From June 19-22, seven participants met at the Kulturhaus Wilde Rose for the fifth AHI retreat. Based on the essay “Being and sharing: A Practice of Creative Existence” by Andreas Weber, we pursued the idea that we as individuals can only fully realize our aliveness when we experience our existence as a shared one. Following on from the last retreat on the topic of “connectedness”, we are taking the concept of the human being as a being in connection further and following Weber’s idea that we can only truly be in sharing. We put these thoughts into practice in text-, walking- and sitting-meditations, as well as in the free time we spent together. With lots of movement, dance, morning yoga sessions, as well as a gratitude meditation and a connectedness meditation, we approached the practice of meditation from different perspectives in order to give all participants an individual starting point. A highlight of the meeting was the hike in the Melle woods and to Diedrichsburg. The connection with nature gave us a clear sense that we are not a detached part of the world but are closely connected to it and that we can only exist because the forest, the meadows, the animals and we ourselves are willing to share.

Andreas Weber comments on this once again:

“Individuality is the expression of the life force that fills every being, and this life force, in order to come fully to itself, wants to come into contact with others, needs to be protected, sheltered, nourished by them, demands touch, tenderness, being held. Only in this way, in touch, are we able to become ourselves. We all long to be able to be. And only by sharing can we be.”

We would like to thank everyone who was there, the team from the Kulturhaus Wilde Rose for their hospitality, the amazing food and this wonderful place, as well as everyone who made these four days possible for us.

We would like to continue our AHI retreat in 2025 and therefore invite all interested people to our next retreat from June 19–22, 2025. We have once again been able to secure the Kulturhaus Wilde Rose in Melle as the venue and are looking forward to four intensive days. The retreat is dedicated to the topic of “Being and Sharing”, based on Andreas Weber’s essay “Sein und Teilen – Eine Praxis schöpferischer Existenz”. The essay provides us with inspiring thoughts and impulses that can be the starting point for reflecting and feeling about our own lives. Next year, however, the focus will again be on different forms of mediation, movement, music and being together. No previous experience is necessary.

The flyer (in German language) can be downloaded as PDF.

The projects report on the one hand on the selective conversion of organic amines to nitriles or imines, respectively, and on the selective oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes at low temperature with a ruthenium catalyst. On the other hand, it has been made possible to oxidise methanol in presence of amines resulting in the formation of aminals with a copper catalyst.

The above mentioned oxygen and nitrogen containing organic compounds are found in natural products, pharmaceuticals, and have many applications in industrial organic chemistry. Some of those are of interest for the production of consumer goods like flavours or fragrances, such as benzaldehyde with its characteristic almond-like smell and taste. These compounds are also of particular interest for natural product synthesis and material synthesis.

In addition, the greenhouse gas (GHG) nitrous oxide served as oxidant and has been simultaneously decomposed to nitrogen gas (major inert gas in atmospheric air) and water. Nitrous oxide, a natural and anthropogenic GHG (1 kg N2O ≈ 300 kg CO2) can be decomposed in this way simultaneously.

These approaches provide a dual benefit, on the one hand the GHG decomposed and on the other hand, useful organic compounds are obtained at low temperature and short reaction times which implies less energy consumption.

The protocols may find further applications in the broad field of sustainable synthesis.

The related articles and covers can be accessed under the following DOI links below:

https://doi.org/10.1039/D4CY00760C (copper catalysis; open access article with a free account)
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4CY90092H (front cover)

https://doi.org/10.1039/D3CY01635H (ruthenium catalysis; open access article)
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4CY90022G (back cover)

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Since its launch in February 2023, the PermaLab project has made considerable strides in empowering the EACOP-affected communities in Kikuube District, Uganda. This socio-agricultural project, led by local women and supported by a network of national and international partners, has successfully transformed 4000 m² into a sustainable agricultural and social hub. With a focus on permaculture, environmental conservation, and fostering community self-governance, the initiative has empowered women to take charge of their economic futures and adapt to the socio-economic disruptions caused by the pipeline project.

Spring Retreat: Mindfulness, Community and Self-Reflection

The Spring Retreat took place at the idyllic Wilde Rose cultural center in Melle from 18 to 21 May 2023. Nine participants experienced four days full of movement and mindfulness exercises, community activities, and healthy food. The retreat also enabled the participants to gain in-depth theoretical knowledge and practical experience of the concepts of relaxation and tension through the autonomic nervous system in connection with the function of the sympathetic and parasympathetic system. The close connection between theory and practice created an inspiring atmosphere in which the participants were able to explore their individual paths to inner balance.

Fall Conceptual Retreat: Relaxation and Planning

From September 22 to 24, 2023, the Fall Conceptual Retreat took place on the private yard of a dedicated supporter in Borgholzhausen. In a relaxed atmosphere, five participants took part in a rather internal event. The relaxed schedule allowed the participants to unwind and still discuss relevant topics in order to plan the AHI’s next steps. The retreat served as an important platform for creative ideas and the development of new projects.

Strategy Meeting: Development of a New Mission Statement

From November 17 to 19, 2023, the Strategy Meeting took place at the headquarters of the Academy and AHI administration in Vlotho. A new mission statement for the AHI was developed here, which will shape the future direction of the Institute. The participants contributed their diverse perspectives in order to jointly develop a clear vision for the coming years. The Strategy Meeting marked an important step in the further development of the AHI and laid the foundation for a promising future.

