Between seriousness and magic: On the road with the Wander Circus to Göttingen - 28 > 30 October 2024

From October 28 to 30, 2024, the Wander Circus made its third stop—this time in the best hall at the University of Göttingen. The event brings together teachers, students, and education activists from various universities to explore new ways of democratic and critically sustainable university teaching. A member of the Blue Engineering team was also there, contributing perspectives from the Berlin seminar to the tension between seriousness and magic.

With around 60 circus performers now involved, the three-day event focused on the question of what “demanding sustainability” and “lived democracy” can mean in concrete terms in university teaching – beyond well-sounding concepts. In the circus tent, there was not only discussion, but also experimentation, play, celebration, and questioning. The traveling circus deliberately focuses on a mixture of seriousness and magic: the urgency of social challenges meets humor, curiosity, and self-empowerment. It became clear that the courage to change can grow not only from criticism, but also from joy and mutual encouragement. Or as the circus itself says: “You don't have to be a clown to make a serious difference – but it helps.”