Sustainability
That was the Sustainable Semester 2023
The summer semester 2023 was all about sustainability. With lectures, campus tours, Lunch & Learns, workshops and networking events, students, researchers, teaching staff and employees of the university had numerous opportunities to learn about, discuss, exchange ideas and participate in the topic of sustainability.
Around 140 different participants from Bielefeld University took part in the various events over the summer, such as the three different campus tours, the four different workshops and the two Sustainable Science Cafés.
Kick-off event
The Sustainable Semester kicked off with an opening lecture by Prof Dr Eva Schwenzfeier-Hellkamp on the topic of "Circular Economy meets companies in the OWL region - potential for transformation". This was followed by a panel discussion in which the participants discussed how universities can become key players in the transformation towards a sustainable society.
Kick-off event for the sustainable semester
- Impulsvortrag & Podiumsdiskussion
Keynote speech
Prof Dr Eva Schwenzfeier-Hellkamp, Professor in the Department of Engineering and Mathematics at Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences
"Circular economy meets companies in the OWL region - potential for transformation"
In view of global crises such as climate change and the scarcity of resources, it is imperative to rethink and act differently. Resources need to be used sustainably and landfill waste minimised. The circular economy (CE) / circular value creation offers solution options that require a transformation of corporate culture.
A society in which all materials and substances are managed in cycles. Products are free of harmful substances and healthy and there is no more waste. This is what the world could look like if the circular economy were to become a guiding principle for society and companies.
- What is meant by circular economy / circular value creation and C2C certification?
- What are the current developments in the circular economy?
- What transformation is necessary for this?
- What role do research projects such as CirQuality and InCamS@Bi play for the OWL region?
- What good examples of technical implementation already exist?
Finally, the presentation used the example of the interdisciplinary activities in teaching and research at the ITES Institute at Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences to display the contribution a university can make to the transformation.
Panel discussion
"Promoting transformation potential - How can universities become key players in the transformation towards a sustainable society?"
This was followed by a panel discussion on the strategic framework conditions that a university can provide in order to promote this potential for transformation through teaching and research. It was also discussed what responsibility a university has to act sustainably itself, but also what responsibility it assumes or can assume for the transformation towards a sustainable society through research and teaching.
- Panel discussion participants
Jasmin Azari
Jasmin Azari Jasmin Azari is studying to become a primary school teacher with integrated special needs education. She has been working in the ecology department of the AStA [Student Union] Bielefeld since September 2022 and has been active in FridaysForFuture since 2020. She has also been a member of the student parliament for StudentsForFuture since 2021/2022 and campaigns for animal rights on the side.
Prof. Dr Natalie Bartholomäus
Studio Hirschmeier Prof. Dr Natalie Bartholomäus has been Professor of ABWL, in particular Human Resource Management and Organisation, at the Faculty of Business at Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences since 2015. Prior to her professorship, Ms Bartholomäus worked as a management and HR consultant in an international project context. Since 2021, she has been Vice President for Sustainability and Strategic Human Resource Management and leads the strategy development process for sustainability at Bielefeld UAS.
Prof. Dr Alexandra Kaasch
© Bielefeld University/ M. Adamski Prof Dr Alexandra Kaasch has been at Bielefeld University since 2014 and has held the professorship for German and Transnational Social Policy since 2020. She has been vice rector for Science and Society at Bielefeld University since 2021 and is responsible for sustainability, among other things.
Prof. Dr Anne Sanders
Karoline Wolf Prof Dr Anne Sanders has held the Chair of Civil Law, Corporate Law, Family Business Law and Justice Research at Bielefeld University since 2018. From 2009 to 2011, she worked as a research assistant at the Federal Constitutional Court. Since 2021, she has been Professor II at the University of Bergen in Norway and a regular expert at the Council of Europe on issues of judicial independence and judicial organisation. In her research, Ms Sanders focuses on the organisation of courts, family law and legal issues of sustainable entrepreneurship in family businesses and responsibly owned companies. She actively integrates sustainability issues into her lectures and currently has a textbook project on business law and sustainability with Springer.
Prof. Dr Eva Schwenzfeier-Hellkamp
University Communication FH Bielefeld, photographer S. Freitag Prof Dr Eva Schwenzfeier-Hellkamp has been a professor in the Department of Engineering and Mathematics with a focus on information technology at Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences since 2008 and head of the Institute for Technical Energy Systems ITES since 2018. She was also Chairwoman of the VDI OWL district association from 2014 - 2017. Her research focuses on smart light and smart energy and circular value creation, among other things. Mrs Schwenzfeier-Hellkamp is a member of the Bielefeld Climate Advisory Board. She combines sustainability topics with her own research as well as her teaching.
- Recording of the event
Get to know the campus
- Sustainable building
Bielefeld University The first campus tour as part of the Sustainable Semester took place on the topic of "Sustainable Building". Roman Immoor and Nina Brodführer from the Facility Management department led a one-hour tour of the Bielefeld University campus and gave an insight into the current construction and energy efficiency measures and answered questions about sustainability, photovoltaic systems, façade greening and criteria for more sustainable building materials. Participants were able to take a look at the construction site for the new buildings R5 - R7, the facade photovoltaic system of the new building R2 and the current construction work on the main building.
