Cool heads, healthy learning:
How can schools become heat-resilient?

Rising temperatures and changing environmental conditions have a direct impact on everyday school life. When heat makes it difficult to concentrate in classrooms and poses a health risk, this presents students and teachers with significant challenges. How can we design learning spaces and processes in a way that preserves the health and performance of both students and teachers?

In our discussion forum for the exhibition “Planetary Health – At the Pulse of People and Planet” at the Deutsches Museum, we will discuss concrete approaches for a heat-resilient school. We’ll talk about how schools can prepare for heat waves, what they can do during heat waves and extreme heat events, what infrastructure adjustments are needed, and how daily school life—from exam periods to sports events—can adapt flexibly to heat waves.

The event will feature the presentation of the first model heat protection plan for schools.

Structural adaptation goes hand in hand with new knowledge: We’ll explore how the concept of Planetary Health can enrich classroom instruction and teacher training. How can current projects and scientific findings on the connection between the environment and health be directly applied to school practice?

Together with experts from science, medicine, education policy, and school practice, we will discuss practical solutions. We will highlight how schools can be strengthened as health-promoting environments for the future.

Join us, take part in the discussion and ask your questions!

Date: 30 June 2026 at 8:00 PM
Admission: From 7:30 PM

Venue: Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München, Lecture hall M118, Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1,
80539 München 

Event language: German

Keynote:

Harald Lesch
Professor of Astrophysics at Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich

Paneldiscussion:

Dr. med. Christof Wettach
Pediatrician, Head of the “Climate Change and Health Working Group” of the Ortenau Municipal Health Conference, Spokesperson for the Committee on Children's Health and Climate Change of the BVKJ e.V. (Federal Association of Pediatricians)

Dr. Eva-Franziska Matthies-Wiesler
Senior Researcher, Helmholtz Munich 

Ines Heinz
Initiator of the working group tasked with developing heat safety plans for schools

Chiara Matthies
Student

Moderation:

Dr. med. Martin Herrmann
Chairperson, KLUG - Deutsche Allianz Klimawandel und Gesundheit e.V.