Sustainability at the university

Interested students accepted the invitation from the Sustainability Office on Wednesday, 28 November 2024, and came together for the sustainability meeting for students at Café Chaos. Over coffee, tea and gingerbread, the Sustainability Office first presented itself and its work: from the creation of the sustainability strategy and the recently published sustainability report to concrete actions and projects for their implementation. The Sustainability Office team, consisting of Clarissa Plendl, head of the team and Sustainability Officer, Michael Mai, Assistant for Sustainable Mobility and Lena Fockers, Employee for Sustainability Communication and Projects, gave a broad insight into both strategic and practical topics.

This was followed by a presentation of various student projects and opportunities for participation. Selina Issing, nutrition officer, presented the AStA's work in the area of sustainability. Those present had many questions about her collaboration with Studierendenwerk Gießen in particular. Then Foodsharing Fuldawas presented, an initiative to save food and prevent it from being wasted.

Afterwards, Arthur Schulz, former student coordinator of the project, presented the Campus Garden. Those interested were also given an insight into possible student active participation in the Sustainability Office and options for realising an internship or thesis there. Lena Fockers then presented the sustainability certificate for students that will start in summer semester 2025.

After many questions and a lively exchange already took place during the presentation of the various sustainability opportunities at the university, the last part of the course continued. The focus here was on exchange, networking and input for climate protection at the university. In addition to the question of where students see sustainability aspects in their own university studies, the focus was on their wishes for the 2025 update of the university's climate protection concept. The Sustainability Office was happy to accept any input and was delighted with the lively participation. The students' concerns in the area of climate protection will now be incorporated into the revision of the concept.