Summer School 2018 24.09.18 - 28.09.18

Construction Materials and Habitation

 

4th Summer School on Sustainable Chemistry for Sustainable Development Including the Focus Topic Construction Materials and Habitation.

From the 24th to the 28th of September students, postgraduates and young professionals from research, industry, authorities, and non-governmental organizations from South America, Asia, Africa and Europe, gathered in Lüneburg (Germany) to understand and discuss the latest developments of the concepts of sustainable chemistry and chemicals management and its significance for construction materials and habitation. The 4th Summer School on Sustainable Chemistry for Sustainable Development: Construction Materials and Habitation was organized by ISC3 Research and Education Hub together with the Leuphana University of Lüneburg.

Experts from the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (United Nations Environment Programme), United Nations Industrial Development Organization, German Environment Agency (UBA), Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), N³ Thinking Ahead Dr. Friege & Partners, Evonik Technology & Infrastructure GmbH, Università Ca’ Foscari di Venezia IUPAC, and the Institute of Sustainable and Environmental Chemistry of Leuphana University contributed to the scientific program of the summer school. Their lectures resulted in increased awareness regarding the differences between green and sustainable chemistry, international chemicals management, chemical leasing, life cycle assessment, sources of data and software tools useful for sustainable chemistry, as well as about workspace and laboratory safety. Moreover, during the lectures and workshops dedicated to the construction materials and habitation topic participants and experts from the field identified existing problems and discussed possible more sustainable solutions. Recent steps towards sustainable buildings and habitation and practical use of new, more sustainable building materials and technologies were demonstrated during the excursion to “International Building Exhibition” in Hamburg.

Participants returned to their countries highly motivated to implement sustainable chemistry in their work and everyday life, and to contribute into sustainable development. Thanks to them, the concept of sustainable chemistry will reach new communities and will be spread all over the world!

Participants asked what have they learned during the summer school and how will it enrich their future work answered (a selection of many similar quotes):  

“Sustainability is not such an abstract concept for me anymore; economy, society, environments are more connected than I thought.”

“From now onwards, I would start analysing all the processes involved in daily work in terms of life cycle analysis.”

“I will better plan my synthesis to use less chemicals and produce less waste, I will think outside the chemistry and evaluate other possibilities taking into account economical, environmental and social aspects.”

“It is important to raise awareness to the origin of products as the main impact (CO2 footprint for example) lies in the raw materials used.”

 

 

 

mit freundlicher Unterstützung des