WS 2020/21
The Naked Truth / Sustainability Calender
It is to be found in almost every student house but is also an always welcome christmas gift for your family - the calendar. Although a calendar is never out of fashion, the images are often similar : nice landscapes, cute animals or naked people. In this project, our objective was a new calendar for the year 2021 that reminds and informs the reader about sustainability issues in a fun way. It presents a friendly reminder to stick to one's new year’s resolutions (no food waste, consume only what you really need, reuse, recycle, repair, etc.) in combination with aesthetically pleasing pictures. After carefully weighing the pros and cons we chose nudity as the combining element of our calendar. First of all, we considered nudity aspects to be a good way for presenting serious issues of sustainability in a funny and appealing way. Who would want an A3 picture of a meat factory for a whole month on the kitchen wall? Or a picture of a pile of plastic rubbish? - No one really. But a photo of a cute guy cuddling with a cow or a cute girl bathing in plastic rubbish? Of course you want that on your wall! Second, by having nudity as the overarching theme the pictures and sustainability themes are tighter interconnected throughout the calendar. Third, other calendar projects conducted in Graz a few years ago proved the combination of sustainability with nudity aspects to be promising.
Thus, we chose as our objective to design a calendar addressing 12 different sustainability issues with nudity as the combining element, called “The naked truth of sustainability”. Sustainability aspects of the calendar concerned 12 different issues, e.g. food waste, biodiversity loss, etc. with the pursuit to educate a broader audience in a fun way about them. This was realized by developing accompanying texts to each sustainability aspect on the back of each month as well as one introduction text on the back of the front page explaining what sustainability means and introducing important concepts such as the Sustainable Development Goals. The overall objective of the project has been to raise awareness for a diverse set of sustainability issues along the lines of the sustainable development goals and the analogous concept of sustainable development. Furthermore, we started the project with the goal to donate the money earned with the calendar sales to a good cause. Our target group reached from people who are already familiar with the topic of sustainability to people who are rather new to the topic. As we aimed to also reach people with a non-scientific background we paid attention to an easy language throughout the accompanying texts. Furthermore, to reach a broader audience, the calendar has been printed in two different languages, German and an English.
Thus, we chose as our objective to design a calendar addressing 12 different sustainability issues with nudity as the combining element, called “The naked truth of sustainability”. Sustainability aspects of the calendar concerned 12 different issues, e.g. food waste, biodiversity loss, etc. with the pursuit to educate a broader audience in a fun way about them. This was realized by developing accompanying texts to each sustainability aspect on the back of each month as well as one introduction text on the back of the front page explaining what sustainability means and introducing important concepts such as the Sustainable Development Goals. The overall objective of the project has been to raise awareness for a diverse set of sustainability issues along the lines of the sustainable development goals and the analogous concept of sustainable development. Furthermore, we started the project with the goal to donate the money earned with the calendar sales to a good cause. Our target group reached from people who are already familiar with the topic of sustainability to people who are rather new to the topic. As we aimed to also reach people with a non-scientific background we paid attention to an easy language throughout the accompanying texts. Furthermore, to reach a broader audience, the calendar has been printed in two different languages, German and an English.
The Calendar in the Making
Regarding success criteria, we specified that the project can be considered a success once the calendar has been designed, printed and made available for purchase to a broader audience before christmas. According to this criteria, our project has been a success as in total 350 calendars were printed in December from which around 300 were sold already before Christmas. The calendars were printed at the ÖH copy shop on Recycling Paper.
Spice up your Lunch / Urban Gardening at the SIS Institute
As part of a university project in 2020, students at the Institute for Systems Science,Innovation and Sustainability Research have created a garden project on thepreviously unused green space around the institute building.
In addition to the raised bed, in which seasonal vegetables can be grown year-round,you will find perennial fruit shrubs such as oleaster, shadbush (Amelanchier),honeysuckle and hardy kiwi.
This creates multidimensional ecosystem services that are not only limited to directbenefits to humans through the harvest of delicious fruit. As system plants, theperennial shrubs also provide a healthy microclimate, improve air quality, andincrease biodiversity by providing habitat and food for insects.
