German ambassador visits Clemson during International Awareness Week

Published: April 5, 2011

Dr. Klaus Scharioth, German ambassador to the U.S. image by: Craig Mahaffey, Clemson University

CLEMSON — The United States and Europe must work together to help solve the most critical issues facing the world today, the German ambassador to the U.S. said Monday during a visit to Clemson University’s campus.

Dr. Klaus Scharioth told students, faculty and staff that such issues — economic recovery, energy security and revolutionary change in parts of north Africa — are global problems that cannot be solved by one county alone.

Scharioth said the U.S. and Europe must collaborate because the regions share many core values, such as freedom of speech and minority rights. “There are no other regions in the world as closely linked as the U.S. and Europe,” he said.

During an address on transatlantic relations, the ambassador highlighted energy security as one of his top 5 issues the world’s governments face. Climate change is real and Earth’s fossil fuels won’t last forever, he said.

“If we don’t solve this problem during the next three or four years, we are in deep trouble,” Scharioth said. “But there is no way any of us can solve these problems alone.”

The ambassador’s visit was the highlight of a series of events timed to coincide with International Awareness Week. Held each spring, International Awareness Week is a campus-wide celebration of cultures. Student groups, academic departments and community members are involved in many cultural events throughout the week.

This year, a program of “German Days” events showcased the range of German programs at Clemson and celebrated the university’s international relationships. Events featured international photographs, music, dance, food and speakers for a fun, interactive learning experience.

During his visit, the ambassador attended a public reception with faculty and students from Clemson’s German programs, state school officials and German language high school teachers and principals.

Today, the ambassador visits Clemson’s Advanced Materials Research Center in Anderson and tours the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research in Greenville, where he will address the International Conference on Sustainable Automotive Technologies.

More than 100 auto industry representatives from around the world will attend ICSAT 2011 to discuss new technologies and approaches in sustainable mobility. Clemson is hosting the conference with the Institute for Technology and Design in Ingolstadt, Germany, and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia. ICSAT 2011 marks the first time the conference has taken place in North America.

The German connection is strengthened at the conference by a keynote address by Josef Kerscher, president of BMW Manufacturing, discussions on BMW Group’s approach to sustainable mobility, and a guest lecture on the evolution of vehicle technologies by Frank Weith, technical strategy manager for Volkswagen Group.

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