Contents

Sustainable Campus

Environmental Management

Student Projects, Initiatives and Events

Occupational Safety

Health Protection

News in brief

Dates & Events

Sustainable Campus

Development paths to more sustainability at the TU Dresden

Let`s shape sustainable development at the TU Dresden together! In order to give this process more attention and dynamic, the Environmental Protection Group invited employees, scientists and students to the event "A Roadmap to Sustainable Universities - Development Paths to more Sustainability at the TU Dresden" on 5 November. More than 100 participants took part and presented their ideas and experiences regarding sustainable development in various working groups. In her inspiring lecture, Nora Sophie Griefahn from Cradle to Cradle e. V. pointed out possibilities for creating a positive ecological footprint.
Further information about the event

Bird protection on glass fronts

In recent months, a working group of staff members from the Department of Forest Sciences and the Unit Central Technical Services, supported by the State Office for the Environment, Agriculture and Geology (LfULG), has examined to what extent and where it makes sense to fix bird protection markings on the campus in Tharandt. In the Sustainable Campus project, trial stickers were affixed to the glass fronts of the Judeich and Cotta Building as well as to an office window in the Cotta Building. In 2020, the trial gluing will be gradually extended to the entire building.

Blog about insect-friendly meadows at the TU Dresden

In mid-September, the University Journal (No. 14) published a long article about the butterfly meadows at TU Dresden and the sometimes difficult path to more biodiversity on campus. Despite some setbacks the understanding for these small biotopes grows. How valuable they are for biodiversity was documented by Nicole Rüsing from May to the end of September this year. Every month she mapped the occurring species and recorded the data. On one butterfly meadow 72 insect species were found. In contrast, only 2 species were found in a reference area. In a blog at www.schmetterlingswiesen.de (Wiesennummer 191 - 198) the results of the mapping are published.

Environmental Management

Activities in 2019

In 2019, many campaigns were carried out to make staff and students aware of environmental issues. On 17.04.2019 the second Office Supplies Exchange took place in the Alte Mensa (Mommsenstraße). Employees and students were able to exchange office supplies which they no longer need or which were ordered too much, e.g. pens, erasers, sticky notes, calendars, folders, notepads, notebooks, brochure covers, dividers or staplers.

On 22 May, the environmental management group took part with an information stand on the 10th Health Day. Among others, the results of a mobility survey conducted by the Faculty of Transport Sciences among employees in 2018 were presented. The results of the survey also help to develop a mobility concept for the TU Dresden.

A new bike service station was put into operation in front of the auditorium centre (HSZ) on the occasion of the 10th Health Day and the 30th anniversary of the TU environmental initiative (tuuwi) festival week. Besides the most important tools for repairing bikes, the station also offers the possibility of attaching the bicycle for repair.  To improve the situation for cyclists, a total of 160 new or better bicycle parking spaces were created at seven locations in 2019. At the Zellescher Weg office building (BZW), 64 bicycle brackets (128 parking spaces) will be installed in cooperation with the SIB in 2019/2020.

The environmental management took part in the International Staff Training Week of the TU Dresden for the first time in June 2019. The activities of the TU in environmental protection were presented and discussed with participants from other universities worldwide.

At the beginning of 2019, a short film was published on the environmental management website (web link: https://tu-dresden.de/tu-dresden/arbeitsschutz-umwelt/umwelt-und-nachhaltigkeit/machmit). In addition, ongoing projects and activities are presented on the website. The corresponding information sheets with tips on topics such as waste avoidance, energy saving, the use of recycled paper or sustainable event organisation can be downloaded from the Website in German and English.

The four "Green Conferencing Packages" with glasses, coffee cups, thermos flasks and juice and water carafes, which have been available since 2017, were frequently borrowed in 2019 and enjoy great popularity. This loan facility is intended to encourage the procurement of sustainable equipment for smaller events. For further information please contact the environmental coordinator Dr. Ines Herr.