Urban gardening can demonstrate on a small scale how regional food productioncan work and food sovereignty can be achieved while protecting the environment andregenerating soils. Healthy living for humans can only succeed with healthyecosystems. Both must therefore be thought of together.
Are you interested in our project or do you want to garden yourself at one of ourgarden days? Scan the QR code and find us on our website.
In addition to the raised bed, in which seasonal vegetables can be grown year-round,you will find perennial fruit shrubs such as oleaster, shadbush (Amelanchier),honeysuckle and hardy kiwi.
This creates multidimensional ecosystem services that are not only limited to directbenefits to humans through the harvest of delicious fruit. As system plants, theperennial shrubs also provide a healthy microclimate, improve air quality, andincrease biodiversity by providing habitat and food for insects.
Urban gardening can demonstrate on a small scale how regional food productioncan work and food sovereignty can be achieved while protecting the environment andregenerating soils. Healthy living for humans can only succeed with healthyecosystems. Both must therefore be thought of together.
Are you interested in our project or do you want to garden yourself at one of ourgarden days? Scan the QR code and find us on our website.
WS 2019/20
G.R.E.E.N. Scavenger Hunt
Moving to a new city, especially abroad, can be a challenging and stressful experience! This is especially true when one has a lack of detailed information, knowledge and guidance about the city, its community life, and its offerings. Furthermore, it is even more difficult when one chooses to try and live in a sustainable way. This lifestyle requires a lot of research and exploration to find products, resources, places, and events that fit our demand, interest and ethics. The basic queries like, “where to shop only bio and organic”, “where to get things repaired”, “where to purchase and donate second-hand things”, “which restaurants offer local, regional and organic foods”, “what other sustainability opportunities the city offers”, etc. always require time and effort, and usually local connections, to get answered and become informed. Hence, in order to identify, inform and encourage sustainability initiatives and practices in and around Graz, especially for incoming students to the city, G.R.E.E.N. Studio designed a scavenger hunt event, with a structured framework with the goal to transfer the event idea to Erasmus Student Network (ESN) of University of Graz.
G.R.E.E.N. Scavenger Hunt, What is it?
G.R.E.E.N. stands for Going ‘Round Encouraging Environmental Networking. G.R.E.E.N. Studio is a small initiative initiated by a few students pursuing masters in Sustainable Development at the University of Graz. The main objective of this initiative is to introduce incoming students to the sustainability offerings of the University and the City of Graz, thereby increasing sustainability literacy, participation and awareness. These offerings that support sustainability include shops, restaurants, hotspots, rentals and initiatives to encourage greener living. However, many of these offerings remain undiscovered for incoming students in Graz, even to those that actively pursue such places. This may be due to the many challenges that incoming students must overcome which comprises of language barriers, unfamiliarity with the city, poor community connections and time constraints. Thus, G.R.E.E.N. Studio has opted to create a scavenger hunt to guide and increase visibility to sustainability hotspots to incoming Erasmus students in Graz.
G.R.E.E.N. Scavenger Hunt, What is it?
G.R.E.E.N. stands for Going ‘Round Encouraging Environmental Networking. G.R.E.E.N. Studio is a small initiative initiated by a few students pursuing masters in Sustainable Development at the University of Graz. The main objective of this initiative is to introduce incoming students to the sustainability offerings of the University and the City of Graz, thereby increasing sustainability literacy, participation and awareness. These offerings that support sustainability include shops, restaurants, hotspots, rentals and initiatives to encourage greener living. However, many of these offerings remain undiscovered for incoming students in Graz, even to those that actively pursue such places. This may be due to the many challenges that incoming students must overcome which comprises of language barriers, unfamiliarity with the city, poor community connections and time constraints. Thus, G.R.E.E.N. Studio has opted to create a scavenger hunt to guide and increase visibility to sustainability hotspots to incoming Erasmus students in Graz.
