University Alliance for Sustainability: Spring Campus 2016 “Connecting Communities for Sustainability: Do Universities Matter?“

From April 11-15, 2016 Freie Universität hosted the first Spring Campus event of the University Alliance for Sustainability on the topic “Connecting Communities for Sustainability: Do Universities Matter?”

Following a whole institution approach, the Spring Campus brought together researchers, management staff, as well as PhD candidates and students who contributed to a lively discussion of the event’s topic. The program was opened by the vice-president of Freie Universität Prof. Brigitta Schütt, Prof. Dr. Klaus Töpfer, former Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme and former German Minister for Environmental Protection as well as Walter Hirche of the German Council for Sustainable Development.

A growing number of universities share an understanding of the “sustainable university” as an institution that systematically develops occasions, spaces, and projects to meet global environmental and societal challenges. This is relevant not only in research and teaching, but also in terms of campus management. The partners of the University Alliance for Sustainability, see it as their responsibility to actively shape this global discourse and to address the corresponding challenges by implementing a whole-institution approach.

Transformation towards sustainability demands the dynamic interaction of various actors and an extraordinary breadth of topics, approaches and methodologies. We all know the vast human intellectual potential in higher education institutions, yet, one of the organizational obstacles universities face is their highly differentiated and segmented structure. Sustainability, however, calls for continuous interaction and integration, one of the key questions being: How can we integrate a cross-sectional task like sustainability into a segmented structure? Projects taking a holistic approach, which focus on the entire university in order to bridge the various departments and entities of higher education organizations, might be one important solution to this challenge. Other suggested solutions include: hosting transdisciplinary dialogue with civil society stakeholders and continuously working towards improvement.

The Opening Day showcased the overall theme of the event and invited participants to critically evaluate and discuss the relevance of universities to the topic.

On the following two days the Spring Campus featured four parallel running research and management workshops:

• Workshop I: “Climate Governance in International Comparison” headed by Prof. Miranda Schreurs
• Workshop II: “Education for Sustainable Development – Indicators for Assessment and Monitoring” headed by Prof. Inka Bormann
• Workshop III: “Traditional Watershed Management” headed by Prof. Brigitta Schütt
• Management Workshop: “From Vision to Commitment: Sustainable Campus Management” headed by Andreas Wanke and Katrin Risch

Additionally, a PhD Conference was organized by the Environmental Policy Research Centre, focusing on “Challenges & Opportunities for Sustainability: International Perspectives”, which completed the Spring Campus with a two-day meeting.

During the Spring Campus, more than 120 researchers, practitioners and students from 19 universities, 8 institutes and 11 different countries contributed to the international sustainability discourse. They critically reflected on the role of universities as societal actors and the integral function of communities and community engagement. Building and engaging communities to jointly develop and maintain sustainable societal solutions will be paramount in the “Great Transformation”. Coming from different cultural and professional backgrounds, participants also focused on how international networks can connect communities and trigger engagement in sustainability. The Alliance therewith hopes to contribute to spreading innovative ideas, interesting research and sustainable campus solutions across the globe and to spark extended dialogue between all stakeholders on campus and beyond.

A complete conference documentation is available in the UAS Pool.

University Alliance for Sustainability: Spring Campus 2017 “Societal Transformation to Sustainability: Universities as Pacesetters?“

From March 27-31 Freie Universität will host the second Spring Campus event of the University Alliance for Sustainability on the topic “Societal Transformation to Sustainability: Universities as Pacesetters?”

Following a whole institution approach, the Spring Campus brings together researchers, management staff, as well as PhD candidates and students to contribute to a lively discussion of the event’s topic.

Coming from different cultural and professional backgrounds, participants will also share experiences on how international networks can connect communities and trigger engagement in sustainability. In this way the Alliance hopes to contribute to spreading innovative ideas, interesting research and sustainable campus solutions across the globe and to spark extended dialogue between all stakeholders on campus and beyond.

Program Design

A complete overview of the conference program is available in our Spring Campus Guide.

The Opening Day invites all participants of the Spring Campus to attend. It features keynote speeches from renowned experts as well as presentations from representatives from UAS partner universities.

We are delighted to announce contributions from Jürgen Trittin (former German Federal Minister for the Environment), Hilligje van’t Land (IAU), Winfried Kraus (BMBF) and Prof. Eran Feitelson (HUJI).

The talks will be followed by a facilitated discussion on the overall topic, elaborating on the question of the relevance of universities in the societal transformation to sustainability.

On Tuesday, March 28 and Wednesday, March 29 we will continue with a program of four parallel research and management workshops. For further information download the Spring Campus Guide.

Workshop I: “Governing by Numbers - The Role of Indicators, Data and Empirical Evidence in the Political Transformation to Sustainability” chaired by Prof. Philipp Lepenies (FUB)

• Call for Presentations

Workshop II: “Managing Responsibility of Research at Universities” chaired by Dr. Klaus Jacob (FUB)

Workshop III: “Climate Change in Cities: Mitigation and Adaptation” chaired by Prof. Sahar Sodoudi (FUB)

Workshop IV:  "Feasible or Illusion: Economic Globalization and Decarbonization?" chaired by Prof. Kurt Hübner (UBC), Dr. Achim Brunnengräber (FUB)

Workshop V: “Participation as Trigger for Committed University Communities” chaired by Andreas Wanke, Katrin Risch (FUB)

• Overviews-poster-presentations

• Call for Contributions

Additionally, a PhD Workshop will complete the Spring Campus with a two-day meeting from Thursday to Friday, March 30-31.

