the-new-sustainability
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Researching Germany in a Global Age is a two-quarter German Research Seminar open to all students studying German at Northwestern University. The research seminar stretches from Winter to Spring 2020 and includes a one-week trip to Hamburg, Germany during Spring Break 2020. The trip to Germany is fully funded and therefore open to any qualified student.
DIE NEUE NACHHALTIGKEIT | UMWELTBEWUSST, WIRTSCHAFTLICH UND SOZIAL VERTRÄGLICH
In 2015, the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda (Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development) outlining 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). From the very beginning, Germany has been committed to this highly important global project as outlined in Germany’s National Sustainable Development Strategy. Overall, interest in a sustainable lifestyle has been growing steadily in Germany and especially the younger generation is strongly involved with various initiatives as demonstrated by innovative projects, business start-ups and the Fridays for Future demonstrations, to name a few. This seminar offers a chance to learn about the new sustainability efforts in Germany firsthand. Students will visit the city of Hamburg (named the European green capital since 2011) where they will learn from politicians, environmentalists, urban planners, and activists about efforts of sustainable urbanism. When in Hamburg, students will also have the opportunity to investigate what role citizens can play in developing healthy cities to combine economic growth and sustainability.
The German department will select up to 12 students to participate in the two-quarter seminar (Winter and Spring Quarters, 2020) and to travel to Germany during Spring break. (Students will receive two German credits towards the German minor or major). We are encouraging all students with intermediate proficiency in German (at least one class in German beyond the 102-level or permission of the Director of Undergraduate Studies) to apply. In addition, interested students should:
- Demonstrate some knowledge about or interest in sustainability (for example having taken a class on sustainability or having done some reading on the topic);
- Be able to articulate how this seminar and research trip will enhance their academic plans;
- Have some idea about a research project they would like to pursue while in Germany. A research project is an individual or collaborative investigation that is designed to answer a particular question or set of questions. We especially encourage projects that make use of visual media such as a video project, a podcast, a photo essay or exhibit, or a visually enhanced report based on interviews or surveys (Project 2017: Notunterkunft Berlin). There are many possible topics to consider. Here are just a few: produce, buy, use, recycle clothing, shoes, accessories in a sustainable way; swap, share and lend; prevention of food waste; use of sustainable disposables and take-away packaging; promoting sustainable products in agriculture and nutrition; bus, car and e-scooter sharing; urban planning and renewable energy and energy reduction.
The two-quarter seminar is taught by Professors Jan Behrs and Franziska Lys. Please contact either one of them with questions. Applications extended to November 4, 2019.