- University canteen and sustainability
Bielefeld University Mark Bothe from the Studierendenwerk [Association for Student Affairs] Bielefeld gave the participants a behind-the-scenes tour of the university canteen, where up to 4,000 meals are prepared every day. During the one-hour tour, participants were able to learn about the processes and daily challenges of communal catering and ask questions about sustainability in the university canteen. There was information on the energy consumption of the university canteen, how vegetarian and vegan menus are developing and how sustainability can be taken into account in production and purchasing.
- Uni-Bees
Bielefeld University During the campus tour on the topic of "University - Bees", participants visited the eleven bee colonies in the school garden on the open spaces of the Faculty of Biology. During the campus tour, Nils Hasenbein, the Faculty of Biology's Student Affairs Officer, gave some insights into the life of university bees and their use in teaching and research, beekeeping and honey and how keeping bees can be viewed in the light of sustainability or even contradictions. However, there were not only theoretical insights into the life of the university bees, participants were able to experience the bees up close and even taste the very fresh honey from the honeycomb.
- Biodiversität
Bielefeld University Nina Brodführer and Svenja Sjoerds from the Facility Management department gave the participants of the campus tour on the topic of biodiversity an overview of the current biodiversity-promoting measures on the university campus in around an hour. Participants were able to take a look at the various flower strips on the campus and ask questions about current and planned biodiversity measures, future planned campus changes and campus design. On the roof of the bicycle parking area behind R4, we took a look at a green roof with ground cover plants, as has already been realised and is to be realised on some new buildings.
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Join in and try it out
- Urban Gardening
Bielefeld University At the urban gardening workshop on the open-air grounds of the Faculty of Biology, participants learnt how biological knowledge can be taught in a school garden by growing different crops. Nils Hasenbein gave an impulse on how everyone can personally sharpen their awareness of species, habitats and ecological relationships in their own environment and create habitats for animals and plants in the urban environment through easy-to-implement measures. In addition, it was discussed how it is possible to start growing your own useful and ornamental plants in a small space, even without prior knowledge.
- Bicycle workshops
© Universität Bielefeld The AStA [Student Union]'s Radtschlag in cooperation with Students for Future offered a series of different workshops on the topic of cycling as part of the Sustainable Semester. Participants were able to learn in the four thematically different workshops with several dates, among other things, what they should pay attention to from an ergonomic point of view when buying a bicycle and when adjusting it, which typical mistakes can be avoided when buying used bicycles, how to make sure that the brakes are properly maintained and how I can best repair my bicycle myself.
- Sustain 2030 simulation game
© Bielefeld University/ Pollmeier To get to know the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations better, the participants of the workshop on the Sustain 2030 simulation game workshop were able to slip into different roles and discuss possible measures to achieve the goals in a fictitious citizens' assembly. The simulation game illustrated the complex conflicting goals of the 17 SDGs, which formulate environmental, social and economic objectives for sustainable development. In addition, the participants experienced the challenges of making political decisions by simulating the application of various measures.
- Upcycling sewing cafes
Students for Future Bielefeld In the two upcycling workshops organised by Students For Future in cooperation with the Bielefeld Adult Education Centre, participants were able to learn how to sew new products such as cushions, pencil cases, scarves etc. from old clothes, curtains or duvet covers. Participants also had the opportunity to alter or upcycle the clothes they had brought with them.
Exchange and network
- Sustainable Science Cafés
Bielefeld University How can sustainability-oriented research be organised? What ideas are there for climate- and resource-friendly research? In the two Sustainable Science Cafés, one on the topic of "Sustainable research operations" and the other on the topic of "Research on sustainability", all interested researchers were able to discuss their ideas and challenges after a short keynote speech and network over coffee, biscuits and fruit.
- Lunch & Learns
Bielefeld University How do Bielefeld University employees travel to events? What impact does this have on our environment? How can business trips and events at the university be organised more sustainably? In the two short exchange formats during the lunch break, interested parties were able to provide input on the topic of sustainable(r) business trips and sustainable event planning and discuss their own experiences.
- Uni flea market
Students for Future Bielefeld The university group Students for Future organised another university flea market by students & staff for students & staff on 23 June 2023 after a long break. From 2-6pm, guests were able to browse the various stalls on Bielefeld University's Social Field.
Distribution of fruit and vegetable rescue boxes in cooperation with Restlos e.V.
Final lecture of the Sustainable Semester
The Sustainable Semester was concluded with a lecture by Professor Dr Claudia Hornberg on the topic of "Emergency Room - What role do medicine and public health have in times of climate change?". Among other things, the lecture provided an insight into the interrelationships between climate change and the diverse health effects and the role of (future) physicians and other health professions in this context.
- Emergency Room - What role do medicine and public health play in times of climate change?
Final lecture on the topic of 'Climate change & health
Prof.'in Dr Claudia Hornberg, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Bielefeld University
Climate change and the associated health effects directly affect the healthcare sector and its employees. They already play a central role in health communication, prevention, diagnostics and therapy of climate-associated health effects.
The presentation will provide an insight into the interrelationships between climate change and its diverse health effects and will address the role of (future) physicians and other health professions in this context. In addition, the most important findings of the research project "Implementation of climate (protection) and health aspects in the teaching of medical and medical-related degree programmes (MedKlimaGesund)" funded by the Stifterverband at the Medical School OWL (AG Sustainable Environmental Health Sciences) will be presented. The project makes an important contribution to sensitising teaching staff from the university and the clinical outpatient sector to the topic of climate change and health and provides initial implications for integrating the topics into teaching.- Aufzeichnung der Veranstaltung