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Opening Event of AEMS and GBS 2026
Who builds the future?
Designing climate-resilient and equitable systems
The event brings together perspectives from climate research, economic justice, and sustainable spatial design to explore the forces shaping our future. Centered on the question Who builds the future?, the discussion focuses on identifying innovative approaches and practical solutions for designing climate-resilient and equitable systems. By bringing together diverse expertise and ideas, the event aims to inspire new ways of thinking and transforming existing structures to create more sustainable, inclusive, and future-ready societies.
Join Marlene Engelhorn, Doris Österreicher, and Daniel Huppmann for a discussion on who benefits from existing systems, where current approaches fall short, and what kinds of social and spatial transformation may be necessary in the years ahead.
The event will kick off the interdisciplinary summer universities “Alternative Economic and Monetary Systems (AEMS)” and “Green.Building.Solutions. (GBS)”, welcoming around 100 international changemakers in Vienna.
Register here!
Event Program
4:30 pm Doors open
Guests arrive and settle in
5:00 pm Opening of the event with welcome addresses delivered by
- Eva-Maria Holzleitner, Austrian Federal Minister for Women, Science and Research
(video message) - Guenther Jedliczka, CEO of OeAD student housing
- Carina Kamptner, Organizational Head of the AEMS Summer University
- Barbara Mayr, Organizational Head of the GBS Summer University
Thematic impulses
With contributions from
- Daniel Huppmann, climate economist and research scholar at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)
- Marlene Engelhorn, activist and co-founder of taxmenow advocating for wealth redistribution and social justice
- Doris Österreicher, architect and university professor at the University of Stuttgart
6:30 pm Networking break with refreshments and books
Visit the Buchquartier book table, run by Austria’s first cooperatively owned bookstore.
7:00 pm Panel discussion
With the keynote speakers, moderated by Michael Bauer-Leeb. The discussion will reflect on the thematic inputs and open up the conversation with the audience.
8:00 pm Evening reception with finger food buffet
Register here!
Many thanks to our public and private sponsors that make this event and our two summer universities possible!
