Join the POCACITO community for the 2019 tour to Germany to study and explore how Dessau and Freiburg move toward a circular economy, covering recycling, up-cycling, urban mining, and waste prevention.

POCACITO in Germany is an initiative of Ecologic Institute in Washington, DC, and supported financially through a European Recovery Program (ERP) grant from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi).

We are happy to announce that our 2019 programming has been selected as part of Deutschlandjahr 2018/2019 – Year of German-American Friendship. This initiative is funded by the German Federal Foreign Office, implemented by the Goethe Institute, and supported by the Federation of German Industries (BDI).

Ecologic Institute invites you to apply for the 2019 POCACITO in Germany tour to explore first-hand how German cities are moving toward a circular economy. If you are working for a city or regional authority, are a city planner, or a member part of a civil society organization working on resource streams and resource management, then you have the unique opportunity to directly engage with your German professional counterparts and become part of this US-German network on urban sustainability.

The program will take place from May 12 to 19, 2019.

We are excited to offer 17 seats on this tour. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until all seats are taken.

http://bit.ly/pocacito_de_2019

POCACITO in Germany 2018 in Hanover.

Participants pay a total of $1,000 for the week-long program.

What does the program include?

POCACITO in Germany will cover:

  • Flights to and from Germany
  • All travel within Germany
  • All accommodations for the duration of the program
  • All fees related to planned activities throughout the program
  • Access to the POCACITO urban sustainability community
  • Three meals a day (and we will do our best to adapt to your dietary needs)
POCACITO in Germany 2018 focused on mobility.

Where will we go?

We will spend six days in Germany traveling first to Freiburg im Breisgau and then to Dessau to experience diverse approaches to circular economy in Germany.

The specifics of the tour are still in development, but the following highlights are planned. We will post updates here as the itinerary develops.

Freiburg

In Freiburg, we will visit various circular economy lighthouse projects of the metro region, including the Freiburg Cup, learning about the Schadstoffmobil, visiting the Energieberg Eichelbuck, and learning about the energetic use of grass cuttings.

We will also meet with circular economy experts and city officials.

Then, we will ride the German high speed rail from Freiburg to get to Dessau and have lunch in the restaurant car while riding through the country at over 150 mph — powered, of course, by green electricity.

Dessau

After arriving in Dessau, we will have some time to explore the old city center and enjoy dinner in a historic restaurant. The next day, we will meet with officials at the German Federal Environment Agency Umweltbundesamt (UBA). The UBA is not only an exciting building, but also initiator of leading research in the circular economy in Germany.

The last day, we will visit the Bauhaus Dessau and several Masterwork Houses in Dessau. 2019 marks the Centennial of the Bauhaus design movement, marking no better time to visit some of the first conceptual approaches to designing sustainable cities?

Just as in Freiburg, we will meet with a range of circular economy experts and practitioners from research, policy, and civil society.

Our POCACITO in German 2018 group.

Who can apply?

  • You should live and work in the US (there is no citizenship question)
  • You should be an employee of city or regional authorities, a city planner, or be part of a civil society or research group working on topics related to the circular economy
  • Your professional qualification and work experience should link to the circular economy
  • You should preferably be between 25 and 35 years old or just entering the field of circular economy
  • You should have an interest in Germany, its culture, and its history, as well as an interest in continuing to being a member of the POCACITO network
  • Knowledge of the German language will come in handy, but it is not required — all events and meetings will be held in English or with capable translators

Applications will be reviewed in the order of submission.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions: max@pocacito.org
The application for the POCACITO in Germany program is now open. Please submit your application at: http://bit.ly/pocacito_de_2019

POCACITO in Germany 2018 at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.