Hochschule Geisenheim Marks Hessian Sustainability Day with a Packed Program

09/27/2024

The Minister for Agriculture Ingmar Jung was among the visitors to the Sustainability Day event at Hochschule Geisenheim University. Photo: Torsten Silz/Hochschule Geisenheim

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/

Images

Over 600 events took place throughout Hesse on Hessian Sustainability Day. Photo: Stieffenhofer/Hochschule Geisenheim University

The Minister for Agriculture Ingmar Jung was among the visitors to the Sustainability Day event at Hochschule Geisenheim University. Photo: Torsten Silz/Hochschule Geisenheim

Over 40 children learned lots of interesting facts about apples at the Kinderuni event. Photo: Torsten Silz/Hochschule Geisenheim

The diverse new apple varieties from Hochschule Geisenheim University could also be tasted, here Ingmar Jung with University President Professor Hans Reiner Schultz. Photo: Torsten Silz/Hochschule Geisenheim

Measuring apples. Photo: Stieffenhofer/Hochschule Geisenheim

Dr. Christiane Jost and Sabine Rasim welcome the children to the Kinderuni event. Photo: Torsten Silz/Hochschule Geisenheim

At the university's Department of Pomology, red-fleshed and columnar apples are primarily bred and cultivated for research and teaching. Photo: Stieffenhofer/Hochschule Geisenheim

Professor Andreas Holzapfel showed guests the fresh produce logistics facilities in the university's new Logistics Building. Photo: Torsten Silz/Hochschule Geisenheim

Minister of Agriculture Jung in conversation with guests during Professor Moritz Wagner's lecture on sustainability in viticulture. Photo: Torsten Silz/Hochschule Geisenheim

During the tour of the university's new Logisitics Building. From left to right: Professor Andreas Holzapfel, Professor Moritz Wagner, Michael Schlepper (First City Councilor in Geisenheim); Professor Mirjam Hey (Vice-President of Academic & Student Affairs), Ingmar Jung, Professor Hans Reiner Schultz.