO₂ _, and particulate matter, making it a key area for action regarding climate protection and sustainability goals.

, Jörg Pfister examines traffic flow quality in more detail, a factor that significantly contributes to traffic-related emissions. Since motorized vehicles consume more fuel in stop-and-go traffic, the emissions generated during the combustion process also increase. Against this backdrop, environmentally oriented measures for traffic management and control, as well as for influencing driving behavior, are becoming increasingly important. Therefore, these measures must be considered more strongly as an integral component of a future-oriented overall transport system.

Mobility and healthcare in rural areas (January 11, 2023)

Link to the broadcast

Welcome address - Prof. Dr. Matthias Willems, President Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen ( THM )
Markus März, Department of Health, Head of the Medical Management Study Programme, THM
Vivienne Mekhzoum, Project Staff Member, Competence Center for Telemedicine and E-Health Hesse
Sean O'Sullivan and Samuel Weirich, Department of Health
discussion

The 33rd lecture series is being held in cooperation with the Competence Center for Telemedicine and E-Health Hesse (KTE Hesse) . KTE Hesse provides consulting services in the field of telemedicine applications and e-health infrastructures. In partnership with the Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen , the Justus Liebig University in Giessen , and the State of Hesse, the center operates as an independent consulting body.

In the first presentation of the evening, Markus März address the increasing problems in outpatient medical care. Many doctors cannot find a successor for their practice. Patients cannot find a general practitioner or specialist within easy reach, and waiting times for an appointment with primary care specialists are now up to six months or more. A recent analysis by the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians of Hesse shows that in the coming years, the familiar level of care will no longer exist, especially in rural areas. To counter these developments with new ideas, the first tele-ophthalmology practice (TAP) was launched in Bad Berleburg on November 7, 2022. There, qualified med. assistants conduct ophthalmological examinations of patients without a doctor being present. Markus März will report on the reasons for establishing the TAP, the initial experiences, and future prospects.

, Vivienne Mekhzoum will first introduce the KTE Hessen (Center for Integrated Care in Hesse) and then address the current challenges of rural healthcare provision as well as innovative forms of care that, for example, support immobile patients in their daily lives. Future prospects and innovations will be illustrated and discussed using model projects in Hesse. Furthermore, the benefits and potential applications of digital solutions in healthcare will be explained.

The third presentation, by Sean O'Sullivan and Samuel Weirich, addresses the growing need for emergency medical care. Neither healthcare economic measures, such as increasing staffing levels, nor political compensation strategies, such as merging services within the on-call medical service or establishing "integrated emergency centers," can satisfactorily resolve the challenges. To alleviate the burden, technological concepts have proven effective in optimizing process steps in emergency care (tele-emergency physician, digital documentation, IVENA, etc.). However, a technological concept for intersectoral communication between all healthcare providers is still lacking. This concept would identify medical needs in real time, direct patients to the appropriate care resource, and thus enable early medical consultation. Using modern internet technologies, an emergency medical information network ("Emergency Talk Network") has been designed, bringing together existing local stakeholders on a single, intersectoral platform. This enables video consultation and the transfer of medically relevant data while respecting data protection and data security, so that regional interdisciplinary care models and patient flows can be managed more reliably and existing resources can be used optimally.

Welcome address
Prof. Dr. Katja Specht, Vice President Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen
Makerspace Giessen – Using and understanding new technologies yourself
Johannes Schmid and Nils Seipel, flux – impulse
Makerspace Friedberg – Promoting Ideas and Entrepreneurial Skills
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Udo Fiedler, MSc. Christian Abt, Department Business Administration and Engineering , Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen
discussion

In an engaging presentation, Johannes Schmid and Nils Seipel from the agency "flux – impulse" will talk about the "Makerspace Giessen " project: How do you get the entire spectrum of society excited about digital technologies? How do you prepare topics like 3D printing and artificial intelligence for such a setting? What educational opportunities and technologies are offered for this purpose? How can students, companies, or citizens benefit from the Makerspace? They will also provide initial insights into the developed prototypes and present further results.

"From 'Apples to Apples' – under this motto, Prof. Udo Fiedler and Christian Abt (Department of Business Administration and Engineering ) will report on the promotion of idea generation and entrepreneurial skills at THM. How do we reach young people where others give up on their ideas? How do we bring these ideas to life? And how do we bridge the gap between theoretical lectures and the practical world of work? THM's new entrepreneurial ecosystem, "Gründer:innenherz" (Founder's Heart), addresses these questions with creative concepts based on the values of "Sustainable, Agile, Innovative and Learning" (SAIL). The speakers will demonstrate in a short pitch how ideas find fertile ground in THM 's emerging incubator, which combines the Makerspace, SAIL, and the Business Information Systems Learning Factory, and how the Apples are discovered among the apples.

The events are held in cooperation with the Education Forum in the city marketing and tourism association Friedberg e. V.