Pathways to Sustainable Initiatives
The city of Graz has been perceived as an ecological model and has been recognized and awarded by various European and international awards for its activities and achievements in this field. Some notable recognition that Graz has received include: the Greenpeace Climate Protection Award in 1993, the International Sustainable City Award by the European Union in 1996, and the Sustainable Energy Europe Award in 2008. Furthermore, on the local level, there are several initiatives within the city that are actively functioning within sustainability norms and principles. For the Scavenger Hunt event, five such initiatives were selected: a package-free store (Das Dekagramm), a bicycle repair shop (Muchar Upcycles), a place to buy secondhand clothing (Humana), a place to buy fresh veggies (Farmer’s Market) and a restaurant that sells vegetarian/vegan options (Cafe Greenhouse). These are only a few selected initiatives out of several other sustainable alternatives available in Graz.
The city of Graz has been perceived as an ecological model and has been recognized and awarded by various European and international awards for its activities and achievements in this field. Some notable recognition that Graz has received include: the Greenpeace Climate Protection Award in 1993, the International Sustainable City Award by the European Union in 1996, and the Sustainable Energy Europe Award in 2008. Furthermore, on the local level, there are several initiatives within the city that are actively functioning within sustainability norms and principles. For the Scavenger Hunt event, five such initiatives were selected: a package-free store (Das Dekagramm), a bicycle repair shop (Muchar Upcycles), a place to buy secondhand clothing (Humana), a place to buy fresh veggies (Farmer’s Market) and a restaurant that sells vegetarian/vegan options (Cafe Greenhouse). These are only a few selected initiatives out of several other sustainable alternatives available in Graz.
16 students, divided into four teams, participated in the G.R.E.E.N. Scavenger hunt event. The route was created in advance for the participants to follow and visit specific locations. At each location, participants had to solve puzzles and riddles to receive the next hint and location of the next stop. For example, the clue to reach the farmer’s market was, “this next location is all about buying local. Not only do you know where your products are coming from and are supporting local businesses but you will reduce your food miles! Many food items you buy travel over 2400km to reach your plate! This location is open Monday-Saturday: 6am-1pm”. The clues, in themselves, were made to be informative, to direct the participants and readers towards the sustainability motives of the enterprise. Additionally, at every location participants were introduced and informed about the sustainability offerings the venue has to offer. This way participants not only got a chance to explore the city by completing fun-filled activities but also got informed on the insights and stories of each location.
The Takeaway
The G.R.E.E.N. Scavenger hunt event is a combination of celebration and information. Participants join to celebrate the fun tasks with each other, make connections, get fresh air walking around the town, discover the locations, shops, and enterprises and their stories and purposes and acquire information about the sustainability initiatives around Graz and how to get more involved. In the future, to make the event even more interesting, a joint activity with enterprises could be a productive way to explore more interactive options between the participants and the shops/initiatives. Moreover, the whole event was documented, an event framework was created, and at the end, it was forwarded to ESN with the hope that this kind of scavenger hunt event will be further organized to introduce sustainability happenings to the new students of Graz!
The Takeaway
The G.R.E.E.N. Scavenger hunt event is a combination of celebration and information. Participants join to celebrate the fun tasks with each other, make connections, get fresh air walking around the town, discover the locations, shops, and enterprises and their stories and purposes and acquire information about the sustainability initiatives around Graz and how to get more involved. In the future, to make the event even more interesting, a joint activity with enterprises could be a productive way to explore more interactive options between the participants and the shops/initiatives. Moreover, the whole event was documented, an event framework was created, and at the end, it was forwarded to ESN with the hope that this kind of scavenger hunt event will be further organized to introduce sustainability happenings to the new students of Graz!
The Kachara Waste Awareness Exhibition
A group of students enrolled in the Joint International Master Programme in Sustainable Development have taken on the project to create a fine art exhibition on the globally pressing challenge surrounding waste. The objective of the exhibition was to raise awareness on the issue of waste as a critical environmental and sustainability concern through self-expression in the art fields. The exhibition was named after the Hindi word Kachara, which means waste or trash.
