Berlin Science Week: Berlin on the Path to Becoming a Resilient City?

 

What happens when large parts of Berlin suddenly lose power, a major flood hits the city or acts of sabotage disable critical infrastructure? These scenarios highlight how vulnerable urban areas can be and why resilient cities, capable of maintaining essential functions under extraordinary circumstances while adapting to new challenges, are so important. How can cities prepare for such crises and how can we ensure that no one is left behind in the process? Research in civil security and digitalization is developing innovative approaches to make cities more resilient, better connected and fit for the future.

Organized jointly by the Forschungsforum Öffentliche Sicherheit and the ECDF as part of the Berlin Science Week, this event brings together researchers, policymakers and experts in critical infrastructure and emergency preparedness. Together, they will discuss what urban resilience means in practice and how research can help make cities safer and more livable.

The event focuses on three concrete crisis scenarios for Berlin:

• floods
• a large-scale blackout
• acts of sabotage against critical infrastructure

Using these scenarios, experts will provide insights into current research on water infrastructure, crisis preparedness, critical infrastructure and the protection of particularly vulnerable population groups. Together, the aim is to explore how scientific findings can inform policy and practice and the contribution they make to supporting Berlin on its path to becoming a resilient city.

Participants are kindly requested to register in advance. Registration is possible starting September 3, 2026. 

Register now