TU Dresden’s Green Office set to work in mid-July 2021. The efforts of the student-led Green Office Initiative, the Environmental Protection Group, Directorate 9 – University Culture and the Extended University Executive Board paved the way to the founding of the Office. Since the start of 2020, numerous stakeholders—students, in particular—committed themselves to establishing a Green Office at our university. The new Extended University Executive Board helped make this dream a reality.

The Green Office is the central point of contact for all university members and has already initiated its first projects with the help of students and staff. On October 21, the Green Office and a student initiative launched a lecture series on ecological sustainability, which has the central goal of introducing the fundamentals of climate change and sustainability. The series of events is open to all students and the public. Each Thursday from 4:40 and 6:10pm, attendees can gain insight into the drivers and impact of climate change as well as solutions for combating it. The Green Office also launched its social media accounts this October. Visitors to its Instagram and Facebook pages can learn more about intriguing projects and events as well as organizations and individuals committed to sustainability. On November 24, 2021, the Green Office and the environmental ring lecture team from the TUUWI environmental initiative will be hosting a GreenXchange event on the topic of education to help connect university members interested in sustainability projects. The German-language event, titled “Bildung – wie studentisch beeinflusst und nachhaltig?” (“Education – student-oriented and sustainable?”), will offer a platform for participants to exchange their aspirations and ideas for sustainable teaching. Furthermore, best practice cases will exemplify how students themselves can design courses and what is required for them to help shape the curriculum. On the following day, November 25, 2021, the RepairXchange will be held to connect people who are interested in initiating and supporting a regular RepairCafé on campus.

The Green Office is collaborating with the school contact office to develop several events and other educational opportunities for schools—especially those with an explicit focus on climate and climate protection. At the beginning of October, a sustainability workshop was held for teachers and welcomed more than 50 visitors. On November 12, TU Dresden is planning to host a Green Day, where school pupils are invited to learn about sustainability at the university and also meet current students who will share their personal involvement in and understanding of sustainability.

Another event on the horizon is a panel discussion titled “Climate-neutral by 2035?” is set to take place on December 20 at 6:30pm. Since neither universities nor communities and municipalities are immune to the urgent challenges of climate change, the event will focus on concerted efforts the university and the City of Dresden must make to achieve climate neutrality. So, there is still plenty to come before the year is out.

If you have ideas, suggestions or projects you would like to share, please come by the Green Office to find out how we can support you in making TU Dresden even more sustainable.