Drei Portraits von unterschiedlich an der Uni Mannheim beschäftigten Personen sind nebeneinander vor einem grünen Hintergrund aufegreiht. Daneben steht der Slogan "Be inspired".

#SustainableUniMA – Making a Difference

Creating a sustainable economy and society is an urgent challenge for us all. In the “#SustainableUniMA – I will make a difference by ...” campaign, members of the University of Mannheim are accepting this challenge and provide an answer in the form of a personal statement. In the statements, sustainability is understood within the meaning of the UN's 17 goals for a sustainable development and includes economic, ecological, and social dimensions.

On this website, which will be regularly updated, you can read the contributions that have been submitted. Get inspired and think about the impact you could have.

 Hilal Müge Cakan. Sie lächelt und trägt ein dunkleblau gestreiftes Hemd.
I will make a difference by searching for optimal pathways for plastics, from waste to renewal.
#SustainableUniMA
Hilal Müge Cakan
Doctoral student
Rezvan Derayati
I make a difference by researching the economic potential of green hydrogen, a critical element in advancing the energy transition.
#SustainableUniMA
Rezvan Derayati
Doctoral student
Lutz Pöhlmann. Er lacht und trägt ein dunkles Jackett.
I will make a difference by supporting sustainability management in the President’s Office and by using my car as little as possible.
#SustainableUniMA
Lutz Pöhlmann
Director President's Office
Dr. Peter Parczewski in dunkelblauem Poloshirt vor einem Hintergrund mit grünen Pflanzen und Bäumen.
I will make a difference by incorporating climate-related topics into my teaching and by participating in Scientists for Future Mannheim.
#SustainableUniMA
Dr. Peter Parczewski
Academic Staff
Rheia Martiny steht vor einem mit Efeu bewachsenen Baum und lächelt in die Kamera
I will make a difference by eating a vegan diet and supporting an animal welfare organization.
#SustainableUniMA
Rheia Martiny
Press Officer for the joint project TransforMA
Wanja Pasdzierny. Wanja Pasdzierny trägt ein dunkel gemustertes Hemd und lächelt.
I will make a difference by promoting sustainability in local politics as member of the district advisory council and as candidate for the Mannheim city council.
#SustainableUniMA
Wanja Pasdzierny
Student, State examination in Law
Natalie Rose. Natalie Rose steht vor einem grünen Hintergrund und trägt eine graue Jacke.
I will make a difference by organizing childcare for students and examination supervisors for exams that take place on Saturdays.
#SustainableUniMA
Natalie Rose
Staff member of the Department of Equal Opportunity and Social Diversity
Anja Faber
I make a difference by keeping the temperature in the room at 18 degrees Celsius.
#SustainableUniMA
Anja Faber
Secretary, Department of Law
 Prof. Dr. Astrid Lembke. Sie lächelt, trägt eine Brille und eine türkisfarbene Sweatjacke.
I will make a difference by working to increase the proportion of women in professorships and other leadership positions in academia.
#SustainableUniMA
Prof. Dr. Astrid Lembke
Central Equal Opportunity Commissioner
 Christiane Feldhaus. Christiane Feldhaus trägt einen gelben Cardigan und lächelt.
I will make a difference by conducting risk assessments at the workplace and by helping supervisors to eliminate these risks.
#SustainableUniMA
Christiane Feldhaus
Occupational Safety Specialist
Felix Haas steht im weißen Kurzarmhemd vor einem grünen Hintergrund mit Bäumen. Er lächelt in die Kamera.
I will make a difference by providing digital learning resources as a head tutor to promote access to education for all.
#SustainableUniMA
Felix Haas
Student, M.Sc. Economic and Business Education and Mathematics
 Marie Kühn. Sie lacht und trägt ein rotes Jackett über einem schwarzen Oberteil.
I will make a difference by founding the “mynds” student initiative to promote the career paths of female students in Economics.
#SustainableUniMA
Marie Kühn
Student, Mannheim Master in Management
Bernward Gesang. Bernward Gesang trägt ein blaues Hemd und steht vor einem grünen Hintergrund.
I will make a difference by researching and teaching climate ethics, giving talks about the topic, making regular donations, and paying attention to my lifestyle.
#SustainableUniMA
Prof. Dr. Bernward Gesang
Chair of Philosophy II
Julia Freimuth. Julia Freimuth lächelt breit und trägt ein rotes Oberteil und Brille.
I will make a difference by helping university employees to take environmental and social sustainability into account when making purchases.
#SustainableUniMA
Julia Freimuth
Strategic purchasing manager/Purchasing Department
 Prof. Dr. Thomas Fetzer. Breit lächelnd steht er vor einem Baum, dabei trägt er ein dunkles Jackett.
I will make a difference by using the Deutschlandticket, a flat-rate ticket for nationwide public transport in Germany, as often as possible.
