Internal democratization as a basis for sustainable teaching and learning
A lecture by Nils Altner as part of the lecture series "Lectures for Future".
In this workshop, a method for strengthening inner democracy will be experienced in an exemplary way. We will ask and explore how we can, in a trauma-sensitive manner, democratize all our inner parts into an 'inner team'. Does this then empower us to shape pro-democratic relationships and sustainability-promoting teaching? Please only participate if you are willing to engage in a trust-based group process that also includes introspective silence, movement, humor, and creative methods.
Nils Altner, born in 1968 in Dresden, is a German educational and health scientist, author, and lecturer with a remarkable body of work at the intersection of mindfulness, health, and education. As the first German-speaking MBSR teacher in 1999, he played a pioneering role in bringing the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program to the German-speaking world. Since 2004, he has also worked as a teacher trainer for MBSR and Mind-Body Medicine throughout Europe, shaping an entire generation of practitioners.
At Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences Berlin, he holds the teaching position for Professional Self-Care, accompanying future professionals in social and educational fields. As a visiting professor for mindful and democratic school development, he brings his expertise to the advancement of educational institutions — from early childhood settings to universities. He also teaches at the University of Duisburg-Essen and the University of Leipzig, and has delivered guest lectures at the renowned Harvard University.
His research and publications connect mindfulness, sustainability, and democratic competence into a holistic vision of educational culture. As the author of the Embodied Phenomenological Dialogue, he has developed his own method for teaching and research that links embodied experience with humanistic pedagogy. He is further engaged with the Inner Development Goals (IDGs), peacebuilding capacity, and deep ecology — themes that reach far beyond the lecture hall.
Through his work, Prof. Dr. Altner unites scholarly depth with lived practice, and stands today for a pedagogy that places the whole person at its center.