“And man is called man,
because he forgets, because he represses.
And because he raves and steels himself,
because he warms the heart when he tells his tale.”
Herbert Grönemeyer’s lyrics from the song and the album of the same name, “Mensch”, released in 2002, sound astonishingly relevant in the autumn of 2026. What defines a human being in a world where artificial intelligence is taking on a more important role? How do we deal with crises that we ourselves help to cause? What can we influence, and what must we accept?
War and peace, natural hazards, climate change, health and a long life, meaning and responsibility: these topics stand on their own yet can still be explored together. They form the starting point for discussions to which the Public Lectures hope to answer.
SQUARE invites people to experience new formats. The guiding theme this semester is the question “But what do I really know?” It is less an expression of ignorance than of curiosity about the technological and social changes of our time.
Public Lectures: big questions
Public Lectures have been an integral part of the University’s programme for over 125 years. They reflect the profile of the University of St.Gallen. Attendees also learn more about the city and region of St.Gallen during the lectures. The topics include:
- War and Peace in Eastern Europe
15, 22 and 29 September, and 6, 13 and 20 October, 6.15–7.45 pm
Main Building, Room A 01-U206; also available online
The war in Ukraine has brought the question of war and peace back to Europe. To understand the present, however, it is worth looking back. Yves B. Partschefeld’s lecture series traces the history of Eastern Europe since the 19th century. The Napoleonic Wars, the Crimean War, the First and Second World Wars, and the conflicts following the collapse of the Soviet Union are not examined in isolation, but as part of a long history of power, nationalism and geopolitical interests.
- China's Golden Moments: Six Stories from the Middle Kingdom
16, 23, and 30 September, and 7, 14, and 21 October, 6.15–7.45 p.m.
Online
Understanding China as a global power also means knowing its history. In six "Golden Moments," Daria Berg guides viewers through its history from the imperial era to the present day. The series focuses on individuals who have shaped history through their art, thought, or political power – from the ruler who unified China to artists under Xi Jinping.
- Natural hazards and natural risks: Humans as both victims and perpetrators
12 October, 2, 9, 23 and 30 November, and 7 December, 6.15–7.45 pm
Main Building, Room A 01-014
Floods, landslides and avalanches are natural phenomena. They become a risk where people live, build and carry out economic activities. Climate change further exacerbates the situation. The lecture by Mathias Schneider and Urs Sieber therefore examines the dual role of humans: they are exposed to natural hazards while simultaneously influencing the conditions under which these can lead to disasters.
- Performance & Longevity: Training in the second half of life
12.*, 19 and 26 October, and 2 November*, 6.15–7.45 pm
SQUARE, Rosenberg-Rotmonten Room; *Library building, Room A 09-012
Living longer is one thing. Staying healthy and active for longer is another. Daniel Studer, Head of University Sports, will explore in four lectures how exercise, strength and endurance training, recovery and prevention can influence the second half of life. This is not about the dream of eternal youth, but a practical question: what can we do ourselves to remain mobile, fit and independent for as long as possible?
- What matters in life?
27 October, 5, 10 and 17 November, 9.30–11.00 am
Katharinen Ballroom, St.Gallen
There are questions that cannot be answered with data. “What matters in life?” is one of them. Deacon Thomas Reschke, university chaplain at HSG, approaches the question from both a theological and a practical perspective. The discussion centres on meaning, hope, relationships, freedom and responsibility.
SQUARE programme: new perspectives
SQUARE is not just a learning and teaching space, but a place of community and a platform for academic exchange between the university and the public. The autumn programme brings this space to life with discussions, art, performances and guests from a wide variety of walks of life.
- Personalities in Residence
The “Personalities in Residence” series brings prominent figures from the worlds of academia, politics, business and culture to St.Gallen for more than just a single lecture. They spend several days at SQUARE, engaging in academic exchange with students, researchers and guests from the city and the wider region.
The series kicks off with Matthias Glaubrecht, an evolutionary biologist and historian of science, from 21 to 23 September. He will be followed on 24 September by Peter Maurer, the former President of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
This autumn’s guests will include, amongst others, Robert Habeck, former German Vice-Chancellor and Federal Minister, and Vontobel Co-CEO Christel Rendu de Lint. The format thrives on personal academic exchange.
- Artists in Residence
The “Artists in Residence” series brings artists to SQUARE. Their perspectives complement those of academia, business and politics: Art can unsettle, distil and make visible things for which there is as yet no clear language.
Ursula Krechel, writer, poet and essayist, will be our guest on 29 and 30 October. In her work, the multi-award-winning author combines literature with themes of memory, exile, violence, feminism and social responsibility.
A particular highlight in November is the guest performance by Origen. With its “Dance of Death”, the Graubünden Cultural Foundation combines dance, piano and the music of the Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich. The dance performance offers a poetic perspective on transience, community and the great questions of human existence.
There is a special backstory to this production being staged at SQUARE. Master’s students from HSG got to know Origen in the Grisons municipality of Riom, analysed the organisation and gained insights into its artistic work. The performances in November mark the conclusion of this collaboration.
18 November, 8.00 pm – Preview for students
19 November, 8.00 pm – Performance
20 November, 8.00 pm – Performance
Introduction at 7.00 pm on each evening
Ultimately, it is not a single topic that ties this public autumn programme at the University of St.Gallen together. It is the question of what it means to be human in a changing world. Or, in the words of Herbert Grönemeyer:
“On days like these,
one longs for infinity.
On days like these,
we still have all the time in the world.”
Details and further information:
Autumn 2026 brochure (in German)
Public Lectures
Programme at SQUARE
