Invitation for the Sustainability Day
All members of the University are cordially invited to take part in the Sustainability Day on the Poppelsdorf Campus on May 12 between 12 noon and 6 pm!
For a Future Worth Living - Sustainability at the University of Bonn
As a university with Excellence status, the University of Bonn is doing its bit for sustainable transformation processes.
With a dedicated Vice Rectorate, a Sustainability Unit and a Green Office, the issue of sustainability is firmly embedded in University management and plays an important role in all areas of its life—research, teaching and operations.
Participation, networking and student involvement are key to implementing the University’s own sustainability program, known as BOOST (Bonn Program for Sustainable Transformation). This is also reflected in its guiding principle, “Working Together for Sustainability.”
The key aims and fields of activity are set out in the mission statement, which was devised in a participatory process.
The University of Bonn has been a certified “Fairtrade University” since as long ago as 2020.
Quarterly Campaign Months
To promote a culture of sustainability, the University of Bonn organizes campaign months once every quarter. All members of the university are invited to participate in the diverse offers around the topics of sustainability.
“How big an environmental footprint does our food actually have?"
Sustainability is a key priority in the construction of the new Pharmaceutical Institute building on the Endenich Campus
A study by the Center for Development Research (ZEF) at the University of Bonn has shown that people in industrialized countries need to eat at least 75 percent less meat if the planet is to be able to continue feeding its population in the future.
Centralized collection is one of the best ways to ensure that batteries are recycled properly. Used batteries contain valuable raw materials such as iron, zinc, manganese, and nickel.
Opening of the Green Office at the University of Bonn
The University of Bonn opened the Green Office in October 2021 as a central point of contact for the topic of sustainability, supporting the commitment of all university members in this area.
Award: The University of Bonn is a “Fair Trade University”
2020 saw the University of Bonn advance to the status of a “Fair Trade University”.
Electrified: 100 % green electricity
Since November 1, 2019, the electrical sockets in the University of Bonn issue only electricity generated from ecological or renewable energy sources, thereby effecting a considerable reduction in the carbon footprint of the University.
Wanted: Sustainable ideas
We are seeking ideas to increase sustainability. All University members are encouraged to engage in this process by submitting their ideas via e-mail.
A special budget will fund projects designed for example, to achieve sustainable reductions in energy, material and water consumption and reduce the volume of wastewater, exhaust air and waste generated by University operations. Funding will also be granted to proposals designed to protect the environment and which seek to influence the behavior of University members (e.g. awareness raising and information campaigns). Update! We are pleased to announce that applications from the University Hospital Bonn will also be accepted, effective immediately.
Sustainability in Research
The issue of sustainability is also assuming an ever-greater role in the research conducted at the University of Bonn. Whether relating to construction materials, fuels and sustainability in plant breeding or development policy, our researchers are working on projects with a wide range of solution-oriented and interdisciplinary approaches.
TRA 6 - Innovation and Technology for Sustainable Futures
This Transdisciplinary Research Area is a research consortium made up of a range of researchers drawn from different faculties and non-university research organizations, all investigating questions of sustainability.
Center for Development Research (ZEF)
The Center for Development Research is an institute of the University of Bonn. Its researchers seek to develop scientifically sound solutions to questions of development policy.
Klein-Altendorf Sustainability Campus
The teaching and research units of the Faculty of Agriculture are concentrated at the Klein-Altendorf Campus. 2009 saw the establishment of a new research area “renewable raw materials”.
Sustainability in Teaching
Issues connected with sustainability and sustainability research also play a key role in teaching. As well as covering sustainability issues through its content, this teaching also delivers sustainability education through its methodology in formats with a practical, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary focus.
Service learning: coffee grounds—tough luck for the trash
Service learning combines research-based learning, real-life experience and social engagement. In a project entitled “We do give two beans!” for example, Agricultural Sciences students led by Dr. Thorsten Kraska created a sustainable barbecue lighter out of coffee grounds.
A grant program that’s diverse, sustainable and digital
The University of Bonn has set up the “vielfältig.nachhaltig.digital” internal grant program in order to develop studying and teaching further with an eye on the future. The funding is to be given out annually.
Sustainability poster competition
Students from all faculties and departments whose courses include aspects of sustainability can enter this competition and showcase their projects to a wide audience by presenting a poster.