#SustainableUniMA
Prof. Dr. Thomas Fetzer
Vice President for Strategic Planning, Internationalization and Equal Opportunity
Verena Weller trägt ein dunkles Jacket und lächelt sympathisch in die Kamera. Im Hintergrund sind grüne Blätter.
I make a difference by organizing and spearheading educational events centered around sustainability-related topics for Scientists for Future Mannheim.
#SustainableUniMA
Dr. des. Verena Weller
Academic Staff
Kerstin Goldner
I will make a difference by avoiding plastic in my house where possible, by cycling instead of driving, and by favoring regional and second-hand products.
#SustainableUniMA
Kerstin Goldner
Office Assistant, Chair of Business Informatics II
 Prof. Dr. Georg W. Alpers trägt ein weißes Hemd und lächelt freundlich.
I will make a difference by cycling regularly and promoting cycling at every opportunity.
#SustainableUniMA
Prof. Dr. Georg W. Alpers
Chair of Clinical and Biological Psychology and Psychotherapy
 Veronique Embach. Sie lehnt lächelnd an einem Baum. Ihre Haare sind hochgesteckt, sie trägt eine Brille und einen dunklen Cardigan über dem türkisfarbenen Oberteil.
I will make a difference by actively promoting projects that make the university more innovative – such as introducing the digital business travel management.
#SustainableUniMA
Veronique Embach
Deputy Equal Opportunity Commissioner for non-academic staff members (administration, library, and University IT)
Britta Düvelmeyer trägt ein rosa-blau kariertes Hemd. Sie lächelt und steht vor einem Baum und einer grünen Wiese.
I will make a difference by biking to work every day — in all weathers.
#SustainableUniMA
Britta Düvelmeyer
Deputy Director Department VI
 Paul Heierling. Er lächelt und trägt einen grünlich karierten Schal über einer grauen Jacke.
I will make a difference by campaigning for a green campus and planning sustainability projects as representative of the AStA Campus department.
#SustainableUniMA
Paul Heierling
Representative of the AStA Campus department
Tim Neubauer. Er lehnt locker an einem Baum und lacht, dabei trägt er einen schwarzen Pullover.
I will make a difference by reducing single-use plastics at student parties to reduce, inter alia, ocean pollution.
#SustainableUniMA
Tim Neubauer
Student, M.Ed. German and History
Julia Regele
I will make a difference by not leaving trash behind when hiking and by treating nature and other living creatures with respect.
#SustainableUniMA
Julia Regele
Consultant Sustainability Management
 Christine Bickert. Sie trägt einen grauen Rollkragenpullover und lächelt freundlich.
I will make a difference by promoting the flyer app “Flyra” in the student organization INFINITY Mannheim e. V., which will reduce paper waste.
#SustainableUniMA
Christine Bickert
Student, B.A. Culture and Economy: Spanish Studies
Kerstin Großardt. Sie schaut freundlich drein, ihre Arme sind verschränkt vor ihrem grauen Blazer und dem rosa Oberteil.
I will make a difference by recycling material at home and at work, for example cardboard rolls for mobiles, and by thrifting as many items as possible.
#SustainableUniMA
Kerstin Großardt
Library Secretary
Susanne Quincke steht mit blauem Polo-Shirt vor einer grünen Blätterwand und lächelt in die Kamera.
I will make a difference by donating generously to Welthungerhilfe.
#SustainableUniMA
Susanne Quincke
Secretary to the President
Prof. Dr. Ivan Balykin in blauer Jacke vor grünen Pflanzen.
I will make a difference by encouraging my students to develop solutions for environmental challenges, and by fostering a culture of ecological responsibility.
#SustainableUniMA
Prof. Dr. Ivan Balykin
Assoc. Prof. at the Chair of Contemporary History
Corinna Kröger. Corinna Kröger lacht freundlich und trägt ein dunkles Jackett.
I will make a difference by working to further reduce discrimination at our university.
#SustainableUniMA
Corinna Kröger
Executive Assistant to the Central Equal Opportunities Commissioner
 Markus Behlau. Er steht lächelnd vor einem Strauch, dabei trägt er ein helles kariertes Hemd.
I will make a difference by contributing my fire prevention expertise both professionally and as a volunteer to protect the environment, since fires release pollutants.
#SustainableUniMA
Markus Behlau
Occupational Safety Specialist, Fire Prevention Officer
Dr. Katrin Schoppa-Bauer. Sie steht locker da und lächelt. Sie trägt eine rosa und gelb gemusterte Bluse.
I will make a difference by supporting sustainability ideas proposed by the university’s administration, e.g., for lighting and paper consumption.
#SustainableUniMA
Dr. Katrin Schoppa-Bauer
Executive Vice President
Kathrin Blitzke
I make a difference by helping to shape the Global Sustainability Management program in my role as ENGAGE.EU coordinator.