Outlook for 2024: Towards New Horizons of Connectedness

The new year is already waiting with new opportunities and exciting events. Of particular note is the next Retreat, which will once again take place at the inspiring Wilde Rose cultural center in Melle from May 30 to June 2, 2024. Under the thematic focus of connectedness, we invite all interested individuals to join us in delving deeper into the aspects of interpersonal relationships. The coming year therefore promises not only a continuation, but also an expansion of our journey together. We look forward to sharing these experiences with a growing community and to living and developing the values of the AHI together. Registrations can be submitted to retreat@a-h.institute.

We thank all participants, supporters and friends of the AHI for their dedicated participation.

The UN Sustainability Development Goal (UNSDG) No. 7 is: Ensure access to affordable and clean energy – for every one. Energy enables the development of agriculture, business, communications, education, healthcare and transportation and the lack of access to energy prevents economic and human development. Thus it is connected to the majority of the other UNSDGs.

The modern societies rely on renewable resources as alternative to fossil ones. To meet this goal, critical actions are needed: alternative energy storage solutions based on renewable resource with low CO₂ emissions. There is no single answer to tackle this challenge, but it requires a portfolio of solutions well adapted to specific regional demands. Typical modern energy harvesting technologies (i. e. wind power, solar power, water power) have a single major obstacle and limitation in common: the available battery technologies in use are not suitable to store large amounts of electrical energy. This remaining bottleneck for the long-term consolidation of renewable energies in the electrical grid is the grid stability owing to the variation of the electricity production with the above mentioned technologies. To overcome this obstacle it requires energy storage systems with high capacities in the MWh range to prevent blackouts owing to over-/underproduction or over-/underconsumption of electricity since the electrical grid itself cannot store large amounts of electricity. Potential solutions for this problem and the role of hydrogen gas derived from water, and carbon dioxide derived from air for energy storage systems are addressed in this article. In addition the limitations of lithium batteries are described with the requirements for education and knowledge transfer (UNSDG 4) as the fundamental keys for sustainability.

The open access article can be accessed under the following DOI link: http://doi.org/10.1039/d3su90036c

Social transformation processes often take place invisibly and insidiously. Art and theater is one form of others of uncovering these and actively influencing them. Theater and performance always take place in context. Not only when it is performed, but also when it is rehearsed. Questions about the who, the how and the why are central to this. This means that theater work and the conception of theater pedagogical projects go hand in hand with a responsibility. The responsibility to ask questions about power relations and the conditions for the success of art and theater.

With the help of performative and interdisciplinary strategies, the group has engaged in an artistic research process that explores the relationship between the city of Osnabrück, the urban space, its locations and institutions and the arts and develops a project idea for Osnabrück in 2024. Where do transformation processes take place in Osnabrück? Who has the opportunity to influence them? Who benefits from them? What kind of art does a city need in order to allow everyone to participate? At the heart of the answers that emerged through practical, artistic collaboration is the question of the connection between content and form.

The group would like to continue working in the future, would like to combine their working methods with the content. They want to ask who is missing and expand – to remain fluid. Would like to create spaces of hospitality in order to work not only productively, but also with joy and in connection. The group understands that these wishes cannot be fulfilled in one weekend, that they require a longer collaboration.

We don’t just want to make art, we want to develop an ethos that is reflected in all our practices – artistic, aesthetic, everyday and extraordinary. We are writers, artists, actors, students, children, adults, partners, hosts, questioners and initiators. We have an impact on our environment, are connected and therefore have a responsibility.

The realization of the second part in cooperation with an Osnabrück institution from the field of art and culture is planned for 2024. The continuation of the collaboration works against the idea of temporary projects whose sustainability is short-lived.

That is why all that remains to be said here is: to be continued…

In cooperation with:

What makes this project unique is the collaborative planning that ensures the community is actively involved in the design and implementation of the project. In this process, a hierarchy-critical and solidarity-based group structure was jointly developed to effectively address the needs of the community. Efficient agricultural practices are implemented on approximately 2000 square meters of arable land, including the cultivation of mixed crops and a drip irrigation system. These techniques allow for sustainable yields while minimizing water and resource consumption. The conservation of natural resources and the regeneration of the environment are at the heart of what the company does.

Equally, a particular emphasis is placed on community empowerment. The project promotes collective sources of income that are independent of existing family-based, often patriarchal, economic structures. This helps to improve the quality of life of local people and strengthen their self-determination and economic independence.

AHI is proud to partner with the dedicated EACOP Host Community Women and their commitment to a better future. More information about this inspiring project can be found in this newspaper article.

The research focuses on the conversion of furans to spirolactones. Furans are organic compounds found in natural products and have many applications in organic chemistry. They consist of a five-membered ring with four carbon atoms and one oxygen atom. Spirolactones, on the other hand, are a special class of functional groups in organic chemistry. They are characterized by a ring-shaped ester that is spiro-linked to another ring system, which means that the rings have only one atom in common. These compounds are of particular interest in medicinal chemistry.

The special feature of this research work lies in the application of a completely biocatalytic approach to the conversion of furans into spirolactones. This means that biological catalysts, especially enzymes, are used without the need for additional chemical reagents or catalysts. This method has the potential to make the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients and biologically active molecules more environmentally friendly and efficient. Close collaboration with the AHI Department of Theory & Praxis played a critical role in elucidating the reaction mechanisms through computational chemistry calculations.

The potential impact of this work is significant. The fully biocatalytic rearrangement of furans to spirolactones opens new avenues for the production of drugs and biologically active molecules in a more environmentally friendly and efficient manner. This could mark a turning point in organic synthesis and help promote more sustainable chemical processes.

The article can be accessed at the following DOI link: https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.3c00132