Student Ideas for a more Sustainable Campus
The sustainability competitions for students at the Free University of Berlin take place in the context of the climate emergency declaration of 2019.
Eingereichte Ideen im Rahmen des Studentischen Ideenwettbewerbs 2023
Competition 2023
The focus of the second competition was on the campus bag (welcome bag), which is very popular among students but far from sustainable. The goal of the 2023 competition was to collect creative ideas for redesigning the campus bags to reduce waste on campus while still bringing joy to students.
The first idea aims to counter the increasing accumulation of waste by introducing a "Campus Box." The purpose of the box is to collect unused products from the campus bag, preventing them from ending up in the trash. Other students can then take items from the box for their own campus bags, following the motto "Sharing is caring."
The main objective of the second idea is to reduce the amount of waste paper generated by unwanted flyers and coupons in the campus bag. Using a QR code, students would have the option to access the offers and information of the "VR Campus Bag" instead.
The third idea takes a holistic approach to sustainability. Not only should the products in the campus bag be as sustainable as possible, but they should also be usable for as long as possible. Additionally, efforts will be made to ensure that the packaging of the products is also sustainable. QR codes will also be used to reduce the amount of flyers in the bag. The concept of the "Donation Box" is also revisited here.
Competition 2022
Berlin is getting warmer in the medium and long term. In terms of bioclimate, health, and well-being, we looked for ideas for climate adaptation for outdoor spaces in Lankwitz, Düppel, or Dahlem, which should invite learning and relaxation. Three applicants won a Masterclass - Entrepreneurship Foundation, where they could further develop their ideas.
The first idea focused on the Geo-Campus in Lankwitz. The goal of the idea was to create shady and cool resting places on the campus by installing green, covered alcoves with a solar-powered waterfall. The wooden structures are also equipped with moss and climbing plants to filter CO2 from the air and enhance general well-being on campus.
The second project aimed to develop an app that would enable students to network with each other, for example, for collaborative learning or thematic exchange. In the app, "contact ads" with information about meeting points and times can be posted. To help other students find the meeting point, the app includes a map showing the respective location.
The third idea seeks to establish a "beneficial disorder in the ecosystem" on the Dahlem campus to strengthen the holistic coexistence of humans and nature. Through partial sealing removal, afforestation, and the installation of seating options, a space will be created where students enjoy spending time, are in harmony with nature, and engage with sustainability, environmental protection, and biodiversity topics, partly through on-site information panels.