The first step in the project was to develop an open call for artists and interested parties in and around Graz to submit works of art around the topic of food, plastic, and electronic waste, thereby illustrating and explaining the respective sustainability challenges from various perspectives. The open call was distributed through on-and offline channels, i.e. social media platforms, as well as posters and flyers. By the time the call ended, twelve artists had submitted artworks – with one artist submitting two illustrations, thirteen posters had been collected for the exhibition. The artists were of different backgrounds, including BA and MSc students in a range of disciplines, as well as professional artists and designers.
As the project required a significant volume of monetary capital, collaboration and funding was requested from key stakeholders. As a result, the ÖH Uni Graz and the Umweltamt der Stadt Graz (City Graz – Environmental Office) decided to contribute to the exhibition and its cause as official sponsors. The project team thanks these partners for their support once again and recognizes their efforts to promote and advocate sustainable development through art.
The exhibition kicked off with a Vernissage on the 6th February 2020, to which the contributing artists, sponsors, university professors and the peers of the organizers had been invited. The event was hosted in the Afro-Asiatisches Institut in Graz. The institute most graciously provides accommodation for the exhibition until the 26th February 2020. The visiting hours are 08:00 – 20:00 daily and the entrance is free of charge.
The first step in the project was to develop an open call for artists and interested parties in and around Graz to submit works of art around the topic of food, plastic, and electronic waste, thereby illustrating and explaining the respective sustainability challenges from various perspectives. The open call was distributed through on-and offline channels, i.e. social media platforms, as well as posters and flyers. By the time the call ended, twelve artists had submitted artworks – with one artist submitting two illustrations, thirteen posters had been collected for the exhibition. The artists were of different backgrounds, including BA and MSc students in a range of disciplines, as well as professional artists and designers.
As the project required a significant volume of monetary capital, collaboration and funding was requested from key stakeholders. As a result, the ÖH Uni Graz and the Umweltamt der Stadt Graz (City Graz – Environmental Office) decided to contribute to the exhibition and its cause as official sponsors. The project team thanks these partners for their support once again and recognizes their efforts to promote and advocate sustainable development through art.
The exhibition kicked off with a Vernissage on the 6th February 2020, to which the contributing artists, sponsors, university professors and the peers of the organizers had been invited. The event was hosted in the Afro-Asiatisches Institut in Graz. The institute most graciously provides accommodation for the exhibition until the 26th February 2020. The visiting hours are 08:00 – 20:00 daily and the entrance is free of charge.
Ultimately, not only did the project facilitate unique means to combine the concept of sustainability – and embedded within, the challenges surrounding waste – with art, but it also became an open channel to raise awareness and start meaningful conversations regarding the central theme. Additionally, the exhibition (and in particular, the Vernissage) provided an opportunity for networking among the involved stakeholders and participants, including the institutes, the artists, and other interested visitors.
WS 2018/19
On Wine Tastings and Power Plants
To be honest, I think we struggle sometimes to wrap our heads around what sustainability is really about. So, we decided to gather a bunch of people and just go out exploring what it can be about!
This is precisely what we did on a cold December day just before everyone disappeared for their Christmas holidays. We took a trip to Southern Styria where Franz Strohmeier welcomed us on his organic vineyard in the small town of St. Stefan ob Stainz, south of Graz.
The excursion was a truly hands-on experience and one which tickled all of our senses! We saw and heard about growing and making wine. We touched, felt and smelled what is the perfect soil for vines to grow on. And we smelled and tasted the final product: the wines. What makes Franz’ wines so special is that they are not only grown organically, but also with a minimum of additional inputs and interferences in the natural fermentation process, leaving it up to the bio-dynamics and giving each wine, each bottle in fact, its own unique aroma.
What did we take away from our experience?! Well for one, making wine is not as simple as it may seem, in truth, there’s a lot of things that have to be just right. For example, a good and healthy soil is really the secret to making quality wine, tasting wine from the “right” mouth-blown glasses can make a huge difference, and choosing the right wood and barrel shape to store it is just as important!
