Sustainability Days at TU Ilmenau: Together for a green future!

Sustainability Days at TU Ilmenau: Together for a green future!

The 5th Sustainability Days begin on April 22nd, 2025 at the Ilmenau University of Technology and will take place until April 26th, 2025. This week, participants can expect a comprehensive program that includes interactive lectures, workshops, discussions and a market of opportunities focused on environmental, social and economic sustainability. The event aims to raise awareness about protecting natural resources and provide a platform for the exchange of sustainable ideas. The Sustainability Working Group in the Sports, Environment and Health Department of the Student Council (StuRa) organizes the days in collaboration with various clubs and stakeholders at the university.

All students, employees of TU Ilmenau and external interested parties are cordially invited to participate. The motto of the event is: “Sustainability is more than a trend – it is our shared responsibility”. Since 2023, the Sustainability Days have been firmly anchored in the TU Ilmenau semester calendar in order to sensitize students to sustainable topics and actively involve them.

Diversity of the program

The first day of the event starts at 10 a.m. with an exchange about the idea of ​​a campus garden, carried out by members of the TU Ilmenau and students from the Erfurt University of Applied Sciences. A highlight of the day is the lecture by Dr. Tobias Wätzel from BOREAS GmbH, who will speak about “Green electricity and hydrogen as an opportunity for the economy and climate”. On April 23rd, the Market of Opportunities will take place in the cafeteria foyer from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., which will promote exchanges about sustainable projects and initiatives, including a second-hand fashion corner and a mobile bicycle repair stand.

Another interesting lecture on April 23rd at 2 p.m. will be given by Chris Rombeck from the Environmental Education Center, who will discuss the ecological consequences of nutrition. April 24th is dedicated to Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). Here apl. Prof. Dr. Bettina Hollstein from the University of Erfurt will give a keynote speech about experimental teaching-learning arrangements, followed by a film screening of the documentary “The True Cost” in the evening in the Helmholtz lecture hall.

Commitment to the environment

Several workshops and lectures are planned for April 25th. This includes a recycling workshop in the makerspace of the university library and a lecture on species protection in buildings, which also takes place in the Ernst Abbe Center. In addition, a repair meeting in the technology and start-up center organizes support in repairing defective electrical devices in order to extend the value and lifespan of these products.

The event is aimed specifically at people who are committed to sustainable issues or would like to gain insights into them. The event is also supported by the United Nations global initiative, which pursues the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which have been in force since January 1, 2016 as part of the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Climate Agreement. These goals aim to promote a fair and sustainable way of life and economic activity worldwide.

For those interested in learning more about the Sustainability Days, Dr. Mira Rochyadi-Reetz from the Sustainability Communication Department at TU Ilmenau is available as a contact person. Further information about the ESD initiative, which promotes a creative and everyday-oriented approach to sustainable topics in Neukirchen-Vluyn, is available on the relevant websites.

tu-ilmenau.de reports about the event and its program. For further details on the ESD initiative visit klimaschutz-nv.de.