On Thursday, June 19, 2025, the 4th FUturist Midterm Event took place from 2 to 6 p.m. in the “Holzlaube,” where Dr. Jana Gerlach, Prof. Dr. Daniela Niesta-Kayser, Anselm Denfeld, Paulina Bienioschek, Eva Glomski, Antonia Schildhauer, and Carolin Clara Missihain presented their respective interim results to a mixed audience in five minutes.

You can watch the teams' contributions as videos on their project pages, where you will also find all updates:

• FUFLINTAΦ

• Teaching project “Sustainably impactful”. Strengthening democracy through science communication

• Bicycle fund for repair and reuse

• Rain barrel heroes: Saving rainwater together and helping trees via cooperative teaching-learning strategies

• Lawn mower - a razor-sharp project

Johanna Uebe, Annika Nee, and Julian Krapp - all members of the FUturist Jury 2025 - assisted with moderation.

Following the presentations, there was a workshop on the question “How can we make our practical knowledge easily accessible, understandable, and always up to date?” The aim was to find creative and feasible solutions that make information about sustainability activities at our university accessible to everyone. The solutions developed independently in three groups will be reviewed this year by the Sustainability and Energy Office with regard to their implementation.

Those who were able to stay enjoyed the get-together on the roof terrace of the Holzlaube, where they had the opportunity to exchange ideas with the project teams.

Approximately 50 people attended the event as guests.

What worked well?

• “Presentation of good and innovative projects, the diversity of the projects, great ideas that are exciting and inspiring.”
• “The loving preparation of the room, the atmosphere, not too empty, not too full, nice people.”
• “An entertaining program with good food and a nice atmosphere.”
• “The setup, organization, and moderation + provision of drinks in the heat.”
• “Getting to know other people in a nice atmosphere and that the team at the Sustainability Office is open and sociable.”
• “The food – joking aside. The food was also good, but I thought the speakers were great! I found the pitch format very appropriate, as well as the way feedback was given!”
• “A great event! The catering offers something for people who are a little reluctant to integrate into the existing community. A place where you can easily strike up a conversation.”

What should be added or improved next time?“More opportunities to retreat, short break after three pitches.”

• “Give the break again as an opportunity to chat informally over snacks and drinks before/in between.”
• “A longer (movement) break between presentation 3 and presentation 4 – the ‘mouth yoga’ alone was a bit too little and too short. It was difficult to follow afterwards. It would be enough to go outside together for 7 minutes. Do simple sports exercises and/or breathing exercises together in the fresh air ;-)”
• “Microphones for the speakers.”
• “The event should be shorter in the future.”

The total costs amounted to approximately €1,700. Of this, approximately 80% was spent on the production of videos and photos, approximately 16% on food and beverages, and approximately 4% on materials. The FUturist Midterm was also supported by the volunteer initiative FUdsharing at the FU Berlin.

We would like to thank everyone involved for their commitment and participation!

Contact: sabine.heckmann@fu-berlin.de