LFU:online

In this interdisciplinary course, students with diverse scientific backgrounds (technical as well as social-scientific) will be introduced to the basics of sustainable development in the context of the SDGs. The participants will get to know measures and projects related to Sustainable Development on different scales (with a special focus on the project UniNEtZ - Universitäten und nachhaltige Entwicklungsziele). Theories of science communication in general and sustainability communication in particular will be discussed. Further, students develop action knowledge on how to implement sustainability concepts in their own spheres of activity. The interdisciplinary setting of the course allows to take different perspectives on sustainability topics.

methodical aims: gain competencies to plan and implement projects, science communication, team working and communicative skills, systemic thinking (i.a. interactions between SDGs), creative approaches towards sustainability topics (e.g. poetry slam). Each group writes a short summary to their topic that describes the scientific background of the planned project.

basic contents of sustainable development and SDGs, measures and projects in the field of sustainable development with a focus on the Austrian-wide project UniNEtZ, science communication

- inputs to sustainable development, SDGs, science communication

- cooperation with local sustainability initiatives depending on the focus of the projects

- concept development, planning and implementing of a project for each group: engaging with Sustainable Development Goals and visualisation at the University of Innsbruck in the frame of a project, e.g. art intervention, workshop, exhibition, poetry slam, discussion forum etc…

- synthesis and reflection of the course

combined: planning and implementing a project concept, short summary with scientific background and reflexion on the projects, engagement during the course

 - SDSN (2017): Getting started with the SDGs in universities. SDSN. Melbourne, Australia. 

- UN (2015): Transforming our world. The Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development. UN, New York.

- Vaughter (2018): Beacons, not Towers: How Higher Education Can Help Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. United Nations University.

Additional relevant literature will be announced at the beginning of the course

interest in topics of sustainable development, motivation for project work and team work, interest in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary cooperation