Alumni Reunion 2026

On June 19, 2026, we held our alumni celebration with current students, alumni from various graduating classes of our bachelor’s and master’s programs, ZIS staff, and faculty members from TU Dresden.

In addition to three presentations by our alumni on their current areas of research, the program once again included the presentation of the Volker Heinsberg Prize.

At the start of the event, attendees were welcomed by the director of the ZIS, Prof. Dr. Steiger, and the board of the current IB Association.

This was followed by a presentation by Dr. Jakob Hauter on his current research into the causes and causal relationships in Russia’s war against Ukraine. Since September 2025, he has been a Leverhulme Early Career Fellow at the University of Reading, where he is conducting research on Russia’s war of aggression.

Afterward, Vincent Gstettenbauer, M.A., provided insight into his work as a financial advisor at BayernLB. In his presentation titled “Energy and Heating Transition on Credit? Opportunities, Risks, and Limits of Financing,” he outlined the financial perspective on opportunities and obstacles in the transition to renewable energy.

Finally, we heard a fascinating presentation by Prof. Dr. Ingo Venzke (University of Amsterdam) on the legal framework of the climate crisis and the issue of fossil fuel sovereignty. He is currently writing a book that examines this very topic in greater detail, highlighting ways to strengthen climate law on the one hand, while also identifying weaknesses and gaps in the law on the other.

After a short break for refreshments, the Volker Heinsberg Prize was awarded. The founder, Ms. Heinsberg-Hartmann, traveled to Dresden specifically for this occasion.

The prize for the best bachelor’s thesis went to Anna Abraham. Under the supervision of Jun.-Prof. Dr. Valentin Lindlacher, she wrote on the topic “The Economics of Photovoltaic Growth: A Regional Study on Electricity Prices and Solar Potential.”

In the Master’s program, the prize was awarded to Celina Hertel. Supervised by Prof. Dr. Anna Holzscheiter, she wrote a thesis on the political representation of young people titled “Intersectionally Excluded: Analyzing Participatory Distortion Within Youth Representation in Global Health Governance.”

Congratulations to this year’s award winners!

To wrap up the event, the IB Association organized a picnic with finger foods and salads. Over the meal, there were lively conversations and exchanges about academic and professional experiences.

It was a wonderful celebration—many thanks to everyone who attended and helped make it happen!