Team Introduction

My name is Laurin Wünnenberg and I am a student in Business Economics at University of Witten/Herdecke.
Since I took courses in Political Economics back in High School I do have awareness for problems in our economic system and the intention to be part of changing it to a more balanced, socially and environmentally compatible course.
While doing a volunteer year in the USA in a homeless shelter where I met a lot of people who aren’t able to cope in our economic system my proposition to study economic theories in an open-minded surrounding where I do have the opportunity to think the economy in a new and different way was solidified.
Since the very beginning of my studies in autumn of 2008 it was obvious that I will get involved in the local oikos chapter at my university. Henceforth the conception of sustainability got more and more content for me and a lot of my own perceptions are combined in the goals of oikos. My major fields of interest are Economic Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility.
I am glad to be part of the oikos Winter School 2009 team and thereby having a future impact on projects which are designed for taking sustainability a step forward in our society.
laurin.wuennenberg@dont-want-spam.oikoswinterschool.org


I am Jonathan Rüth, a twenty year old economic student from the oikos Witten/Herdecke chapter. In the Winter School team, I am responsible for the website, programme updates and the contact to our appliers/participants.
At the age of 14, I founded, together with a couple of friends a „grüne Jugend“ Chapter in my hometown. „Grüne Jugend“ is the German youth organisation of the Green Party, which is focussing on sustainable ecologic politics.
We participated (and organised) numerous protests/talks/video screenings against irresponsible energy politics, racism, unfair gender and youth politics and a lot more topics you couldn´t even think of ;).
It is my belief that ecology and economy are not only no opposites rather more the different sides of the same coin. I study economics because I think that implementing high standards of ecologic and sustainable values is necessary in today´s world of global climate change under the perspective of a developing world economy. 
jonathan.rueth@dont-want-spam.oikoswinterschool.org


My name is Christof Schidlovski and I am honoured to be one of this year’s hosts of the annual oikos Winter School. Since the autumn of 2008 I have been studying Business Economics at Witten/Herdecke University.
Actually, I have always considered a certain responsibility for social matters as one of the essential aspects of today’s society. Therefore, I was always engaged to do my part for the society. Nowadays, we are living in a world suffering from a huge economic crisis. This crisis is majorly measured as a result of short-term management strategies focusing on the highest rates of return. Thereby, the economy itself has lost a huge amount of trust. Thus, the social reputation of managers has incredibly decreased. In fact, it is almost as if people have literally become afraid of pinstripes, white shirts, ties and latte macchiato.
At last, I would regard it as a central task for our generation to convince the society that the economy can also emphasise, maintain and sustain values like sustainability, trust and solidity. That is why I want to create a deeper awareness for sustainability and foster young entrepreneurs and those who feel the motivation to become ones one day.  

christof.schidlovski@dont-want-spam.oikoswinterschool.org