From geoengineering to human-animal interactions. Teaching at the interface of environmental and technological history

Workshop from March 5 to 6, 2026, KIT

The exchange of successful teaching formats as well as best and worst practice examples in environmental and technological history has rarely taken place to date. For this reason, Marcus Popplow and Nicole Hesse, in cooperation with Daniel Jankowski and Christian Götter (TU Braunschweig) and the Working Group Environment & Technology (AKUT) of the Gesellschaft für Technikgeschichte e.V., organized the workshop From geoengineering to human-animal interactions. Teaching at the interface of environmental and technological history. In an open and enriching discussion atmosphere, teachers and students from Germany and neighboring countries exchanged views on successful concepts, failures and the change in teaching driven not least by AI. A continuation of the format is currently being planned. The event was financially supported by the KIT Freundeskreis und Fördergesellschaft e.V. and the Gesellschaft für Technikgeschichte e.V.

Call for Papers

flyer

 

Program

Thursday, March 5

13.30: Arrival
14.00: Welcome & introductory words

Marcus Popplow (Department of History, KIT)

Christian Götter (Institute of History, TU Braunschweig),

Nicole Hesse (Department of History, KIT),

Daniel Jankowski (Institute of History, TU Braunschweig)

14.30: Panel I: Between the stools. The history of technology and the environment beyond the humanities

Jonas van der Straeten (TU Eindhoven): "The most non-TU/e course I've had in 5 years TU/e": Development, internationalization and scaling of history teaching for engineering students at TU Eindhoven.

Marcus Popplow (KIT): History of technology and the environment for mechanical engineering students. Concept and realization of a seminar at KIT.

Désirée Schauz (KIT): Between the cultures. Experiences of a German-Indian teaching cooperation.

16.00: Break

16.30 Panel II: On the objects. Teaching with material on site

Lina Schröder (University of Bamberg/Bayreuth): And yet another piece of the puzzle: Ammeters - valuable sources in the context of the electrification of everyday life.

Jakob Müller (TU Braunschweig): Electricity history(ies): A seminar in PTB's electricity meter cabinet and the publication of student work.

17.30 Break

18.00 Panel III: Student WUT: Impulses for the 'niche construction'
of the history of science, environment and technology at the TU Berlin

Charlie Fischer, Svenja Goetz, Tjark Nentwig and Fabian Zimmer (TU Berlin)

 

Friday, March 6

9.30 Panel IV: Into the world. Global and colonial historical approaches

David Drengk (Ruhr University Bochum): Materiality and memory: methodological synergies for an experiential and global environmental and technological history.

Stefan Esselborn (Munich): Around the world in one semester? Global historical approaches in environmental and technological history teaching.

10.30 Break

10.45 Panel V: Through space and time. Perspectives beyond the seminar room

Stefan Poser (KIT): Exciting science? Planning an escape room as a seminar project in environmental and technological history.

Holger Dietrich (PH Ludwigsburg): A history didactic compact seminar as an opportunity for teaching "monument competence".

11.45 Break

12.15 Summary and final discussion