The Saxon State Ministry of Energy, Climate Protection, Environment and Agriculture has awarded one of the 2022 eku Future Prizes (Zukunftspreis) for sustainability to TUD for the project “Future Workshop for Sustainable Education – Looking to the Future – Shaping the Present” – also known as ZuNaBi for short (Zukunftswerkstatt Nachhaltige Bildung (ZuNaBi) – Zukunft denken – Gegenwart gestalten).

Professor Martina Knörzer, Chair of Primary Education / Social Studies and Science Education at TU Dresden’s Faculty of Education, and Research Associate Dr. Lars Förster will receive an award endowed with EUR 10,000 in prize money as part of the 2022 eku Future Prize (http://www.eku.sachsen.de/) for their planned research and education workshop on the pioneering topic of education for sustainable development (ESD). The Saxon Ministry of Energy, Climate Protection, Environment and Agriculture awards this prize to projects which make an exemplary contribution to sustainable development in Saxony and to the protection of our climate, resources, natural landscapes and environment. Furthermore, this means greater support and visibility for dedicated projects in Saxony and advances communication both with and between the relevant stakeholders.

What is the focus of the Faculty of Education’s prize-winning project? In a Future Workshop for Sustainable Education (abbreviated to ZuNaBi in German), students, lecturers, scientists and experts as well as specialists in other disciplines have joined together to advocate for sustainable development and education. Their fundamental mission is to integrate ESD at TU Dresden to a greater extent in the field of education and beyond. “ZuNaBi should be an inspiring place for interaction and discussion, serving as an innovative educational space that is open to all and creatively encouraging, consolidating and spurring sustainable thinking and action,” Knörzer explains. “We are planning to create an appealing, innovative educational space initially in the building at Weberplatz 5, and then at Münchner Straße 1 once the Faculty moves, which will feature sustainable multipurpose furniture and the latest technology. The space itself should lead people to engage with the topic of sustainability,” Förster adds.

The ZuNaBi project won the jury over in particular with its excellent innovative potential. “For the first time at a German university, we have created an interdisciplinary, cross-institutional and cross-subject university workshop within the teacher training program focused explicitly on ESD. The Free State of Saxony and TU Dresden are thus pioneers in all phases of teacher training – the first phase (studies), second phase (teaching practice) and third phase (advanced training and continuing education) – and qualify teachers for this central area of education. And this applies to all school forms,” says Knörzer.

The event for presenting and formally acknowledging the successful project ideas of the 2022 eku Future Prize will take place in Radebeul on April 19, 2023.

ZuNaBi Website

Information

Prof. Martina Knörzer
Professor and Chair of Primary Education/ Social Studies and member of the Environment Commission at TU Dresden

Dr. Lars Förster
Research Associate at the Chair of Primary Education/ Social Studies at TU Dresden

© SMUL