The transfer is carried out by Laboratory 10 of THM under the direction of Prof. Dr. Sebastian Vogt.

For recording the live broadcast.

Trend towards digital healthcare companies (January 15, 2020)

Alternative options for the digital participation of patients and citizens in healthcare
Prof. Thomas Friedl, Department Health, Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen
From traditional doctor's practice to digital healthcare company:
Oliver Stahl, Sr. Director Corporate Affairs, Lilly Deutschland GmbH;
Claudia Fink, Market Access Manager, Lilly Deutschland GmbH
discussion

The traditional medical practice with a self-employed physician handling all business activities is becoming increasingly rare. Doctors are increasingly joining forces in communities, for example, in the form of medical care centers, where more regulated working hours prevail and entrepreneurial risk is shared. This trend will continue, especially in the context of digitalization, leading to the emergence of so-called digital healthcare companies. These companies aim to provide patients with comprehensive care for the majority of their health problems without requiring them to consult a doctor outside the network – providing integrated healthcare across all sectors. This also allows for the development of integrated digital solutions within these companies to better serve both local and homebound patients. The presentation by Claudia Fink and Oliver Stahl from Lilly Deutschland GmbH will provide an overview of initial initiatives toward this transformation and highlight both the opportunities and risks involved.

In his presentation, Prof. Thomas Friedl from the Department of Health at THM will address alternative possibilities for the digital participation of patients and citizens in the healthcare system. He aims to highlight opportunities that have so far been consciously or unconsciously overlooked by stakeholders in digital health policy and the healthcare industry. For healthy individuals, digitalization in the healthcare sector does not necessarily have to involve centralized structures or big data. The proportion of the population that uses existing electronic gadgets to navigate smartly, even beyond social media, is growing steadily, albeit slowly. Friedl will examine the well-known advantages of a digitalized healthcare system, also in light of current developments (e.g., the ADA app, telematics infrastructure), and attempt to evaluate these advantages with a balanced perspective. Furthermore, the presentation will demonstrate that the slower pace of digital adoption in healthcare can sometimes be an advantage and is certainly not comparable to industrial processes.

For recording the live broadcast.

2019

Autonomous industrial robots (December 11, 2019)

Plastic in the sea...and everywhere! (November 27, 2019)

Heroes of the Seas
Christian Weigand, Blue Awareness
Microplastics – in the food chain up to humans.
Prof. Dr. Harald Platen, Department Life Science Engineering, Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen
discussion

Christian Weigand's presentation offers less in the way of data and facts, but all the more emotion. A passionate surfer, he dedicated himself to saving the oceans after completing his studies. Everyone is aware of the alarming situation in the oceans, yet the problems continue to worsen. Awareness alone doesn't inspire action. Through storytelling, an emotional, "blue" consciousness is created: What do the often frightening but difficult-to-grasp headlines really mean? What opportunities does each individual have to become part of the solution instead of part of the problem? In captivating stories, the presentation "The Heroes of the Seas" provides answers and motivates listeners to embark on their own hero's journey.

Harald Platen's presentation will focus on selected facts regarding "Plastics in the Environment." His research will center on "microplastics," an area in which he conducts his own research. In keeping with the overarching theme, he will demonstrate how current research topics are integrated into the teaching of the "Environmental, Hygiene, and Safety Engineering" programme at THM Applied Sciences, thus equipping future graduates with a solid understanding of this issue. He will present selected research methods and the results obtained, which will help to rationally understand the problem. In a modern knowledge society, these facts provide the basis for preparing political decisions to successfully address this emerging problem. The identified damage can only be remedied with scientifically sound engineering techniques, as can the future transformation of plastic applications into more environmentally friendly products in areas where modern societies will not want to forgo plastics altogether.

For recording the live broadcast.

Digitalization and ethical responsibility (November 6, 2019)

Digital communication in (higher) education (October 23, 2019)

Energy transition at the municipal level (June 26, 2019)

The Great Transformation – Society and Higher Education in Transition (June 12, 2019)

Me first! Or maybe I should get involved? (May 22, 2019)

How Lady Gaga's lipstick is causing a stir in Marburg (May 8, 2019)

Megatrend Digitalization (April 10, 2019)

Industry 4.0 – Processes and Production of the Future (January 16, 2019)

2018

Securing the region's future as a location for optical technologies through networking: The new optics center in Wetzlar (December 5, 2018)

Development and strengthening of the regional economic area through networking.
Ralf Niggemann, Manager Wetzlar Network – Industrial Network Optics, Electronics & Mechanics
Role and tasks of the Optics Center
Prof. Dr. Markus Degünther, THM Department of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Data Processing
discussion

