SustainAbility: Understanding and Implementing Sustainability with DRESDEN-concept
Table of contents
Since the 2021 winter semester, the student team behind “SustainAbility: Understanding and Implementing Sustainability in Cooperation with DRESDEN-concept” has been organizing a series of events on the fundamentals of sustainability, with a particular focus on the climate crisis. The lecture series takes a holistic approach to the topic from various perspectives and discusses ways to make one’s own life as sustainable as possible.
The events are open to students in all semesters, TUD staff, high school seniors, seniors, and anyone else interested outside the TUD. The events are also suitable for those new to the topic, as the content does not require any prior knowledge and is presented in an accessible manner. This distinguishes the lecture series from the more in-depth environmental lecture series offered by tuuwi. Recordings of all lectures held to date can be found on Videocampus Sachsen.
Lecture in the Summer Semester 2026
SustainAbility 2025/2026
SustainAbility is once again offering an exciting lecture series in the summer semester of 2026. It will take place starting April 16, 2026, every Thursday from 4:40–6:10 p.m. (6th lecture period). Participation is possible either synchronously via Zoom or asynchronously via lecture recordings.
We warmly invite everyone to participate in the lecture series! No prior knowledge is required for the lectures, making them a great introduction to the topic. At the same time, a wide range of topics will be covered, so you’re sure to learn new and interesting facts—even if you’ve already explored the topic of sustainability in depth.
Lecture Schedule
| Date | Topic | Advisor |
| April 16 | Organizational Matters | Kara Nowotny |
| April 23 | Introduction Climate Change: No Turning Back? – A Big World on a Small Planet | Dr. |
| April 30 | Biodiversity | M.Sc. Nico Beier |
| May 7 | Sustainable Agriculture | Prof. Dr. Knut Schmidtke |
| May 21 | Tipping Points and Feedback Loops | Dr. Sebastian Schellhammer |
| May 28 | Dealing with Climate Change Denial: Individual and Political Options | Dr. Sebastian Schellhammer |
| June 4 | More Sustainable Nutrition | Jana Markert and Veruska Prado |
| June 11 | Sustainable Digitalization | Dr. Carsten Knoll |
| June 18 | Social Sustainability, Climate Change, and the Global South | Ms. Kessler |
| June 25 | Sustainable Economy | Prof. Edeltraut Günther |
| July 2 | Sustainable Mobility | Dr. Ufert |
| July 9 |
Sustainable Urban Development and Architecture |
Prof. Mensing-de Jong |
| July 16 | Circular Economy | igem |
| July 23 | Renewable Energy | Prof. Clemens Felsmann |
Registration
Please register for the event via OPAL or, if necessary, via this email. We use OPAL to communicate with participants—even external participants can create a user account on OPAL free of charge.
Course Assessment
Students may complete one of the following assessment options to earn credit points:
- Portfolio consisting of 1 major statement and 6 comments (3 CP)
- Certificate of attendance for participating in 80% of the sessions (1 CP)
In addition, there is the option to have the course credited toward the Studium Oecologicum.
Help and Questions
If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact us via email. There is also a forum in the OPAL course where you can ask questions.
Get Involved
Is sustainability an important issue for you, and would you like to help shape environmental education programs? The SustainAbility team welcomes volunteer support in planning and conducting the course, as well as new and creative ideas. If you’re interested, please contact us via email with some basic information about yourself.
Funding and Award
In 2022, the lecture series received the Student Teaching Award from the Society of Friends and Supporters of TU Dresden e. V.
In 2023, the lecture series received the eku Future Prize in the category “eku – Success in Science.”
Contact
© All rights reserved
SustainAbility: Nachhaltigkeit verstehen und umsetzen in Kooperation mit Dresden Concept
Send encrypted email via the SecureMail portal (for TUD external users only).
Visiting address:
Green Office, room 105 Nöthnitzer Str. 43
01069 Dresden
Postal address:
TUD Dresden University of Technology
Grundvorlesung ökologische Nachhaltigkeit
c/o Green Office
Dezernat 9
01069 Dresden