Looking back on AEMS 2025

Three weeks. 43 participants. 28 nations. Countless ideas for a better future.
On 1 August 2025, the 12th AEMS Summer University came to a close – and what a journey it was! Full of highlights, inspiring discussions, and unforgettable moments.

Learning, Debating, Shaping Change

Starting on 14 July, our students and professionals dove into four exciting modules:

🌱 Basics & Nature
💶 Finance & Money
🌍 Economics with Social and Ecological Values
🔄 A Social-Ecological Transformation

Intense sessions, interactive workshops, and critical debates created space for fresh perspectives and new ideas.

Program Highlights

A real highlight: the Group Project presentations! Teams developed solutions for systemic change, tackling pressing social, ecological, and/ or economic challenges with creativity and vision. Read more here.

Equally engaging was the Earth4All simulation game, where participants took on the roles of international delegations negotiating global agreements – a hands-on experience of the challenges of global policymaking.

We also hosted three public events that drew a wide audience:

Opening Event Democracy in a Changing Climate
Panel Discussion Financing the Green Transition
Movie Night Outgrow the System

Read more on these events here.

More Than a Summer University

Beyond the academic program, participants enjoyed plenty of community and culture:

An excursion to IIASA
Sports evenings & yoga with Christian Felber
A walking tour exploring Vienna’s iconic social housing model
A traditional dinner at a local Heurigen
And for some, even a spontaneous football match ⚽️

Together, they built a vibrant international community – learning, celebrating, and creating friendships that will last long beyond the summer.

Thank You 💚

A heartfelt thank you to all our participants, speakers, tutors, partners, supporters, and sponsors! Thanks to you, AEMS once again became a unique learning journey – full of inspiration, exchange, and visions for a sustainable and liveable future.

We can’t wait for the next year’s edition, that will take place from 13 – 31 July 2026!