Next EMAS Environmental Audit in December 2019

The next annual surveillance audit for the TU´s EMAS environmental management will take place on 2 and 3 December 2019. This year, the experts of KPMG Cert GmbH will assess the central campus of TU Dresden and the Faculty of Medicine. In addition, discussions will take place with the university management and central facilities of TU Dresden. Since 2003, the TU Dresden has been the first Technical University in Germany to have an environmental management system in accordance with the EC Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS). The environmental report for this year with the current key figures and the environmental programme for 2020 will be published in January 2020.

Student Projects, Initiatives and Events

Student project work for environmental management

From the very beginning, the environmental management of the TU Dresden has been thematically supported by master, study or project theses. For the Environmental Protection Group, two female students, supervised by the Institute for Waste and Recycling Management, are currently carrying out scientific work. A master thesis deals with the question of whether and how separate biowaste collection is possible at TU Dresden. A project thesis will investigate whether information campaigns lead to an improvement of the collection behaviour during waste collection. The second topic is a "commissioned work" for the Chair of Primary School Education at the Faculty of Education. In cooperation with the teacher training students, an information poster set about the waste collection at the TU Dresden will be created. Results are expected in the beginning of 2020. If you would also like to have students work on topics within the framework of environmental management at the TU Dresden please contact Dr. Ines Herr.

Environmental lecture series in Winter Semester 2019/20

Two lecture series "Stories of Change - The Society of Tomorrow" and "Talking about Climate Change - Dividing Points on the Way to a Post-Fossile World" are offered by the students`environmental initiative tuuwi this semester. Details on the lecture series can be found under the heading "Vorlesungen/Seminare" on the website www.tuuwi.de (in German)

Occupational safety

New proceedings for documentation and registration of accidents

For data protection reasons, the previous first-aid log (Verbandbuch) is to be replaced by a registration document (Meldeblock), which also has to be stored in the first-aid kits. However, the completed forms must now be kept for at least 5 years by the superior or a colleague commissioned by him or her. The "Meldeblock" is available at Unit 4.7 Health Service (you can pick it up if you are close to the campus). In addition, copies are available at Unit 4.6 Occupational Safety. As an alternative to the paper version, the health service has developed an electronic form which can be filled-in and submitted. Since the paper version, like the electronic form, serves not only to document first aid services but also to prove accidents (even without first aid), these can be used for the decentralised documentation of accidents without medical treatment for both, employees and students. However, as soon as a doctor is consulted (this also applies to subsequent treatment!), the respective accident report must be sent, as before, to Unit 4.6 Occupational Safety. The completed form for occupational accident care has to be sent to the State Office for Taxes and Finances (Landesamt für Steuern und Finanzen). Further information can be found on the new form mentioned above. The circular GAS/2/2010 as well as the section "Unfallversicherung" on the website of the Occupational Safety Unit will be adapted accordingly.

Hydrofluoric acid passport - Safety for rapid and correct action in case of an emergency

Hydrofluoric acid is extremely dangerous. In the case of burns, it penetrates the skin very quickly and can lead to acute life-threatening damage due to its special toxic effect. All activities involving hydrofluoric acid must be carried out with extreme caution and in compliance with all necessary protective measures. If an accident should nevertheless occur or if there is even the suspicion that hydrofluoric acid has been wetted or is absorbed via the respiratory tract, immediate medical assistance must be provided. This also applies to the effects of hydrogen fluoride (gas) and inorganic fluorides. Exposures to these hazardous substances require special first aid and medical treatment. Since quick emergency measures are of crucial importance, but many doctors do not have the appropriate expertise, measures are compiled in a so-called hydrofluoric acid passport. Anyone who works with these hazardous substances should carry the passport with them. A hydrofluoric acid passport was developed for the TU Dresden on the basis of a template from the Berufsgenossenschaft Rohstoffe und chemische Industrie (employer's liability insurance association for raw materials and the chemical industry). It is  available as an electronic version on the internal website of Unit 4.6 Occupational Safety in the section Hazardous Substances. More detailed information can be found in DGUV Information 213-071 „Fluorwasserstoff, Flusssäure und anorganische Fluoride“ (Hydrogen fluoride, hydrofluoric acid and inorganic fluorides).

