What do apples, packaging solutions, biological diversity, and community activism for wind power have in common? These topics all represent different facets of sustainability and were the subjects of diverse talks held yesterday at Hochschule Geisenheim University’s Hessian Sustainability Day event. Interested citizens and local families had the chance to learn all about sustainability, with plenty to see and do on campus.
Over 40 children were able to learn more about cultivating and processing apples, as well as about their sensory properties, at the ongoing children’s university event series. In the university’s new Logistics Building, Dr. Moritz Wagner, a professor in the Department of Applied Ecology, presented on the topic of sustainability in viticulture before Professor Andreas Holzapfel, head of the Department of Fresh Produce Logistics, gave guests a tour of the department’s facilities. Afterwards, kids and teenagers – and any adults feeling particularly youthful – could learn more about biodiversity by taking part in an escape game. At the same time, Udo Zindel, a representative of the project development company Windenergiepark Heidenrod GmbH, also presented on community activism in support of wind power in the municipality of Heidenrod.
Minister for Agriculture Ingmar Jung among the Guests
Among the attendees of the Hessian Sustainability Day program was the Hessian Minister for Agriculture and the Environment, Ingmar Jung. He visited the children’s university event and attended the tour of the Fresh Produce Logistics facilities, commenting: “It is fascinating to see how Hochschule Geisenheim University understands and supports the topic of sustainability so completely. With all the projects on show during the Hessian Sustainability Day, the university is highlighting the importance of the transfer of knowledge across all areas of its activities, as well as its strong connection to the local region.”
Jung was accompanied by Michael Schlepper, First City Councilor of the City of Geisenheim, among others.
“We would like to thank all those involved for making this fantastic event possible. With our focus areas being wine and beverages, food, horticulture, and landscape architecture, among others, the topic of sustainability plays an integral role in all of Hochschule Geisenheim University’s degree programs and is a key focus of our research. This is why Sustainability Day is such a special event for us, and why we are particularly pleased to have Mr. Jung visit the event today,” commented University President Professor Hans Reiner Schultz.
The complete program for the Hessian Sustainability Day at Hochschule Geisenheim University was the result of cooperation between Hochschule Geisenheim University’s Department for Strategic University Development & Sustainability, Office of Research and Innovation Services, and Department of Fresh Produce Logistics, as well as the Energy Team, Geisenheim’s Solarstammtisch, and the Kompetenzzentrum Erneuerbare Energien Rheingau-Taunus.
At Hochschule Geisenheim University, sustainability is not only part of research, teaching and practice in the region, but is also integrated into university operations as part of a whole institution approach. This is done transparently, with the participation of all university members and with the goal of strengthening existing engagement. More information on sustainability at Hochschule Geisenheim University can be found here: www.hs-geisenheim.de/en/university/profile/sustainability/
