Sustainable weeks

The Sustainable Weeks at the University of Passau are annual events dedicated to the topic of sustainability. The events are organized by the University Sustainability Group in cooperation with the university management and other university groups. The program includes a variety of activities, including lectures, workshops, excursions and various activities. A highlight of the Sustainable Weeks is the annual “Sustainability Day” with lectures by renowned guest lecturers and the presentation of the University of Passau's sustainability awards. Guests at the event included prominent personalities such as journalist Christiane Grefe from Die Zeit, biologist Christine von Weizsäcker and Prof. Dr. Hubert Weiger, former chairman of the German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND).

The Sustainable Weeks 2024 took place at the University of Passau from June 10 to 22. This two-week series of events offered a diverse program dedicated to various aspects of sustainability. The events included lectures, workshops, discussion panels and practical activities, which took place both on campus and online. A highlight of the Sustainable Weeks is the “Sustainability Day” on June 21, which is celebrated with a festive event followed by a reception in the Audimax. The program covers a wide range of topics, from environmental issues such as microplastics and CO2 emissions to social and economic aspects of sustainability. Special attention will also be paid to sustainable mobility, with events such as “Unilive - Mobility of the Future” and a discussion on the mobility transition. The Sustainable Weeks 2024 will also offer practical workshops such as yoga classes, a plant swap party and activities to promote a conscious approach to food. By incorporating international perspectives, such as lectures on sustainable urbanism in Indonesia and sustainable development in Kenya, the Sustainable Weeks 2024 underline the global nature of sustainability issues and the University of Passau's commitment in this area.

The Sustainable Weeks 2023 at the University of Passau took place from June 16 to 27. This series of events was organized by the University Sustainability Group in cooperation with the university management and other university groups. The diverse program included lectures, workshops, discussion rounds and practical activities on various aspects of sustainability. One highlight was the “Sustainability Day” on June 22, which took place in the university's Audimax. The presentation of the new student garden, which served as a practical example of sustainable action on campus, attracted particular attention. The events covered a wide range of topics, from climate protection and sustainable fashion to post-growth economies and civil resistance. Sporting activities such as yoga classes and a bike ride were also part of the program. There were also initiatives such as a cell phone collection campaign and a vegan cooking event. The Sustainable Weeks 2023 thus provided a platform for discussion, education and practical engagement in the field of sustainability and underlined the University of Passau's commitment to this important topic.

The Sustainable Weeks 2022 at the University of Passau took place from June 20 to July 4 under the motto “Visions of a sustainable future”. The University Sustainability Group, in collaboration with other university institutions and university groups, organized a diverse programme aimed at raising awareness and mobilizing students, university staff and the general public around sustainability issues.
The program included a wide range of events highlighting various aspects of sustainability. There were numerous lectures on current topics such as the transport transition in Germany, sustainable finance, the legal status of future generations and the future of energy supply in urban landscapes. These theoretical inputs were supplemented by practical workshops in which participants learned how to make sustainable summer nightlights, create vertical gardens or change bicycle inner tubes, for example.

Guided tours and excursions offered the opportunity to experience sustainability in practice. Those interested were able to visit the “Agriculture of the Future” demonstration garden, take part in a campus tour on the topic of sustainability or visit “Solidarische Landwirtschaft - Vereinte Wurzelwerke Passau”. Cultural and social events such as a vegan cooking evening, an ecumenical creation service followed by a vegan brunch, a film evening and a pub quiz rounded off the program and created spaces for exchange and community.

Discussion rounds and discussion groups on topics such as housing policy and climate change or the environment and creation from a religious perspective promoted critical discourse. A sustainable city rally also offered the opportunity to explore sustainability in an urban context. The events took place at various locations on campus and in the city of Passau, which strengthened networking between the university and the local community.

The Sustainable Weeks 2022 offered a mix of theory and practice, providing participants with opportunities to engage with the topic of sustainability at various levels and to commit to a more sustainable future.

The Sustainable Weeks 2021 at the University of Passau took place from June 21 to July 4. This series of events was organized by the University Sustainability Group in cooperation with Department I/2 and various professorships and university groups. The diverse program included both digital and, where possible, face-to-face events. A particular focus was placed on the scientific and socio-political contribution of the events. Participants were to be empowered to act more sustainably in their professional and private lives and to bring the topic of sustainability in all its facets into their environment. To this end, numerous lectures were offered on topics such as environmental and sustainability law, tourism and sustainability as well as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In addition to the theoretical content, there were also practical applications. Workshops on sustainable nutrition and household, building bee hotels as well as excursions and campus tours offered participants the opportunity to put their knowledge directly into practice. A panel discussion on geoengineering and carbon capture provided in-depth insights into current debates. The events were not only open to university members, but also to the general public. The Sustainable Weeks 2021 thus made an important contribution to promoting sustainability on the university campus, in the city of Passau and in the lives of many students and staff.