On our way to a sustainable university

The sustainable development of the growing University of Bayreuth and the development of a genuine awareness of sustainability on campus are the main goals of the GreenCampus team. Although many events have been cancelled due to the pandemic measures, and some projects have had to be put on hold for the time being, the team has succeeded in advancing some major issues. An update:

Less than a year after the student assembly, which called for a change towards a more sustainable University, the University of Bayreuth has come a great deal closer to achieving this goal. GreenCampus is playing a key role in this process. In close cooperation with the University Governing Board and the Student Parliament Sustainability Work Group, the team coordinates the participatory process of developing the sustainability strategy (NHS). Representatives of all University status groups have developed goals, concrete measures, and measurable indicators of sustainability in the governance, research, teaching, third mission, and infrastructure goals fields of action.

It was remarkable how the work of the Sustainability Committee, with just under 30 members of staff, participating in over 30 meetings of the working groups, progressed so productively and successfully, especially during the first wave of the pandemic. The rapid adaptation of the University to digital operations and the great motivation of all stakeholders made this progress possible. The aim is to have the NHS discussed and adopted by the Senate and University Council before the end of this winter semester. In this way, the University of Bayreuth is contributing to a climate-friendly society and is playing a pioneering role in Germany.

An important contribution to the sustainability strategy is the planned Supplemental Programme in Sustainability. Detached from the NHS timetable, preparations for this are already in full swing. Since January 2020, many professors, research assistants, and students have committed to the project, and have shaped the supplemental programme together with GreenCampus. According to the current timetable, the supplemental programme can begin at the University of Bayreuth from the 2021 summer semester. Details will be communicated in good time.

In order to make it easier to lead a conscious, sustainable, and healthy lifestyle, we need more transparency in the products we consume. To this end, we have launched the project "Transparent Mensa" together with Studentenwerk Oberfranken and the University Health Management. We aim to inform our cafeteria guests about the nutritional values and CO2 equivalents of a dish even as they select it.

IT systems can help here to dynamically calculate nutritional values and CO2 equivalents of dishes on offer, and, through suitable visualisation, enable guests to make an informed choice on the food they eat. This is meant provide impetus for a more climate and health-conscious diet. The information is automatically displayed on the meal plans (on site and online). The calculation is based on supplier data and external databases. So much for the theory: Our project partners are currently working on its implementation.

Photo (from left to right): Anna Krombacher is a doctoral student in Information Systems Management with a focus on digital social innovation. | Leyla Sungur is a doctoral student in Micrometeorology with a focus on urban climate. | Prof. Dr. Christoph Thomas is Professor of Micrometeorology at the University of Bayreuth and co-responsible for B.Sc. and M.Sc. Geo-Ecology. | Prof. Dr. Jens Strüker is Professor for Information Systems Management and Digital Energy Management at the University of Bayreuth and holds a leading position in the Fraunhofer FIT Information Systems Management project group.

At the beginning of the 2020/21 winter semester, the dual patronage of GreenCampus will change to Prof. Dr. Christoph Thomas (Micrometeorology) and Prof. Dr. Jens Strüker (Information Systems Management and Digital Energy Management). They will be following in the footsteps of Prof. Dr. Britta Planer-Friedrich (Environmental Geochemistry) and Prof. Dr. Gilbert Fridgen (Information Systems Management and Sustainable IT Management). Furthermore, GreenCampus team coordination by scientific staff changes from Leon Haupt, Johannes Besold, and Lena Pfister to Anna Krombacher (doctoral student in Information Systems Management) and Leyla Sungur (doctoral student in Micrometeorology). Since September, Leyla and Anna have been the main points of contact for sustainability issues on campus. The GreenCampus team would like to take this opportunity to thank Britta Planer-Friedrich, Gilbert Fridgen, Johannes Besold, Lena Pfister, and Leon Haupt for their great commitment!