Safe use of e-scooters

Since e-scooters are playing an increasingly important role both on work routes and in internal traffic, their safety-oriented use is also a topic of occupational safety. In a press release, the German statutory accident insurance (DGUV) dealt with accidents and how to avoid them. In their current newsletter, reference was made to a new flyer from the German Road Safety Council (DVR) on prevention work, which explains the risks and applicable rules for e-scooters. When parking the scooters, please make sure that no accesses to buildings or sidewalks are blocked. In the interests of accessibility, please avoid endangering or obstructing others, in particular visually impaired persons and wheelchair users.

Health protection

REWE Team Challenge 2020 - TU Dresden is back!

In spring 2019, more than 650 TUD employees took part in the REWE Team Challenge, sponsored by the University Health Management (UGM). They were not only active in sports for their health, but also had an eventful evening including fireworks and an award ceremony. The TUD was the organisation with the highest number of participants and received shopping vouchers worth a total of 650 euros, which were donated to the Studentenwerk's childcare facilities. In 2020, the TUD will continue to support the start of its employees with a preferential price and a newly designed TU running shirt. The Team Challenge 2020 will take place on 28 May 2020. Registration for TUD teams is now possible until 31. January 2020 via the booking system of the University Sports Centre (USZ) at "REWE Team Challenge 2020". Direct registration with the organiser is then not necessary. In cooperation with the USZ, the UGM offers special running courses for early and best preparation. The registration for these courses is done via the USZ: "Running course for TU employees".

Information day "Everything that's good for the head"

On 10 December 2019, the information day "Alles, was dem Kopf gut tut" (Everything that is good for the head) will take place in the Auditorion Centre (Hörsaalzentrum, HSZ) from 10:00 am to 2 pm. It is addressed at students and employees of the TUD and is organised by the University Health Management (UGM). The information day continues the headache prevention campaign at the TUD. The aim is to present effective measures to prevent headaches and possible triggering factors. We are especially looking forward to Prof. Hartmut Göbel, Medical Director of the Pain Clinic Kiel and an important scientific expert in the field of headache and migraine research. He will give a 90-minute lecture on efficient headache prevention and treatment at 1 pm. The day offers students and employees the possibility of participating in trial courses regarding self mindfulness and relaxation. Information desks offer valuable information and counselling regarding stress handling, healthy sleep and nutrition and more.
Further information

Join in and make a difference - Risk assessment of psychological stress at the TU Dresden

How can you deal with stress at work? How can the working environment be optimised to achieve a development towards health-promoting working conditions? For some time now, there has been a risk assessment of psychological stress for such working conditions. The risk assessment itself is a proven instrument in occupational health and safety. The explicit consideration of the psyche, on the other hand, is comparatively new, but it is also legally binding. In the winter semester 2019/20 the risk assessment of psychological stress will be piloted at the TU Dresden by means of the online questionnaire "PsyGesund". It takes place at the Faculty of Transport Sciences "Friedrich List", Department 8 and the ZIH. Participation is voluntary and completely anonymous. In the coming semesters, all employees from science, research, teaching and administration at the TU Dresden will have the opportunity to participate. With the help of the risk assessment of psychological stress, psychosocial risks of the work activity will be recorded and subsequently minimised or avoided as far as possible. Individual resources of the employees are to be recognised and strengthened. The aim is to enable employees at the TU Dresden to create a healthy working environment and to maintain their health in the long term.

