Master’s Students from ESPOL Explore Global Sustainability Research at IDOS

A study visit from Lille brought future climate policy experts to Bonn for an inside look at IDOS and its sustainability work.

On 20 February, the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) welcomed a group of master’s students in climate and sustainability from the European School of Political and Social Sciences (ESPOL) at the Catholic University of Lille. Their visit formed part of a study trip designed to familiarise students with international organisations engaged in climate, environmental and sustainability governance.

During their time at IDOS, the 11 students and their two accompanying professors gained a comprehensive introduction to the institute’s work. Dr Steffen Bauer outlined IDOS’s research on global climate governance and sustainability transitions, offering insights into how the institute operates at the interface between academic inquiry and policy advice. He also presented IDOS’s training programmes and explained how the institute’s research contributes to shaping policy debates and informing decision-making processes.

Throughout the exchange, the students engaged actively with the climate governance expert, raising questions about the practical implications of a loss of credibility and trust in climate policy and the realities of working in a field where key research findings are often sidelined by policymakers. Their curiosity reflected the broader purpose of the trip: to understand how organisations like IDOS contribute to global sustainability efforts and to explore potential career paths in this domain.

Communications officers Sabrina Heuwinkel and Wendpanga Eric Segueda also interacted with the students on IDOS’s science communication activities. They explained the challenges of presenting complex research findings in accessible and target group–oriented formats. The conversation highlighted the importance of translating scientific evidence into messages that resonate with policymakers and the broader public.

The study visit offered the group a close-up view of the daily work of a leading sustainability think tank and provided valuable perspectives for their future roles in climate and environmental governance.