For a Future Worth Living - Sustainability at the University of Bonn
The sustainable transformation of economy and society is the key issue of the coming decades. Through our commitment as a university in research, teaching and operations, we make an important contribution to this and lay the foundations for change.
Fairtrade University Bonn
The University of Bonn has been a certified Fairtrade University since 2020 — learn all about our commitment to fair trade and how it’s put into practice.
Funding Pot & Ideas Inbox
Have an idea or a project to promote sustainability at the University of Bonn? We can provide practical and financial support in implementing it with the sustainability funding pot and our ideas inbox.
Instagram Channel
Stay up to date on current events and projects regarding sustainability at the University by following us on Instagram!
Sustainability Newsletter
What’s happening at the University of Bonn in terms of sustainability? Our monthly newsletter covers current events, news and tips—make sure to subscribe to it so you won’t miss out on anything.
News in the field of sustainability
Quarterly Campaign Months
To promote a culture of sustainability, the University of Bonn organizes campaign months once every quarter. All members of the university are invited to participate in the diverse offers around the topics of sustainability.
Sustainability in research
Sustainability is becoming increasingly important in research. Whether it involves construction materials, fuels, sustainability in horticulture or sustainability in development policy, our researchers are working on projects with a wide range of solution-oriented and interdisciplinary approaches.
Sustainability in teaching
Issues connected with sustainability and sustainability research also play a key role in teaching. As well as covering sustainability issues through its content, this teaching also educates people in sustainable development through its methodology in formats with a practical, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary focus.
Sustainability in operations
Our University needs resources in order to operate. Our commitment to sustainability, particularly in terms of our energy supply, building work, waste management, mobility and procurement, helps minimize the negative impact on the environment.
More information is currently being put together and will be published soon.
On July 8, 2024, the Vice Dean's Office for Sustainability and Scientific Infrastructure in the Medical Dean's Office was elected by the Faculty Council. As Germany's first and so far only Vice Dean's Office in the field of sustainability, this is a major step - both for the university and UKB and also for a more sustainable future.
What effect does a vegan/vegetarian month have on a canteen? For this experiment, the Studierendenwerk Bonn sought scientific support from researchers at the Universities of Bonn and Kassel. They found that the impact could still be felt up to eight weeks after the campaign month had ended: as a result of the vegan/vegetarian month, the amount of meat consumed in the canteen fell by 7 to 12 percent compared to the level recorded beforehand. In addition, around half of the people surveyed agreed with the idea of one meat-free month a year, while over 80 percent said that canteens should offer more vegetarian options. The findings have been published in a working paper prepared by the ECONtribute Cluster of Excellence at the University of Bonn.
During the Mighty May campaign month, 20 keen bee lovers took part in a workshop on designing bug hotels for wild bees and made numerous new nesting sites out of empty jam jars and reeds to put in their own gardens. The informative and fun event was led by Assistant Professor Antonia Mayr, who is researching the effects of climate change and land usage on wild bees at the Bonn Institute for Organismic Biology.
Hosted on May 15, the Green Travel awards ceremony honored Erasmus+ students who traveled to and from their destination using sustainable forms of transport.
BOOST—the University’s very own sustainability program
Participation, networking and student involvement are key to implementing the Bonn Program for Sustainable Transformation (BOOST).
A unique governance structure
As a university with Excellence status, the University of Bonn is doing its bit for sustainable transformation processes.
