German American Conference at Harvard 2025

Fireside Chat: Reasoning from the Past: Challenges for Democracy Across Centuries
2023-10-29 11:15 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | Harvard Kennedy School | Wexner W-436, 79 John F. Kennedy St, Cambridge, MA, 02138, United States
With Catherine Grace Katz, Gregor Peter Schmitz, and Charles Maier

Fireside Chat: The Life of an Astronaut
2023-10-29 11:15 - 12:30 | Harvard Kennedy School | Rubenstein R-306, 79 John F. Kennedy St, Cambridge, MA, 02138, United States
Delving into the prospect of human life beyond Earth, this discussion will explore the underlying principles of manned spaceflight and envision our future as an interplanetary civilization.
With Dr. Jeffrey Hoffman

Fireside Chat: War Briefing with Colonel Markus Reisner
2023-10-29 11:00 - 12:30 | Harvard Kennedy School | Rubenstein R-G21, 79 John F. Kennedy St, Cambridge, MA, 02138, United States
Colonel Markus Reisner of the Austrian Armed Forces, famous for his YouTube battlefield analyses, will be providing an exclusive briefing on war to the GAC 2023 participants.
Even better, the topic will be decided by you, the participants! Colonel Reisner is prepared to delve into two captivating subjects:

Day 612: The Battle for Ukraine: The current status quo of the war in Ukraine points to a long war of attrition. This affects Ukraine because the Ukrainians are better at mobile warfare than static warfare. The talk analyzes how this came about and how the war has developed so far on the basis of military parameters. The Ukrainian summer offensive began on June 4. It represents an important culmination point in this war. The further course of the war will also depend on its progress.
From Verdun to Star Wars – What the War in Ukraine tells us about the Future of Wars: The end of the 20th century brought a major change in the traditional pattern of conflict that had been familiar until then. Today it seems that wars between states fought by conventional means are increasingly becoming the exception. However, the beginning of the 21st century brings further developments with it, the effects of which are much more decisive and the full extent of which cannot yet be assessed. The war in Ukraine is a good example for that development.

This is your chance as an audience to steer the conversation in the direction that intrigues you the most.
No pre-registration required. Simply walk in, grab a seat, and be ready to participate in an interactive discussion! Share your insights, ask burning questions, and gain valuable knowledge.

Fireside Chat: Transatlantic Sounds: The Art and Science of Music Creation
2023-10-28 16:30 - 17:45 | Harvard Kennedy School | Rubenstein R-306, 79 John F. Kennedy St, Cambridge, MA, 02138, United States
With Ian Condry and Christian Löffler

Fireside Chat: Navigating Heights: A Manager’s Journey in Career, Parenthood, and Leadership
2023-10-28 16:30 - 17:45 | Harvard Kennedy School | Rubenstein R-304, 79 John F. Kennedy St, Cambridge, MA, 02138, United States
To balance work and life has become a crucial topic in the 21st century for leading a meaningful life and preventing burnout. During this event, Roman Gaida, a C-Level executive and the author of Working Dad and New Work in der Industrie, will discuss his personal journey of balancing a thriving career with the responsibilities of parenthood. He will also explore how modern leaders can take care of their teams. You will discover the key steps and critical decisions that allowed him to attain a harmonious work-life equilibrium, as well as how to influence company cultures. Additionally, you will gain valuable insights and practical tips on how to excel in your professional endeavors and the questions you should ask yourself while nurturing your passions beyond the workplace.
With Roman Gaida

Fireside Chat: Students as Diplomats? – On the History and Future of Transatlantic Student Exchange
2023-10-28 16:30 - 17:45 | Harvard Kennedy School | Rubenstein R-414, 79 John F. Kennedy St, Cambridge, MA, 02138, United States
Germany and the United States share some of the oldest and most active student exchange programs in the world. Every year, tens of thousands of German and American students cross the Atlantic, many on exchange programs. For more than a hundred years, these programs have been founded on the hope that memories of Heidelberg or Harvard or Freiburg or Florida would ultimately benefit transatlantic relations. But how important are students really to transatlantic “friendship”?
This session will provide a brief introduction to the stormy history of German-American student exchange and will host a critical discussion on international students as national ‘ambassadors’ abroad. What can – and can’t – student exchange achieve? Should student exchange be influenced by immediate geopolitical concerns (what about exchange with Russia, for example?), and does it even continue to be relevant in a world that is connected in so many other ways?
With Elisabeth Piller

Fireside Chat: Climate Now: Climate, Sustainability, and Decarbonization
2023-10-28 13:30 - 14:45 | Harvard Kennedy School | Rubenstein R-306, 79 John F. Kennedy St, Cambridge, MA, 02138, United States
Join us for an engaging and thought-provoking fireside chat with Dr. Fabian Schober, CEO of TÜV Süd America. He will explore questions such as how organizations can actively contribute to carbon emissions reduction and support decarbonization initiatives.
With Dr. Fabian Schober

Fireside Chat: Dare to Care – Our Future Is Built on Courage
2023-10-28 10:15 - 11:00 | Harvard Kennedy School | Wexner W-330, 79 John F. Kennedy St, Cambridge, MA, 02138, United States
With Nina Strassner

Fireside Chat: Making Industrial Policy Work for Decarbonization
2023-10-28 10:15 - 11:00 | Harvard Kennedy School | Wexner W-436, 79 John F. Kennedy St, Cambridge, MA, 02138, United States
This event will explore the rise of green industrial policy and its potential in fostering sustainable economic growth while addressing climatic challenges.
With Franziska Brantner and Jonas Meckling

Fireside Chat: Democracy and Journalism in Challenging Times
2023-10-27 16:00 - 17:15 | Harvard Memorial Church | Pusey Room, 1 Harvard Yard, Cambridge, MA, 02138, United States
With Gregor Pieter Schmitz and Gudrun Engel
