Prof. Dr. Verena Blechinger-Talcott

is the first Vice President responsible for University Culture, International Affairs, Diversity, and Equality and a professor of Japanology (Politics and Economics of Japan) at Freie Universität Berlin. One of her main tasks as the First Vice President is coordinating Freie Universität Berlin's sustainability strategy. Dr. Blechinger-Talcott studied Japanology, Political Science, and Law at LMU Munich and Dōshisha University in Kyoto and earned her Ph.D. in Political Science from LMU Munich. In addition to her work as a professor, she has held various positions at Freie Universität since 2007. Among other roles, she served as Dean of the Department of History and Cultural Studies, Director of the Graduate School of East Asian Studies (GEAS), and member of the Academic Senate.

Katharina-Maria Kuse

studied chemistry at the Freie Universität Berlin. After completing her doctorate at the Technical University of Berlin, she returned to the Freie Universität Berlin for postdoctoral research, where she began working at the NatLab experimental laboratory, an extracurricular educational institution, in 2014. In 2016, she took over as head of the NatLab Chemistry division. Her work focuses on the scientific training of teacher training students, the development of new chemistry experiments, and the integration of teacher training with the student laboratory. For several years now, NatLab Chemistry has been increasingly developing experiments in line with education for sustainable development. These include the workshop “Understanding climate change with science for elementary school students” and projects such as “Recovering neodymium from defective cell phones” or “Extracting terephthalic acid and dyes from PET bottles” for secondary school students.

“I am involved in the jury because in my work with young people, I have seen how effective it is to not only discuss scientific content theoretically, but also to experience it practically through experiments conducted by the students themselves. I am particularly looking forward to accompanying the implementation of new project ideas in the process and, if suitable, acting as a multiplier for them.”

Dr. Christina Bochow

As acting head of the FU-BUA administrative office, Christina Bochow coordinates the activities of Freie Universität within the Berlin University Alliance. The Berlin University Alliance focuses on strengthening cooperation, promoting innovative research, and advancing sustainable development in science and society. The FU-BUA administrative office is located in the Research Department of Freie Universität Berlin.

“I am involved in the FUturist jury because the format shows how much creative energy, innovative strength, and sense of responsibility for a sustainable future there is at Freie Universität. I am excited to support people who tackle scientific and social challenges with new ideas—and thus actively and responsibly shape the future.”

JunProf. Dr. Luisa Girnus

Since December 2024, Dr. Luisa Girnus has been a junior professor of political education, education for sustainable development (ESD), and transformative education at the Otto Suhr Institute for Political Science. There, she conducts research on issues at the intersection of political education with ESD and transformative education, learning processes in social value discourses, and language-sensitive and gender-equitable teaching of social sciences. She publishes on political education in the context of technology and digitality, as well as empirical teaching and learning research in the social sciences. As one of the initiators of the working group on political education and gender within the Society for Political Didactics and Political Youth and Adult Education, she advocates for stronger gender and intersectional perspectives in political didactics. She is active in the speakers' circle of the Political Science and Political Education Section of the German Association for Political Science (DVPW). She is also involved in the state executive committee of the German Association for Political Education (DVPB) Brandenburg and as an assessor on the federal executive committee of the DVPB. Since 2018, she has been part of the editorial team of the journal POLIS.

“I am involved in the jury because ideas of transformative education must not only be taught, but also lived at the university, and FUturist stands for exactly that.”

Anne Sedlmayer

works in the Quality Management for Studies and Teaching unit in the Department of Teaching and Academic Affairs, which is responsible for all matters relating to the internal accreditation of degree programs at Freie Universität. She also coordinates the operational implementation of the university-wide quality management system in the area of studies and teaching and oversees the system reaccreditation process.

“I am involved in the jury because I am convinced that we can only succeed in making our university sustainable if creative ideas from all areas can be developed, promoted, and implemented together. And, of course, because I will learn a lot about where I myself can contribute to greater sustainability on campus and beyond. I look forward to seeing the project ideas!”

Ali Sahan

is in his ninth semester studying law at Freie Universität Berlin. As chairman of the board of the Federal Association of Law Student Councils (Bundesverband rechtswissenschaftlicher Fachschaften e.V.), he coordinates the strategic work of the federal board and represents the association in dealings with politicians, academics, and civil society. He is particularly committed to the nationwide introduction of an integrated LL.B. degree and long-term reform of legal education. Previously, Ali Sahan was spokesperson for the FU Jura student council initiative, a member of the law department council, and a representative in the student parliament of the Free University.

"I am involved in the jury because sustainability in teaching, research, and campus development at German universities still does not receive the attention it deserves. Current cuts in higher education are a declaration of bankruptcy for the future viability of our science and education location. Sustainable transformations can only succeed if they are socially acceptable, scientifically sound, and institutionally secure. Education determines whether we learn from our mistakes or repeat them—and whether we face the future, whether certain or uncertain, prepared. That is precisely why I want to contribute to the visibility and implementation of innovative, future-oriented ideas."