The Wetzlar Network was founded in May 2010. From an initial 20 founding members, the network has grown to over 70 members and partners. The industrial network now plays a central role in the development of the industrial region. The Wetzlar Network aims to utilize and expand the region's expertise and innovation potential more effectively through networking. This includes collaborations between companies and educational and research institutions to place greater emphasis on training and Professional Development , as well as technology development, for the benefit of its members. The new Optics Center in Wetzlar, part of the Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen is structured around three pillars, reflecting its mission. The first pillar is teaching. Here, future graduates will learn about typical tasks in optical technology companies during their studies as part of a newly established Master's programme, thus facilitating their integration with future employers. Secondly, employees already employed by companies will have the opportunity to further develop their skills through Further education programmes tailored to their specific roles. The second pillar encompasses work on ongoing projects. Here, the Optics Center acts as a partner in future-oriented projects, contributing expertise that, in the initial phase after its establishment, may still lie outside the center but is located within the university. The long-term goal is to consolidate this expertise under the umbrella of the Optics Center. Finally, in its third pillar, the Optics Center fulfills its responsibility for the region's future through application-oriented research. This research aims to anticipate technologies and, if necessary, develop them with partners for potential products that will be required five, ten, or fifteen years from now.

Hospital Logistics 4.0 – Project Future in the Service of the Patient (November 21, 2018)

Megatrend Artificial Intelligence (October 24, 2018)

Impact of digitalization (June 20, 2018)

Good radiation – Bad radiation (May 16, 2018)

Resource efficiency – think more, consume less (April 25, 2018)

Phosphorus – the hidden treasure in sewage sludge (January 17, 2018)

2017

Smart Cities (December 13, 2017)

Kick-off event "Responsibility for the Future" (November 1, 2017)

Lecture series “Responsibility for the Future”

Aims of the lecture series

Programme for Winter Semester 2025/26

Event archive

2026

Industrial Bioeconomy – Renewable Energy from Biowaste (January 14, 2026)

2025

Sustainable mobility at THM (December 10, 2025)

Focus on Raw Materials (November 19, 2025)

Common Good Economy (November 6, 2025)

More sustainable clothing: Levers in the value chain (June 4, 2025)

Repair and circular economy in concrete terms (May 21, 2025)

Sustainable supply chain (May 14, 2025)

Reusable instead of disposable – Just ask about reusable options (January 15, 2025)

2024

Implementing the energy transition – the THM wastewater heat recovery plant (November 13, 2024)

Sustainable and climate-friendly consumption (October 30, 2024)

Successfully managing transformation (June 12, 2024)

Create a Difference (May 15, 2024)

Learning sustainably from startups (April 17, 2024)

2023

Sustainable Innovation and Entrepreneurship (November 29, 2023)

Success Factor Project Management (November 1, 2023)

Micromobility as a contribution to the mobility transition (July 5, 2023)

The future viability of the internal combustion engine (June 14, 2023)

Bionics and 3D printing are gaining momentum (May 31, 2023)

Environmentally oriented traffic management (January 18, 2023)

Mobility and healthcare in rural areas (January 11, 2023)

2022

Biodiversity through urban green spaces (June 22, 2022)

Energy efficiency and climate protection on campus (June 1, 2022)

Resource-efficient and sustainable building (May 11, 2022)

2021

Giessen: THM as part of the city - yesterday, today and tomorrow (December 8, 2021)

Friedberg: Studying at THM - yesterday, today and tomorrow (November 24, 2021)

Giessen : Studying at THM - yesterday, today and tomorrow (November 17, 2021)

AI in cardiology diagnostics (May 26, 2021)

AI in screw manufacturing (May 19, 2021)

Megatrend Artificial Intelligence (May 5, 2021)

2020

Sustainable investing and investing (December 16, 2020)

Taking action for climate protection – THM for future (December 9, 2020)

Makerspaces - Space for new ideas (December 2, 2020)

Trend towards digital healthcare companies (January 15, 2020)

2019

Autonomous industrial robots (December 11, 2019)

Plastic in the sea...and everywhere! (November 27, 2019)

Digitalization and ethical responsibility (November 6, 2019)

Digital communication in (higher) education (October 23, 2019)

Energy transition at the municipal level (June 26, 2019)

The Great Transformation – Society and Higher Education in Transition (June 12, 2019)

Me first! Or maybe I should get involved? (May 22, 2019)

How Lady Gaga's lipstick is causing a stir in Marburg (May 8, 2019)

Megatrend Digitalization (April 10, 2019)

Industry 4.0 – Processes and Production of the Future (January 16, 2019)

2018

Securing the region's future as a location for optical technologies through networking: The new optics center in Wetzlar (December 5, 2018)

Hospital Logistics 4.0 – Project Future in the Service of the Patient (November 21, 2018)

Megatrend Artificial Intelligence (October 24, 2018)

Impact of digitalization (June 20, 2018)

Good radiation – Bad radiation (May 16, 2018)

Resource efficiency – think more, consume less (April 25, 2018)

Phosphorus – the hidden treasure in sewage sludge (January 17, 2018)

2017

Smart Cities (December 13, 2017)

Kick-off event "Responsibility for the Future" (November 1, 2017)

Calendar of events

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