The discussion format "We need to talk!" will take place for the second time on Monday, December 8. The Doppelstadtkultur association and the Institute for Conflict Management at Viadrina are inviting people to talk about the frequently perceived distance between politics and the population under the title "Die da oben?

On Monday, December 8, Prof. Dr. Pierre Wat (Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne) will give the lecture "Paradise lost? Art facing the anthropocene". Using a selection of current works, the art historian will show how artists manage – or fail – to maintain a sense of wonder in times of predicted catastrophe, while also questioning the power of art throughout history.

The last day of the program at the Oderbruch Museum Altranft brings the annual theme of neighbourhood to a close for young and old with stories, music and puzzles. There will be guessing, playing, reading, singing and music in the castle

.

To mark European Waste Prevention Week, the Märkisch-Oderland waste management company (EMO) is launching the Zero Waste Index MOL – an online directory of regional companies, initiatives and facilities such as repair workshops, repair cafés, second-hand and unpackaged stores or rental services to help citizens live more sustainably and with less waste.

On Tuesday, 25 November, the European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder) received the German Employer Award for Education 2025 for its outstanding commitment to promoting democracy. The award was given for a seminar on the topic of "Democracy in crisis?" by Lilo Meier, Elisa Lehrer and Dr. Anna Rößner.

IHK Ostbrandenburg, Viadrina and Western IHK Gorzów warn of long-term damage caused by ongoing border controls and call for rapid relief measures: Representatives from business and science report that the controls at the German-Polish border inhibit the mobility of workers and researchers, disrupt supply chains and make cross-border cooperation and education massively more difficult.

Labor market without momentum – unemployment rate remains at 6.4 percent: In November, a total of 14,633 people were registered as unemployed in the city of Frankfurt (Oder), the district of Märkisch-Oderland and the district of Oder-Spree. That is 26 fewer than in October and 373 more than in November 2024.

The Verein der Freunde und Förderer des Museums Viadrina e.V. has been able to acquire another print for the Municipal Museum. The colored steel engraving is largely a copy of a lithograph by the artist Friedrich Heinrich Bils (1801–1853) from before 1826. The association is currently working on the purchase of a rare and culturally valuable grinding jug from the middle of the 17th century, which can be supported by donations.

In the state of Brandenburg, cab and hire car companies are an indispensable part of medical care: they have been reliably providing patient transportation for years to transport people with limited mobility – especially in rural areas. However, it is not yet clear whether ambulance services can still be offered in the state of Brandenburg from January 1, 2026.

The "Altlandsberger Schlossgespräche" series of events will enter a new round on January 22, 2026 with the focus on "Business meets state politics". From 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Schlossgut Altlandsberg, participants can look forward to inspiration for the 2026 business year and the opportunity to contribute their perspectives directly to the dialog with state politicians.