Sustainability strategies of the Institute for Geography and Regional Research

In times of grand societal challenges such as climate change, the biodiversity crisis and increasing socio-economic disparities, it is an important concern for the Institute of Geography and Regional Research to position itself with its own sustainability strategy. Geography plays an important role as a bridging discipline between natural and social sciences in order to address problems and at the same time to point out possible solutions. The Institute is aware of its social responsibility to shed light on these important issues through increased efforts in operations, research, teaching and outreach.

Working groups have been formed for the development of the four areas, in which representatives of the professorial staff, post-doctoral students, doctoral students, the general university staff as well as students, jointly drive forward the development of the sustainability strategy. For this purpose, short-term, medium-term and long-term goals are developed. 

The Operations working group addresses the issues of planning and projects, looking at short-term, medium-term and long-term goals.  The Research working group has defined three areas of activity on which to focus: Research on sustainability, sustainability of our research processes and research output (publications). Three key fields were developed for the area of Teaching. 1. integration of transformative education in the context of sustainability. 2. consideration of the different dimensions of sustainability in curricula and courses. 3. resource- and energy-saving planning and implementation of courses. The Outreach working group conceptualizes and implements approaches for a more visible science communication in relation to the Institute's sustainability activities.