On our second adventure we explored the world of power generation– hydro power, to be exact. You’ve likely heard about the Murkraftwerk hydro power plant which has been quite a controversial project in Graz, primarily due to its environmental impacts. But as sustainability is often about incorporating various perspectives, we decided it was worth a visit. In January, we had the opportunity to visit the construction site of the power plant south of Graz and met with the project’s technical adviser and the environmental coordinator. They presented us with many facts and insights into the technical features of the plant. They also explained some of the environmental measures that had been taken in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment, for example how snake migration activities are monitored and anticipated. After visiting the construction itself, we had the opportunity to ask questions about the power plant, the construction process, the EIA, and general challenges and opportunities that the plant is facing. This was surely a special experience as not everyone gets to discuss such issues with the responsible people face-to-face and we were glad we had the opportunity!
It’s hard to get all the answers when you think about sustainability, but for sure, our experiences at the vineyard and the power plant have shown a glimpse of the huge range of issues that it grapples with. Finally, our excursions brought folks together and facilitated a great exchange of ideas and information.
Sustainable Student Welcome Guide
Big news, Sustainers!
After a packed semester filled with exciting events, workshops and excursions, the Social Competences team is proud to announce another fun product: the Sustainable Student Welcome Guide— a handy resource for incoming students here in Graz to locate the best tips for “getting off the ground” during their first few weeks.
With tips culled from several generations of Graz Sustainers, the welcome guide features all sorts of great tips ranging ideas on where to locate gently used (or free!) clothing, furnishings for an apartment, suggestions on where to pick up a bike (or rent a cargobike for free!), and even some suggestions for inexpensive leisure-time options. All in all, we think it’s a fun resource that will help environmentally conscious students locate the items they need during their first weeks, without spending lots of money and leaving a big footpring. Neat, huh?
After a packed semester filled with exciting events, workshops and excursions, the Social Competences team is proud to announce another fun product: the Sustainable Student Welcome Guide— a handy resource for incoming students here in Graz to locate the best tips for “getting off the ground” during their first few weeks.
With tips culled from several generations of Graz Sustainers, the welcome guide features all sorts of great tips ranging ideas on where to locate gently used (or free!) clothing, furnishings for an apartment, suggestions on where to pick up a bike (or rent a cargobike for free!), and even some suggestions for inexpensive leisure-time options. All in all, we think it’s a fun resource that will help environmentally conscious students locate the items they need during their first weeks, without spending lots of money and leaving a big footpring. Neat, huh?
Here’s what’s really neat– the map syncs to your phone, so you can just scan the QR code on the paper map itself and head right into our list of great locations in Graz via google maps– it’ll even show you immediately how long it will take to walk, bike, or BIM your way to that location. How fun!
The map will be distributed in welcome packets for all incoming students beginning February 15, 2019 so they’ll be able to access some great tips to help them feel right at home– sustainably
The map will be distributed in welcome packets for all incoming students beginning February 15, 2019 so they’ll be able to access some great tips to help them feel right at home– sustainably
A special thanks to the ÖH and the Office of International Relations for helping us print and distribute the maps!
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Project Resources
Download your very own copy of the Sustainable Student Welcome Guide here.
View our final project presentation and report.
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Project Resources
Download your very own copy of the Sustainable Student Welcome Guide here.
View our final project presentation and report.
Back to the Roots
Studying sustainability can at times be daunting. So many issues, so complex; it can all start to make us, sustainable development students, feel small and powerless.
This winter, we are happy to have the opportunity to step back a bit through our project “Back to the Roots.” We aim to incorporate simple things from a time not-so-long-ago when eating seasonal produce, swapping clothes, and mending clothes were all the norm. Things don’t always have to be super high-tech or complicated.
We can come together and enjoy delicious food, exchange clothes, mend our favorite jeans… all in good company.
Will you join us? We have a series of three workshops for you:
1) Cooking Class: Cabbage, Carrots and Co.
