Family is a blurry umbrella term for various forms of relations. It stands for origin and belonging, but also for obligation and conflict. As a central building block of social life, the family conveys rules and norms, moulds desires, fears and goals. At the same time, there is no fixed definition of what a family is. Depending on time and culture, it can be understood in many different ways.

The lecture series is dedicated to the contradictory reality of the model of the nuclear family today and asks for alternatives from a global perspective. Renowned academics from a wide range of disciplines will present current research to discuss the creative, ethical and innovative potential of alternative family and kinship concepts. The lecture series is the prelude to the Humboldt Forum’s theme year of the same name, which starts in autumn 2025.

The lecture series is part of the cooperation between the Humboldt Forum and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.