Workshop at HTWK Leipzig
On May 13, 2026, HTWK Leipzig hosted an international workshop on the transition to a low-carbon economy — bringing together students from the University of South Carolina and HTWK Leipzig, spanning a range of disciplines and perspectives.
The day began with introductions and a revealing icebreaker question: What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the other country? Then the real work began. In small mixed groups, participants explored seven timely topics — Heating & Cooling, the World Energy Outlook, Electric Cars, the Coal Exit, PVs and Wind Energy, Energy Storage, and Public Acceptance and Energy Infrastructure — through both an American and a German lens, drawing on research as well as their own lived experiences.
After an hour and a half of spirited discussion, each group shared their insights with the room. Some perspectives aligned. Others sparked genuine debate. But everyone left with a shared conviction: climate change demands action and is a complicated problem with no clear solutions — and tackling it together is more powerful than going it alone.
A big thank you to Prof. Lara Ducate (University of South Carolina), Prof. Jens Schneider, and Prof. Bodo Sturm (both HTWK Leipzig) for making this exchange possible.
