Sustainability Week 2021

Sustainability is a hot topic! Fortunately, since it’s a topic we simply can't ignore. During the Sustainability Week 2021 we will reignite the conversation at the UG. Our researchers will show which debates are being settled at the front lines: how can we take our responsibility with regards to fishery? Can thorium nuclear energy help us at all? But we’ll also give special attention to our own green steps.

During the Sustainability Week there truly is something for everyone. Strech your legs and learn something new during our lunch walks, follow a workshop on vegan food or discover the ins and outs of recent sustainable research during one of the lectures. And best of all: we are finally able to have these conversations face to face again! Anyone who prefers to keep their distance for now can follow most activities online.

Have you spotted an interesting activity? Click on the links below for more information or to sign-up straight away.

Challenge // Lunch Walks // Discussions // Lectures // Workshops

Challenge #GreenStepRUG

Sustainability is not a race! Rather, take it one step at a time. That way, it's easier to keep up with your new habits and implement everything you're learning on the way. What will be your next step? Share it on Instagram under the hashtag #GreenStepRUG. Anyone sharing their step before 9 October will have a chance to win a gift card for their favourite sustainable hotspot in Groningen.

It's important that not just individuals keep taking steps, but groups as well. That's why there's a giveaway for associations and Green Office Embassies too! Share your next step with the hashtag #GreenStepRUG and you might win a sustainable (vegan) cooking workshop.

Lunch Walk 'Pep Walk' (NL)

Organisatie: Balans // Monday 4 & Thursday 7 October // noon - 2.30 p.m. // Location: City Centre

Duurzaamheid gaat ook over bewust voor jezelf zorgen. Kijk daarvoor ook bij onze vrienden van Balans, die de Week van de Meer Gezonde Jaren organiseren.

De Pep Walk is een gezonde wandeling met inspirerende verhalen en eenvoudige oefeningen om je veerkracht te vergroten. De wandeling volgt de grachten van de Diepenring. Centraal staan verhalen over het 'vallen, opstaan en weer doorgaan' van mensen die hier hun sporen hebben achtergelaten zoals Aletta Jacobs, Arjen Robben, Kim Feenstra, Hans Klok, Janine Abbring en Wubbo Ockels. Psycholoog Paul Passchier, auteur van het Diepenring Kompas, is je gids.

Lunch Walk 'Zero Waste'

Organizers: Green Office // Tueday 5 October // noon // Location: City Centre

Sick of buying everything wrapped in layers of plastic? Groningen is full of places where you can do your shopping zero waste, if you know where to look. Come join us! We'll show you around some prime spots in the city centre, all while going for a nice walk with other sustainable people. Spaces are limited, so don't hesitate to claim your spot!

Lunch Walk 'Ecology of the Noorderplantsoen'

Organizers: Green Office // Thurdays 7 October // noon // Location: Noorderplantsoen

Peter Kruijt (SesamE) will tell us all about the ecology of the Noorderplantsoen, especially trees. By the end of the walk, you'll know all about how trees can help us to stay healthy and how they have allies that help to stay healthy themselves. Bring your own lunch and join us!

Lunch Walk 'Ecology of Zernike'

Organizers: Green Office // Thursday 7 October // noon // Location: Zernike Campus

Walking through the Zernike campus, Nathan Brinkman will tell us about the ecology of Zernike, the history of the surrounding area and climate adaptation. Bring your lunch and join us!

Discussion: How Can We Be Sustainable Digital Citizens?

Organizers: Green Office RUG+CIT Green Embassy // Tuesday 5 October // 7 p.m. // Location: Harmony Building+online

We are all inevitably digital citizens. But no matter how green we try to be in our daily lifes, the impact of our digital lives usually remains virtually invisible. Well, not tonight! Join us in a conversation on social media, streaming and cloud storage. How has the impact of our digital behaviour evolved? And what can we do to also become sustainable in this aspect of our lives? Tonight, we'll start this conversation with short discussion rounds on these topics. Please join us in this investigation on our impact and reflect on the system as well as our own behaviour.

Documentary Night: Beyond Seaspiracy with Karin de Boer

Organizers: Green Office RUG // Thursday 7 October // 6 p.m. (screening), 8 p.m. (discussion) / Location: Academy Building+online

The documentary Seaspiracy really kicked the discussion on sustainable fishing back into life. While many people felt the movie was an eye-opening experience, others have critizised it for its strong rhetoric and its rejection of sustainable fishing as a viable option. Tonight, marine biologist Dr. Karin de Boer will guide us through the movie's strong points and controversies, so we can have a well-informed discussion about how we can properly care for the sea.

If you'd like to watch the movie together, come join us at six! There will be time to eat and we'll bring some snacks. At eight, we'll continue with the discussion.

Lecture: History and Future of Sustainability at the RUG

Organizers: Green Office+Sustainable Society // Monday 4 October // 7 p.m. // Location: Harmony Building+Online

Today, Sustainability is a hot topic within the University of Groningen. But what about the historical development of this research and education? In this short lecture, Maarten Toeter, MA history student, will share the highlights of his historical research on the development of the environmental/sustainability research and education at our university between 1970 and 2012.

After this first presentation, Dr. Kees van Veen, Director of Sustainable Society, will provide an overview of the future directions of sustainability in research and education at the University of Groningen.

The event will end with an overview on how, in practice, our University is aiming to reduce its environmental impact on the environment and integrate sustainability in all its aspects. Dick Jager, Programme Manager on Sustainability, will show our past green achievements and present the new UG Roadmap 2021-2026 for a more sustainable University.

Lunch Lecture: Thorium Nuclear Energy

Organizers: Green Office+New Energy Coalition // Wednesday 6 October // noon

What is Thorium? Is this nuclear fuel the panacea to our energy crisis?

During this short lecture, Dr. Catherine Rigollet will introduce us to the use of Thorium explaining its benefits but also its limitations. Dr. Catherine Rigollet is lecturer at the Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) and she teaches the minor on Nuclear Energy. Her areas of interest are Nuclear Energy and Nuclear Astrophysics.

Lecture+Pub Quiz: Pint of Science - Green Research at the UG

Organizers: Green Office RUG+Pint of Science Groningen // Friday 8 October // 8 p.m. // Location: Literair Café de Graanrepubliek+Online

It’s the end of the week: time to grab a pint and learn about different parts of science than during the rest of the week! For those unfamiliar with the concept: Pint of Science consists of three mini lectures at the pub, of course concluded with a small pub quiz. It’s the perfect occasion to unwind and learn about the UG's sustainable research in the process. This edition, you even get to choose between the comfort of your own home and the (very excellent) pints served at Literair Café de Graanrepubliek.

Workshop: Green in Groningen

Organizers: Green Office RUG // Wednesday 6 October // 5 p.m. // Location: Harmony Building+Online

Not sure how to become more sustainable? Or perhaps you’re quite the expert already, but you want to know more about the best sustainable places and practices in Groningen? Then this is the workshop for you! During this workshop, we'll not only share tips, but also hear from some organisations that can help you with realising your green intentions: Studio Draadkracht, Enactus and the Free Cafe Groningen.

Workshop: Vegan Food

Organizers: Green Office+VSA // Friday 8 October // noon // Location: Lust+Online

Are you a foodie? Or do you simply want to learn more about vegan food? Let's get your hands dirty during this lunch-time event! First, FoodFootPrint will teach is about the link between food and climate change. Then, it's time for solutions: in collaboration with the Vegan Student Association, chef Oskar Bakker will show us how to prepare delicious vegan food! You'll even get to try it yourself.

Partners of Sustainability Week 2021