PhD Workshop: "Climate Policies after Paris", chaired by Prof. Kurt Hübner (UBC)

• Call for Abstracts

Daily plenary sessions from 9:00 to 10:30 with key notes on overarching topics will give you the opportunity to meet and discuss with all conference participants. On Tuesday the session will deal with the topic “German Energy Transition”, with contributions from Dr. Dörte Ohlhorst, Prof. Catherine Mitchell, Dr. Kerstin Tews, facilitated by Dr. Jan Beermann. A second session on Wednesday morning will discuss “Food for Thought: Global Food Chains and the Universities' contribution to Sustainable Food Systems” chaired by Prof. Gülay Çağlar.

During the previous Spring Campus in 2016 more than 120 researchers, practitioners and students from 19 universities, 8 institutes and 11 different countries contributed to the international sustainability discourse. We look forward to welcoming participants from all over the world to once again critically reflect on the role of universities as societal actors and their integral function for the great transformation.

A complete conference documentation is available in the UAS Pool.

Moving beyond the Ivory Tower: How do Science and Universities Contribute to the Sustainability Transformation?

From April 9-13, 2018 Freie Universität will host the third Spring Campus conference of the University Alliance for Sustainability.

Program focus and objectives

A complete overview of the conference program is available in our Spring Campus Guide.

2017 was a year of profound political challenges for sustainable development. Science and research have been especially affected, as they are increasingly met with skepticism and even populist hostility. While the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set the agenda for a societal transformation, scientifically grounded policy decisions like international climate agreements are questioned.

Against this backdrop the Spring Campus Conference of the University Alliance for Sustainability poses the question, how science and universities may contribute to the sustainability transformation. We are looking forward to a controversial debate on the following questions:

• Should universities become active stakeholders in the public discourse or would this affect their independence as research and education institutions?
• May the 17 SDGs become a normative compass for research or does this interfere with the freedom of research?
• How do research innovations from different disciplines affect the societal transformation to sustainability?

Science and Society

Science and research lay the foundation for the critical reflection of the SDGs as well as for their implementation. While often associated of being detached from society in an Ivory Tower, scientists’ research findings, technological and social innovations shape our world’s future. As outstanding places of knowledge creation and educational institutions, universities can play a crucial role in shaping sustainable development.

The Role of Universities

Although the impact of research is evident, science and research are increasingly met with skepticism. Universities as renowned and public institutions often have the opportunity to become a mediator by introducing latest scientific innovation. At the same time, societies have to admit that the answers to a huge challenge like sustainable development are often complex and scientific in nature. In fact, science can offer deliberative approaches, which reiterates the paramount importance of seeking dialogue with the society. University networks like the University Alliance for Sustainability prove the relevance of international academic networks. They can forge international, regional and local links with other academic and civil society networks in order to foster the intellectual exchange and the public understanding of sustainable development.

From the ivory tower into the society

Scientists – especially in the natural sciences – are often working on innovative solutions for the challenges society has yet to face. To unfold its full potential research often has to overcome the hurdles of funding, market application and public acceptance. The conference will introduce state of the art research from the natural and social sciences, while engaging scientists of different disciplines in a debate about their research questions and findings.

Program Design

The Opening Day features keynote speeches from renowned experts as well as presentations from representatives from UAS partner universities. The talks will be followed by a panel discussion on the overall topic, elaborating on sciences and universities contributions beyond the ivory tower.

On Tuesday and Wednesday (April 10-11) we will continue with a program of parallel research and management workshops. We are inviting contributions from all disciplines.

• Workshop I: “Implementing the Agenda 2030 (Sustainable Development Goals) and Climate Policies” chaired by Prof. Sabrina Habich Sobiegalla, Dr. Berthold Kuhn (FUB), Prof. Dai Hancheng (PKU)
• Workshop II: “Climate Change Policy and Social Networks” chaired by Prof. Nina Kolleck (FUB), Prof. David Tindall (UBC), Alexandra Goritz (FUB)
  
• Workshop III: “Accelerating Technological Sustainability Transitions by Overcoming Adoption and Diffusion Barriers in Energy Transitions” chaired by Dr. Elisabeth Eppinger, Carsten Schwäbe, Prof. Carsten Dreher (FUB)
• Workshop IV: “Sustainability Management at Universities: What is the Critical Impact of Governance?” chaired by Prof. Inka Bormann, Andreas Wanke, Katrin Risch (FUB)

Additionally, a PhD Conference will be organized, which will complete the Spring Campus with a two-day meeting on Thursday and Friday (April 12-13).

• PhD Workshop: “Sustainability and Inequalities” chaired by Dr. Paul Talcott (FUB)
  • Workshop Program

In 2016 and 2017, in each year 120 and 150 participants from over twelve countries attended the Spring Campus Conferences. We look forward to welcoming participants from all over the world to once again to critically reflect on the role of universities as societal actors and their integral function for the great transformation.

Further information and a complete program of the Spring Campus 2018 will be available on this website soon. Until then we invite you to browse the documentation of the previous conferences. In case of any questions you are welcome to contact UAS program manager Katrin Risch (katrin.risch@fu-berlin.de).