The Summer Institute in Systemic Risks, Cascades and Tipping Points (CASCADE) is a flagship initiative of European/Canadian institutions, focusing on meta-crisis such as climate change, pandemics, geopolitical risks, and disruptions in global supply chains of critical resources. CASCADE is organized jointly by the University of Split (Croatia), the University of Waterloo (Canada), the University of Augsburg (Germany), the University of Graz (Austria), the University of Hamburg (Germany), the Friedrich Schiller University Jena (Germany). It is initiated by the Risk-Knowledge Action Network (Risk-KAN) and carried out as an Erasmus Blended Intensive Program (BIP). The event will take place between 17th – 26th Oct 2025 at the Mediterranean Institute for Life Sciences (MedILS), University of Split, Croatia.
CASCADE aims to fill a critical gap in graduate-level and professional training in systemic risks, a concept that analyzes the accumulation of risk and tipping points through cascading impacts within and across systems and sectors. The training will focus on critical systems interdependencies and how they amplify underlying vulnerabilities, creating cascading impacts and systemic risks. Improving our understanding of the root causes of systemic risk, both biophysical and socio-economic is crucial to address contemporary challenges (some would say meta-crisis) and requires integrating different systems perspectives and fostering system thinking. Teaching will include various scientific methods such as system dynamics, material flow analysis, input-output analysis, causality models, scenario and supply chain analysis.
Selected through a competitive process, about 25 Master and Ph.D. students will come together for 10 days. Preparatory readings, plenary sessions, and keynotes will provide foundational knowledge on key system concepts and approaches. Hands on training will involve group work on a major project to be delivered after the summer institute. CASCADE invites students of diverse backgrounds. The working language will be English. Accepted students will largely be funded under the ERASMUS-BIP program if from one of the participating European partner institutions (i.e. Augsburg, Split, Graz, Hamburg and Jena). Applications from other than the partner institutions are welcome to apply, but will need to secure their own funding at approximately 1.000€ not including travel costs.
Students interested in the school are invited to apply through a cover letter expressing the motivation and alignment with career goals, and a CV that includes the study level, and unofficial transcript/grades. Please send all required documents in one pdf to: simron.singh@uwaterloo.ca. Applications will be accepted until 23.03.2025. Selected students will be informed by 15th of April.
