Events

KLI Colloquia are invited research talks of about an hour followed by 30 min discussion. The talks are held in English, open to the public, and offered in hybrid format. 

 

Fall-Winter 2025-2026 KLI Colloquium Series

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5881861923?omn=85945744831
Meeting ID: 588 186 1923

 

25 Sept 2025 (Thurs) 3-4:30 PM CET

A Dynamic Canvas Model of Butterfly and Moth Color Patterns

Richard Gawne (Nevada State Museum)

 

14 Oct 2025 (Tues) 3-4:30 PM CET

Vienna, the Laboratory of Modernity

Richard Cockett (The Economist)

 

23 Oct 2025 (Thurs) 3-4:30 PM CET

How Darwinian is Darwinian Enough? The Case of Evolution and the Origins of Life

Ludo Schoenmakers (KLI)

 

6 Nov (Thurs) 3-4:30 PM CET

Common Knowledge Considered as Cause and Effect of Behavioral Modernity

Ronald Planer (University of Wollongong)

 

20 Nov (Thurs) 3-4:30 PM CET

Rates of Evolution, Time Scaling, and the Decoupling of Micro- and Macroevolution

Thomas Hansen (University of Oslo)

 

4 Dec (Thurs) 3-4:30 PM CET

Chance, Necessity, and the Evolution of Evolvability

Cristina Villegas (KLI)

 

8 Jan 2026 (Thurs) 3-4:30 PM CET

Embodied Rationality: Normative and Evolutionary Foundations

Enrico Petracca (KLI)

 

15 Jan 2026 (Thurs) 3-4:30 PM CET

On Experimental Models of Developmental Plasticity and Evolutionary Novelty

Patricia Beldade (Lisbon University)

 

29 Jan 2026 (Thurs) 3-4:30 PM CET

O Theory Where Art Thou? The Changing Role of Theory in Theoretical Biology in the 20th Century and Beyond

Jan Baedke (Ruhr University Bochum)

Event Details

ZARA
KLI Special Event
Diversity and Awareness Training Workshop
Volker Frey and Dieter Gremel
2020-11-16 12:45 - 2020-11-16 17:00
Virtual meeting
Organized by KLI & ZARA

“All of us must speak up and take responsibility for our corner of the world” (Kevin Laland, Nature 2020)

“To speak the language of diversity is to participate in the creation of a world” (Sara Ahmed, On being included, 2012)

The urgent need to develop a series of long-term work and action plans on diversity and awareness were further facilitated from internal and external incidents that happened this year. Internally, we encountered tensions that arise from creating and maintaining an institute that values and recruits fellows from diverse backgrounds with diverse research topics. Externally, the incidents that triggered a global Black Lives Matter movement clearly indicate that a tipping point has been reached. We all need to do our part.
 
As a first step of our collective reflection, we collaborated with ZARA (Zivilcourage und Anti-Rassismus-Arbeit) to organize our first (of many) "Diversity and Awareness Training Workshop.” The workshop was based on experience-based and reflection-based exercises. It was also an opportunity to get to know each other better and within a reflexive approach. Together with two diversity trainers, we reflected on prejudices, privileges, differences and strategies for dealing with diversity: 
  • Raising awareness on diversity/discrimination on a personal and structural level
  • Raising awareness of the effects of individual and social discrimination due to privilege or belonging to a minority
  • Reflecting on one's own prejudices and stereotypes
  • Analyzing different aspects of one's own identity and that of others
  • Analyzing different aspects of one's own digital identity and speech styles 
The training was led by Volker Frey and Dieter Gremel. Both trainers have been working with ZARA – Zivilcourage und Anti-Rassismus-Arbeit and ZARA Training for more than 15 years.
 
MMag. Volker Frey studied law and political sciences at the University of Vienna. He is the Secretary General of the Klagsverband and and a diversity trainer. His main focus of work is awareness-raising for diversity and anti-discrimination, freedom of religion, inclusion (monitoring of the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities). Volker is lecturing on equality law, human rights, labour law and professional rights at the FH St. Pölten, NGOs, and public bodies.
 
Mag. Dieter Gremel studied psychology, philosophy and political science at the universities of Vienna and Klagenfurt. He works as a psychotherapist and a mediator with a focus on social psychology, gender research and group dynamics. His training focus is on civil courage, anti-discrimination and intercultural communication. Dieter has extensive experience in organizational development (internal and external), internal communication as well as process and project management. He is the Deputy Head of the Extremism Information Center.
 
After the workshop, we started the process of creating a EDI (Equaty, Diversity, and Inclusion) Vision Statement and an action plan to lay out our key strategies and goal posts. We hope to be able to share with you how we will carry out our resolve to implement EDI as fundamental elements of the KLI.