For the sixth time, the Stifterverband organization, the Klaus Tschira Foundation and the ZEIT Verlag publishing house have teamed up to provide funding for the “Eine Uni – ein Buch” (“One Uni – One Book”) initiative. Its aim is to encourage discussion amongst all university members regardless of hierarchy or position. TU Dresden has successfully applied for this grant.

The driving force behind the project, students Barbara Hoffmann and Jessica Flecks and the Saxon State and University Library Dresden (SLUB) with support from TU Dresden’s 'University Culture' Vice Rectorate and the Directorate, convinced the sponsors with their plan centered around the novel by Julie Zeh, "Über Menschen" (In English: “About Humans”).

Climate change, socio-political participation and racism are central themes in Juli Zeh’s novel. It also consistently provides impetus for discussion within and between Dresden's local community and TU Dresden as an active stakeholder in society.

The “Eine Uni – ein Buch” initiative is intended to intensify the current interaction between TU Dresden and the local community. Student commitment will play a special role in this. During this summer semester, “Eine Uni – ein Buch” will commence with the environmental seminar series “Theater ist Krise – Über Menschen in Klima- und Gesellschaftskrisen” (“Theater is crisis – on people in climate and social crises”). The Student Environmental Initiative (tuuwi), the educational theater program for students and DIE BÜHNE – TU Dresden’s theater will all be involved in the series. The novel will also be integrated as a topic of discussion in tuuwi’s student-organized philosophy evenings and the Institute of German Studies’ literary salons. The funding phase will be concluded by an educational theater field trip at the University School Dresden – planned and organized by students involved in the Theater program and DIE BÜHNE.

With the aim of listening to each other instead of talking over each other as in the novel, SLUB Dresden will also host citizen science projects based on the book. This is also intended to break ground on the rigid divisions in the public debate on some of the novel's themes, in order to strengthen the spirit of solidarity among Dresden’ population.

The Vice-Rector University Culture, Prof. Dr. Roswitha Böhm, emphasized that, “As a teaching and research institution, TU Dresden also has societal responsibility. Our university community is characterized by democratic values and continuous efforts towards sustainability. The “Eine Uni – ein Buch” initiative was primarily organized by students and makes a significant contribution to the transfer of these values to society. Fostering this knowledge transfer and the creative will behind the project is of particular importance for us.”

For more on the scheduled events, please visit: https://tu-dresden.de/gsw/der-bereich/eine-uni-ein-buch

More on the Stifterverband: https://www.stifterverband.org/eine-uni-ein-buch

Contact:
Student initiators:
Barbara Hoffmann & Jessica Flecks

SLUB Dresden
Annemarie Grohmann
Tel.: +49 351 4677-342