News in brief

First RepairCafe on 8 January 2020

On 8 January 2020 a RepairCafe for university members and external students will be offered for the first time at the TU Dresden. It is a cooperation with the RepairCafe Dresden/Freital e.V. and the workshop of the professorship for primary school education. At a RepairCafe, anyone can repair defective everyday objects in a kind of temporary self-help workshop. Coffee and cake will be served. The RepairCafe will take place on 08.01.2020 from 4 - 7:30 pm in the workshop of the chair for primary school education at Weberplatz, basement, room 1 (floor plan, see campus navigator)

Team "TU Dresden" successful in City Cycling 2019

At this year's City Cycling competition, the TU Dresden team with 189 participants (previous year: 90) covered a total of 30,780 km (previous year: 18,000 km) and ranked 4th out of 404 teams. In comparison to using a car for the kilometres driven, a total of around 4,370 kg CO2 emissions (previous year: 2,200 kg) could be saved. The Germany-wide city cycling competition is a campaign of the Climate Alliance, of which the city of Dresden is a member. The aim of the campaign is to make a contribution to climate protection and to promote bicycle mobility. 
Further information: city cycling website. 

Information about the Job Ticket

The number of job ticket users at the TU Dresden is constantly increasing. By October 2019, 998 employees are using the job ticket (2018: 942). Since August 2020, the VVO job ticket can only be ordered online. All access data and further information can be found in the internal area on the  intranet webpage on mobility (in German)

Paper consumption and use of recycled paper at the TUD

Paper consumption at the TU Dresden continues to decline. In 2018, the TU Dresden consumed around 5 tonnes less paper than in 2017, continuing the trend of previous years. In 2018, almost 75 tonnes of paper were ordered from TU Dresden's stationary supplier (previous year: around 80 tonnes). However, there is still room for improvement in the recycled paper ratio, which was 27 % in 2018 (2017: 26.5 %). Using recycled paper saves energy and water  and hardly differs from normal virgin fibre paper in price, handling and quality.  Recycled paper with different degrees of whiteness is available from the TU`s stationary supplier Kreller. The Environmental Management is happy to advise on the subject of recycled paper.

Energy measuring set to borrow

In cooperation with the CAMPER research project, the Environmental Protection Group purchased a measurement set that can be used to determine the energy consumption of various electrical appliances. It is possible to visualize and compare the data on a web portal which has been developed by the CAMPER project. In this way it is possible to detect inefficient devices or operation modes. The measuring set consists of 15 measuring sockets for determining electrical energy consumption and 6 temperature sensors for measuring room temperatures. The online portal will be further improved by the CAMPER MOVE project in the course of 2020 and will be equipped with additional functions. If you are interested in testing the measuring set on your premises next year, please contact the TU's Environmental Management.

Dates & Events

Mondays, 4:40 – 6:10 pm, HSZ 401	"Stories of Change - The Society of Tomorrow", Environmental lecture series (in German), tuuwi
Wednesdays, 6:30 – 8:00 pm, HSZ 401	"Talking about Climate Change - Dividing Points on the Way to a Post-Fossile World", Environmental lecture series (in German), tuuwi
29. November 2019, 1 pm	Demonstration Fridays for Future Dresden, Theaterplatz (until 2 pm), then protest march through the city centre, closing rally again at Theaterplatz
28 November - 1 December 2019	Conference Netzwerk n: "Digitalisation and Sustainability at Universities", HNEE Eberswalde (in German)
1 December 2019, 2 - 4 pm	Christmas handicrafts for children (3 years and older), Botanical Garden, Stübelallee 2
8 January 2020, 4 - 7:30 pm	1. Repair Café of the TU`s Environmental Management, Workshop of the Professorship for Primary School Education at Weberplatz, Basement Floor, Room 1
27 - 28 May 2020	MaGICLandscapes Project- Final Conference & Green Infrastructure Symposium (in English), Dülfer-Saal, TU Dresden

Please also check our German website for more news & events.