What Can Trees Teach Us About Urban Resilience?

Set against the backdrop of Teufelsberg's Cold War ruins and street art, Mark Charlton, Professor of Sustainable Development at De Montfort University, brought together students and staff from Health Innovation University of Applied Sciences (HIU) and De Montfort University (DMU), along with Co-Moderator Luca Reinhold, for a joint collaboration event in Berlin.

The visit centered around the "Becoming Tree" session, part of the Public Vitality Camp Berlin, where participants explored and discussed how to see urban trees as living relationships rather than isolated objects — from their role in absorbing carbon dioxide to building resilience against urban heat.

For HIU students, the event offered more than an academic exercise. Su Lin Thu Wun, a student at HIU, shared her experience of the day:

"As an international student, I never expected to have such a wonderful experience, so I am deeply grateful for this opportunity."

Beyond the discussions on sustainability, the day created space for genuine exchange between the two university communities — connecting students and staff around a shared interest in the cities they live and study in.

Maybe the message is simple: appreciate the trees around you.

HIU is grateful for the collaboration with De Montfort University and looks forward to deepening this connection in future joint initiatives.