Leuphana employee honoured by the Görres Society

2024-10-18 Dr Marietta Hülsmann took second place in the Görres Society's ‘Creation and Responsibility’ creative and essay competition with her short story ‘Antons Arche oder Alles, was kreucht und fleucht’ (‘Anton's Ark or All Creatures Great and Small’).

©Görres-Gesellschaft
Presentation of the essay competition prize at the University of Regensburg: Vice President of the Görres Society, Prof. Dr. Sabine Seichter (University of Salzburg), with the prizewinners Dr. Marietta Hülsmann and Jana Lobe.

The 10-page text ‘Anton's Ark’ takes the idea of Noah's Ark as a basis for drawing attention to the consequences of climate change in a way that is suitable for children. Author Marietta Hülsmann reverses the Bible story: the hero is not an old man, but a child. It is not raining; it is too dry. People do not turn away; they help each other.

The story also provides practical solutions for helping animals in the garden during a long drought. Children and adults work together across generations to combat the consequences of climate change.

The four-member scientific jury ruled: ‘In “Anton's Ark”, the topic of “creation and responsibility” is vividly presented in a way that is suitable for children. A text that would also be perfectly suited as a children's book.’

Marietta Hülsmann studied Leuphana Teaching and Learning B.A. with the subjects chemistry and biology. After graduating with a Master of Education, she completed her doctorate under Prof. Dr. Thorsten Aßmann on ground beetles and dung beetles. The trained journalist works in Leuphana's university communications.

With around 3000 members, the Görres Society is one of the largest and oldest academic societies in Germany. Its aim is to provide impetus for social debates within a Christian value system.