The Transformation Talks are a traveling workshop format, the basic discussion of current topics among young urban designers:allows the inside of all disciplines a-changing “place of change” in the “Lounge atmosphere” temporarily. Also concerned and interested citizens:the interior of the urban processes of change, the door and the stage is open. The Transformation Talks to promote exchange, acceptance and networking to the complex issues of urban transformation, and thus social Learning. For this purpose, they have been in 2023, a year, a platform for creative presentations by the young people in planning, scientific, artistic or pragmatic impulses to a changing theme can help. The audience awarded each year to the best contribution. Be framed, short presentations by a local walk and a Networking Party.
The official language of the Transformation Talks is German.
2026: Transformation Talks 4.0
TRANSFORMATION TALKS 4.0
MindShift Ruhr – Art x Science x City: New Synergies for Urban Transformation
The fourth edition of the Transformation Talks built on the ideas from last year’s MindShift Ruhr event. This year, however, the focus shifted to the intersection of art, culture, science, and urban development in order to discuss the potential leverage that artistic practices can provide for urban transformation processes.
Despite the intense heat (up to 35 °C), about 40 people gathered on June 26, 2026, at the Essen campus of the University of Duisburg-Essen to debate how art and artistic practices can help shape urban change. With several “hydration breaks,” cold drinks, plenty of watermelon, and good music, it was quite pleasant to be outside in the shade.
In 2026, the Graduate Network of the Competence Field for Metropolitan Research (KoMet) and the Forum for Young Researchers in North Rhine-Westphalia (ARL) of the Leibniz Association, in cooperation with the Ruhr Regional Association (RVR), also hosted this event. This year, the event was organized jointly with the City of Essen (Essen Green Capital Agency). These partners called on young urban innovators, artists, early-career researchers, students, and engaged stakeholders from city administrations to come together at the Transformation Talks 4.0 as part of the “CampusStreetLab” to address questions such as,
How can aesthetic practices, cultural formats, and the production of scientific knowledge work together synergistically to open up new possibilities for sustainable urban and regional development?
Congratulations to Bahar Jafarinejad, who delivered the Best Transformation Talk of 2026 with her presentation “We Don’t Live in the Same City.”
Here you can find a brief recap on INSTAGRAM and on LinkedIN.
Hier steht der Text.
Photos: Enes Derin, Elke Hochmuth, Roman Fritz
The partners in the Transformation Talks 4.0 initiative are the Regionalverband Ruhr (RVR) and the Be-MoVe research project, along with its partners: the City of Essen and the Institute for Mobility and Urban Planning at the University of Duisburg-Essen (imobis). Be-MoVe is coordinated by the Green Capital Agency of the City of Essen. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR). In addition, we also receive funding from the Association for Spatial and Environmental Research (FRU). Thank you very much for your support!
2025: Transformation Talks 3.0
Mindshift Ruhr – Wie gestalten wir den grünen Wandel des Ruhrgebiets gemeinsam und gerecht / How can we shape the Ruhr region’s green transition in a collaborative and equitable way?
The Network graduate work of the competence in the field of urban research (comet) and the Forum young NRW of the ARL have to 2025 for the third edition of the Transformation talks with the theme “mind shift Ruhr – How we make the green transformation of the Ruhr area together and meet?” invited.
The RVR (Regionalverband Ruhr) followed with the Charter Of Green Infrastructure the goal of the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan region in the coming years green industrial region to transform. It is Green integrated thought – not as a complementary Element, but as a Central component of a socially, environmentally and economically sustainable change. Green infrastructure should not only increasing the quality of life, but the driving force for profound transformations such as the Mobility and energy transition be.
The Transformation Talks were developed in 2025 in collaboration with the Regionalverband Ruhr. In addition, both the Regionalverband Ruhr and NRW.Bank provided financial support for Transformation Talks 3.0. Thank you very much!
2024: Transformation Talks 2.0
Shaping Urban Change – What’s the Real Problem?
The transformation of metropolitan areas and the management of this change in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals represent a collective challenge for the future that affects all sectors of society and all spatial scales. Against this backdrop, the Graduate Network of the Competence Field Metropolitan Research (KoMet) and the ARL’s Forum for Young Researchers in North Rhine-Westphalia invited young practitioners, early-career researchers, students, and engaged members of citizens’ initiatives to the Transformation Talks. The TT 2.0 built on the success of last year’s event and once again provided important impetus for further collaboration in the field of urban transformation.
On June 21, 2024, the second edition of the Transformation Talks took place at the Stapeltor in Duisburg. The event was organized by the graduate network of the Metropolitan Research Competence Area at the Ruhr University Alliance and the Young Researchers’ Forum of the Academy for Spatial Research and Regional Planning (ARL) in North Rhine-Westphalia. This event, which received financial support from NRW.Bank, has established itself as an important meeting place for young practitioners, early-career researchers, students, and engaged members of citizens’ initiatives. More than 50 participants came together to discuss the challenges and prospects of urban change—particularly from the perspective of the younger generation.
The aim of the event was to provide a “low-threshold” forum for transformation in metropolitan areas across various transdisciplinary fields, as well as to offer an informal platform to enhance transparency and foster collaboration between academia, the professional sector, and civil society. With the Green Infrastructure Charter, the Ruhr Regional Association aims to transform the Ruhr metropolitan region into a green industrial region in the coming years. In this context, green is conceived as an integral part—not as a supplementary element, but as a central component of socially, ecologically, and economically sustainable change. Green infrastructure is intended not only to improve quality of life but also to serve as a driving force for profound transformations such as the mobility and energy transitions.
Please click on the Poster for Download!
And HERE you will get the Poster (only in German available).
Photos: Markus Gornik
The Transformation Talks was sponsored by NRW.BANK in 2024. Thank you very much!
2023: Transformation Talks 1.0
Urban Transformation from the Perspective of the Next Generation
On June 2, 2023, approximately 60 participants discussed urban transformation at the first edition of the Transformation Talks, moderated by Jürgen Hein (UA Ruhr). The KoMet team selected HIER IST NICHT DA (Bochumner Straße 138, 45886 Gelsenkirchen) – a sociocultural center – as the venue. To break the ice, SEG (thanks to Patricia Gajda and Katrin Schenk) first offered a walking tour of the “Bochumer Straße” neighborhood.
The transformation of metropolitan areas and the management of this change in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals is a shared challenge for the future that requires the collaboration of all sectors of society at every spatial scale. Against this backdrop, the Graduate Network of the Competence Field Metropolitan Research (KoMet) and the ARL’s Forum for Young Researchers in North Rhine-Westphalia invited young practitioners, early-career researchers, students, and active members of citizen initiatives to the Transformation Talks. During the workshop, exciting projects and ideas from the aforementioned young professionals were presented that (can) contribute to the positive and sustainable development of urban spaces.
And Here is an artical in German.
The Transformation Talks were supported by NRW.BANK and the Mercator Foundation in 2023.
Thank you very much!