Our Vision
Issues related to sustainability and sustainability research play a key role in teaching. We develop new teaching and study offerings which are integrated into curricula as a visible part of the various degree programs. The University’s sustainability strategy is continuously further developed in a participatory process within the framework of our BOOST (Bonn Program for Sustainable Transformation) sustainability agenda. Strategic objectives and measures for teaching are being developed in a dedicated working group.
Working through a range of formats, the University of Bonn offers all its students the opportunity to engage with sustainability topics in an interdisciplinary and practice-oriented manner. In line with the UNESCO Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) program, we take on special responsibility for empowering future generations to better structure society to meet future challenges and more prudently approach the environment and our use of natural resources.
Service Learning
Service Learning is a concept uniting research-based learning, real-life experience and social engagement, in close alignment with the goals of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). This teaching and study format is specifically designed to open up interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary perspectives while raising awareness of societal problems and issues.
Project: StadtKlimaWandeln: Sustainable Change for Bonn’s Spaces
This multi-year project will see students play an active role in designing (urban) green spaces in order to increase their biodiversity and climate resilience while also taking locals’ diverse interests into account.
As well as seminars, the project also includes public events, workshops, the creation of guidelines and a transformation festival scheduled for 2025.
Seminar: “Nachhaltige Stadt der Zukunft – in Fiktion, Gesetz und Planung”
Three days, three universities, three different fields. In the 2023 summer semester, a Marsilius Bridging Seminar brought together not only different disciplines but also students and lecturers from different cities and universities. The name “bridging seminar” reflects how it serves to bridge the gap between the individual research cultures and, in this particular case, between different centers of research in Germany as well. All the contributors from Bonn, Eichstätt and Heidelberg shared a common aim, namely to gather a range of views on what forms sustainable cities might take in the future and discuss the opportunities and challenges that each presents.
Communicating sustainability
Coffee grounds—tough luck for the trash
In a project entitled “Das interessiert uns die Bohne!” (“We do give two beans!”), Agricultural Sciences students led by Dr. Thorsten Kraska created a sustainable barbecue lighter out of coffee grounds.
The project acted as a springboard for other student-led research projects on using coffee grounds.
UNESCO Chair
The University of Bonn hosts one of only 16 UNESCO Chairs in Germany, which are characterized by outstanding research and teaching in the areas in which UNESCO works. At the UNESCO Chair in Human Water Systems, Prof. Dr. Mariele Evers and her team are studying the sustainable use of water as a resource from a transdisciplinary perspective.
Interdisciplinary Activities
Campus Ackerdemie
Run in partnership with Acker e.V., the CampusAckerdemie program shows future teachers how to set up their own school garden and integrate it effectively into the everyday life of their school.
Research-based teaching focuses on topics such as environmental interrelationships, food production and sustainable eating.
Lecture series
All students are given the opportunity to tackle sustainability issues regardless of their degree program. Various inter- and transdisciplinary lecture series are organized that interested members of the public are welcome to attend as well as students.
Joint degree program with the United Nations University (UNU)
The Master’s degree program in the Geography of Environmental Risk and Human Security is offered jointly with the Institute for Environment and Human Security at the United Nations University. It is research-based and focuses on the issues of vulnerability, resilience and adaptation.
Funding Instruments
A grant program that’s diverse, sustainable and digital
The “vielfältig.nachhaltig.digital” (“diverse.sustainable.digital”) internal grant program is designed to further develop studying and teaching at the University of Bonn with an eye on the future.
Funding is awarded on an annual basis.
Sustainability poster competition
Students from all faculties and departments whose courses included aspects of sustainability were able to enter this competition and showcase their projects to a wide audience by presenting a poster.
2020
Establishment of the Service-Learning Coordination Office
2021
Establishment of the UNESCO Chair of Human-Water Systems
2022
Launch of the Campus Ackerdemie pilot project
Work in progress
This web page will be added to gradually.