Our Projects

Change Lab 1.0 is the first project that took place in 2018. The name was "Change Lab. Brining Changes for Good". The team consisted of Prof. Dr. Baaken as the project manager, of Maggie Chak as project leader, of Leon Schwarzer as a master student, and of Mingruiting Che, Esteban Guerra, Ignacio Kullmer, Oriane Veuillen, Maitena Broglla, Aurel von Stein, Eglantine Julliard, Camila Fontannaz, José Miguel Gutiérrez as Bachelor students.  

Three central objectives were developed with the help of the design thinking process: 

1. Developing all-rounded critical thinking and effective communication competence to effectively utilize and transfer the knowledge to their peers. 
2. Developing inter-cultural, creative and co-learning competence by embracing innovative and bold ideas or suggestions from others in an inclusive and embracing environment. 
3. Developing problem-solving, adaptive competence to deal with new challenges in the future. 

A survey was then conducted to identify favorite preferences, social topics, ideal formats, venues, and dates for Change Lab events. Five central topics emerged from this: environmental sustainability, technology and innovation, cultural diversity, future of learning and education and lastly social equity and inequality.  

These results were then used to plan an event, called D-Day. It was organized to facilitate networking, especially between different cultures and languages, and to create a pleasant atmosphere. Around thirty to fifty participants took part and were discussing different topics and aspects. 

In 2019/2020 another event was then planned. It was about the question: "Is veganism the answer to climate change and animal welfare?". The topic of the event was also discussed and debated with various participants. The idea was to transfer Münster into a community of sustainable consumers. Everyone was able to express their opinion and to suggest innovative ideas. 

To summarize Change Lab 1.0 successfully brought together individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds to engage in meaningful discussions on pressing social topics. By fostering an environment of open-mindedness, creativity, and optimism, the events achieved their mission of giving people a voice, raising awareness on social issues, and creating memorable, friendly events. The methodologies used, such as the Design Thinking Process and participant surveys, ensured that the events were relevant and impactful, addressing the most pertinent topics as identified by the community. The structured yet flexible format of the events enabled effective communication, intercultural understanding, and collaborative problem-solving, laying a solid foundation for future Change Lab initiatives. 90% of participants expressed their interest in taking part in future Change Lab events. 

Change Lab 2.0 took place in 2021/2022 and was called "Change Lab. The Changemakers of Münster". It was mainly about planning another event and bringing about positive changes. Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic it had to be an online event. The event once again served as an open forum based on the interests of the students. This time professors and external experts from practice were invited to share one platform.  

The topics of this event were social entrepreneurship, corporate social responsibility, challenges, tips and tricks as well as trends and advances. Several guest speakers were invited to dive deeper into these topics. Dr. Tobias Pfaff, Prof. Dr. Arlinghaus, Michael Kortenbrede, David Makrucki, Dr. Hila Azadzoy, Johanna Kassing, Jose Guitierrez, Niklas Tauch, Anja Overwien, and Adam Bairet Djibo shared their experiences with the students. A total of over 60 participants took part. 

Change Lab 2.0 effectively provided a platform for meaningful discussions on social entrepreneurship and sustainable business practices. By leveraging the expertise of diverse guest speakers and actively involving students in the process, the event facilitated a rich exchange of ideas and practical knowledge. The online format ensured accessibility and broad participation, allowing over 60 attendees to benefit from the insights shared. The collaborative and student-driven approach of Change Lab 2.0 underscores its commitment to fostering positive change and empowering the next generation of changemakers in Münster. 

Change Lab 3.0 was called "Change Lab. It's time to change through science" and took place in 2023/2024. The team consisted of Prof. Dr. Thorsten Kliewe, Judith Helmer (Phd) and Inez Rosenkranz, Shereene Schröder, Finja Saße, Bianca Krischik, Karin Hoffmann, Elene Krawinkel, Theresa Gleich as master students.  

It was a collaborative project between the FH Münster University of Applied Sciences, the Science-to-Business Marketing Research Centre, the climate community Saerbeck and the Maximilian-Kolbe-Gesamtschule (MKG). The goal of this project was to familiarize pupils with scientific work. 

In various workshops, developed by the students, pupils and students worked together on scientific projects, chosen by the pupils themselves. To address the common research process, tools from design thinking and general steps of creating a scientific paper were used and explained in these workshops. 

The final presentation of the scientific projects took place in a pitch event in which around 30 participants from Saerbeck took part. 

Change Lab 3.0 successfully met its goal of familiarizing pupils with scientific work through a combination of the design thinking process and collaborative engagement on scientific projects. The workshops with pupils from MKG in Saerbeck provided a practical and immersive experience, while the pitch event offered a platform for pupils to showcase their work and refine their presentation skills. The cooperation between the project team and students was fruitful, highlighting the importance of hands-on learning and mentorship in scientific education. Overall, Change Lab 3.0 underscored the value of science in driving positive change and empowering the next generation of researchers and innovators.