Ceremonial Milestone: New Institute Founded, UNESCO Chair Extended
On Wednesday, April 9, 2025, there were two outstanding occasions for geographers at Heidelberg University of Education: firstly, the new Institute of Geography & Geocommunication was ceremoniously founded, and secondly, the official extension of the title as UNESCO Chair on Observation and Education of World Heritage and Biosphere Reserve for another four years was celebrated. Numerous guests and cooperation partners were invited to this special event and accompanied the celebrations in a festive setting.
Foundation of the new institute
The Institute of Geography & Geocommunication emerged from the former Department of Geography of today's Institute of Science and Technology Education. The new foundation further strengthens the special profile of geography as a natural and social science, particularly in the research and communication of issues at the interface between humans and the environment. In future, a special focus will be placed on sustainable development, with an expanded area of work on communicating environmental risks, such as the effects of climate change, as well as geopolitical issues.
UNESCO Chair extended until 2028
The UNESCO Chair, supported by the Institute's Research Group for Earth Observation - rgeo, was established in 2016 and extended for a further four years until the end of 2028 following an extensive evaluation process. This extension goes hand in hand with an ambitious work program that the university is pursuing together with UNESCO. The focus is on the use of digital geomedia, addressing climate change and promoting education for sustainable development (ESD). One highlight of the program is the implementation of a training program for stakeholders at UNESCO sites worldwide on the use of modern geotechnologies for environmental monitoring and the promotion of the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Festive setting and exciting program
To celebrate the extension of the UNESCO Chair, guests were invited to the rooms of the new Institute of Geography & Geocommunication. The guests were offered a varied program: Insights into the profile and goals of the institute, current projects, as well as the study program were presented. Greetings from all over the world and an interactive geography quiz created a lively atmosphere.
Institute Director Prof. Dr. Alexander Siegmund and his team of around 25 people were delighted to welcome numerous guests from universities, ministries and cooperation networks. A delegation of teachers and pupils from Heisenberg-Gymnasium in Bruchsal, who reported on their joint projects with the new institute's Research Group for Earth Observation - rgeo, was given a special welcome.
At the end of the event, finger food and drinks provided an opportunity for discussion. Virtual and augmented reality offerings invited guests to discover the modern possibilities of geography in an innovative way.