When: Wednesday, December 5th from 6:30pm
Where: Univiertel, specific location to be announced
Fee: max. €15
Come experience how delicious winter vegetables can taste and how simple it is to cook with them. You will get an idea of how to survive the cold season with plant-based food from local producers. On top of it, all ingredients will be organic! While cooking and having fun, we can reflect on our decision to offer an organic regional, seasonal and plant-based cooking class.
Interested? Send an email to [email protected]. Since there is a limited number of participants, first come, first served.
When: Wednesday, December 5th from 6:30pm
Where: Univiertel, specific location to be announced
Fee: max. €15
Come experience how delicious winter vegetables can taste and how simple it is to cook with them. You will get an idea of how to survive the cold season with plant-based food from local producers. On top of it, all ingredients will be organic! While cooking and having fun, we can reflect on our decision to offer an organic regional, seasonal and plant-based cooking class.
Interested? Send an email to [email protected]. Since there is a limited number of participants, first come, first served.
2) Clothing Swap and The True Cost screening
When: Tuesday, December 11th Clothing swap 4:00 – 7:00; movie 7:00 – 9:30
Where: schubertNEST at Harrachgasse 21 (Voklinik EG)
Come join us for swapping used clothes and a screening of the documentary “The True Cost,” a groundbreaking documentary film that pulls back the curtain on the untold story and asks us to consider: “Who really pays the price for our clothing?” It’s about the clothes we wear, the people who make them, and the impact the industry is having on our world.
After the movie, there will be a Q&A session with local fair fashion labels ZERUM Lifestyle and BrainyClothes-Nife, and Südwind will share about their current Clean Clothes Campaign. This event is hosted in cooperation with Oikos.
When: Tuesday, December 11th Clothing swap 4:00 – 7:00; movie 7:00 – 9:30
Where: schubertNEST at Harrachgasse 21 (Voklinik EG)
Come join us for swapping used clothes and a screening of the documentary “The True Cost,” a groundbreaking documentary film that pulls back the curtain on the untold story and asks us to consider: “Who really pays the price for our clothing?” It’s about the clothes we wear, the people who make them, and the impact the industry is having on our world.
After the movie, there will be a Q&A session with local fair fashion labels ZERUM Lifestyle and BrainyClothes-Nife, and Südwind will share about their current Clean Clothes Campaign. This event is hosted in cooperation with Oikos.
3) Clothes Mending Workshop
When: Saturday, January 12th 3-6pm
Where: Café Erde at Andreas-Hofer-Platz 3
Come join us for a relaxed and mindful afternoon on a chilly winter weekend to give your favorite clothes a new life. We all have those favorite jeans in the back of our closet waiting for a patch, a sweater needing a new button, or a shirt that could use some stitches to cover up the wear and tear… No need to replace those dear items – let’s come together to bring them back to life.
When: Saturday, January 12th 3-6pm
Where: Café Erde at Andreas-Hofer-Platz 3
Come join us for a relaxed and mindful afternoon on a chilly winter weekend to give your favorite clothes a new life. We all have those favorite jeans in the back of our closet waiting for a patch, a sweater needing a new button, or a shirt that could use some stitches to cover up the wear and tear… No need to replace those dear items – let’s come together to bring them back to life.
Paging Sustainers: We Need Your Tips!
Servus fellow Sustainers!
It’s that time of the year again where we’ve set out to update the fantastic Sustainable Graz City Map with fresh tips, such as nice markets, low-packaging shopping options, second-hand or thrift stores, and loads of others.
This is where we need your help!
We’re looking to YOU, the current and former Sustainers with a keen knowledge of the city, to share your favorite sustainable tips with us, so we can share them with incoming international students.
If you’ve got 33 seconds free (we’ll bet you do ) head on over to our quick and painless questionnaire to share your favorite tips with us.
- Know a great second-hand shop or thrift store where Sustainers could grab inexpensive/ donated furniture or accessories to spice up their new apartments?
- Have a favorite environmentally conscious grocery store or restaurant that Sustainers can’t miss?
- Know of any neat or exciting free-time or entertainment options, easily reachable by bike or public transit that Sustainers might really love?