Top: Workshop participants at the BSIA in Waterloo, Canada.
Bottom: Workshop participants at the Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS) in Karlsruhe, Germany.
By Nathalie Gatti and Ian Rowlands
On 16 April 2025, academic researchers based at institutions in Canada and Germany connected for a half-day hybrid workshop. With groups of approximately 20 people gathering in each of Waterloo (Canada) and Karlsruhe (Germany), the workshop allowed participants to share perspectives on the contributions of individuals and communities to a sustainable energy transition.
Organized and hosted locally in Waterloo by the Balsillie School of International Affairs, colleagues from the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University connected with a group hosted by the Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS) in Karlsruhe which included participants from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research, and the University of Freiburg.
Participants were welcomed by Balsillie School Director Prof. Ann Fitz-Gerald and also heard words of welcome from Florian Schrieverhoff, the Vice-Consul at the German Consulate General in Toronto.
Throughout the half-day, presentations highlighted ongoing research activities and future research plans from both sides of the Atlantic. A diverse programme, presentations varied by length, discipline, and subject matter, representing both social science and applied science perspectives on the energy transition. Discussion periods interspersed throughout also explored a range of issues.
The half-day workshop provided a platform for participants to explore opportunities for future collaboration, both locally and globally. Core themes that emerged from the workshop included shared interests in the socio-technical dynamics of local energy transitions; the similarities, complementarities, and synergies across Canadian and German experiences; the value of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research; and the potential impact of collaborative work between these two countries, particular during these turbulent geopolitical times.
Work continues on the ways in which the positive momentum generated by this transatlantic gathering can be leveraged for additional opportunities. Organizers from both Canada and Germany will be following up with all participants regarding next steps during May.
For any comments on, or questions regarding, the workshop – or on activities catalyzed by it – please contact Prof. Ian Rowlands (Balsillie School of International Affairs; and Faculty of Environment, University of Waterloo) at irowlands@uwaterloo.ca.
This workshop was funded by a BSIA Workshop Grant.