Change is everywhere, yet it is surprisingly difficult to grasp.

We often hear that we live in a time of unprecedented transformation. New technologies emerge, political landscapes shift, social norms evolve, and global challenges call for new responses. At the same time, many people experience the opposite: despite constant talk of innovation and progress, some structures seem remarkably resistant to change.

This tension inspired the theme Winds of Change.

How do we make sense of a world that appears to move ever faster, while many of its fundamental questions remain unresolved? Are we witnessing genuine transformation, or new versions of familiar patterns? What drives change, who benefits from it, who resists it, and who is left out of the conversation?

The winds of change do not blow evenly, nor do they follow a single course. We invite you to trace these currents, question their direction, and explore the possibilities they may reveal.

We, the members of the Advisory Board and the Board of Members of TUM: Junge Akademie, present the guiding question “Winds of Change” to future scholarship holders as the basis for collaboratively developed projects. We are convinced that the reflections and inspirations of our students from engineering and technology, the visual arts, music, theatre, dance and film, education, the natural and political sciences, medicine, sports and life sciences as well as informatics will be very diverse – shaped by fundamental considerations and observations, personal experiences, and specific knowledge and interests.

We hope that this guiding question will motivate you – students from all disciplines who are interested in TUM: Junge Akademie – to share your thoughts and perceptions for the call of #class27 “Winds of Change” in the form of an essay or a video.

Let us know your thoughts and surprise us – in your very own way.
We are looking forward to hearing from you.

Professor Gerhard Müller & all

Director #TUMJA & TUM Excecutive Vice President for Study and Teaching Affairs