#SustainableUniMA
Kathrin Blitzke
ENGAGE.EU Local Work Package Coordinator ENGAGE.EU Programmes
 Prof. Dr. Thomas Puhl. Er lächelt freundlich, trägt eine Brille und ein dunkelblaues Jackett.
I will make a difference by avoiding air travel in my spare time.
#SustainableUniMA
Prof. Dr. Thomas Puhl
President
 Luca Knörzer. Er sitzt lächelnd auf einem Ast. Er trägt ein hellblaues T-Shirt und seine Haare zur Hälfte hochgesteckt.
I will make a difference by implementing local sustainability projects at the student organization INFINITY Mannheim.
#SustainableUniMA
Luca Knörzer
Student, Mannheim Master in Management
 Prof. Dr. Annette Kehnel. Sie steht lächelnd unter einem Baum, dabei trägt sie eine Brille und eine weiße Bluse, ein gestreifter Pullover liegt um ihre Schultern.
I will make a difference by prioritizing a product’s repair capacity when buying something.
#SustainableUniMA
Prof. Dr. Annette Kehnel
Vice President for Student Affairs and Teaching
 Prof. Ulrich Wagner. Er steht freundlich dreinblickend in blauem Hemd vor einem Baum.
I will make a difference by researching and teaching how environmental policies can be as effective as needed and as affordable as possible.
#SustainableUniMA
Prof. Ulrich Wagner, Ph.D.
Professor of Quantitative Economics
 Prof. Stefan Reichelstein. Er lächelt und trägt einen schwarzen Anzug.
I will make a difference by researching the costs and risks associated with the energy transition.
#SustainableUniMA
Prof. Stefan Reichelstein, Ph.D.
Endowed Chair in Business Administration
 María Jesús Collado. Sie lehnt freundlich dreinblickend an einem Baum. Sie trägt einen dunkelblauen Anzug.
I will make a difference by organizing the certificate program “Studium Oecologicum” to teach students about sustainability.
#SustainableUniMA
María Jesús Collado
Director Studium Generale
 Viktor Boecking. Er schaut freundlich drein und trägt ein schwarzes T-Shirt.
I will make a difference by eating local and vegetarian food.
#SustainableUniMA
Viktor Boecking
Head of the University Library’s communications department
Prof. Dr. Ilze Plavgo. Sie steht lächelnd vor einem Baum und trägt einen rot gemusterten Blazer.
I will make a difference by assessing what social policies in Europe and sub-Saharan Africa can do to reduce existing inequalities in education and in the labor market.
#SustainableUniMA
Prof. Dr. Ilze Plavgo
Junior professor of Sociology of the Welfare State
Amelie Maulbetsch
I make a difference by developing teaching projects centered around sustainability-related topics.
#SustainableUniMA
Amelie Maulbetsch
Education for Sustainable Development
Sabine Kußmaul. Sabine Kußmaul lächelt freundlich und trägt eine Brille passend zum Halstuch.
I will make a difference by creating the structures for a culture of diversity at the university.
#SustainableUniMA
Sabine Kußmaul
Head of the Department of Equal Opportunity and Social Diversity
 Khadija Larabi. Sie lehnt lächelnd an einem Baum, dabei trägt sie eine dunkle Bluse.
I will make a difference by working at Kinderhelden to improve educational opportunities for children.
#SustainableUniMA
Khadija Larabi
Doctoral student
Lara Reimer. Sie lächelt freundlich, trägt eine weiße Bluse und offenes Haar.
I will make a difference by designing a bee-friendly garden with bee hotels and local plants.
#SustainableUniMA
Lara Reimer
Consultant Sustainability Management
PD Dr. Katrin Menzel
I will make a difference by choosing the train instead of the car or plane when traveling in Europe for work, in order to make my contribution to sustainable mobility.
#SustainableUniMA
PD Dr. Katrin Menzel
Academic Staff
Philip Holler
I will make a difference by researching the economic efficiency of new decarbonization technologies.
#SustainableUniMA
Philip Holler
Doctoral student
Portrait von Moritz Fleischmann. Er trägt ein hellblaues Hemd und steht mit verschränkten Armen vor einem Baum.
I will make a difference by further developing the sustainability strategy of the University of Mannheim.
#SustainableUniMA
Prof. Dr. Moritz Fleischmann
Vice President for Sustainability and Information Provision
 Prof. Henning Hillmann. Er schaut freundlich drein und trägt ein blaues Jacket über einem gestreiften Hemd.
I will make a difference by looking for local and regional products when shopping for food.
#SustainableUniMA
Prof. Henning Hillmann, Ph.D.
Vice President for Research and Early-Stage Researchers
Karla Funes. Karla Funes lächelt und trägt einen blauen Blazer sowie eine weiße Bluse.
I will make a difference by applying the knowledge from my master's program in my job and private life.
#SustainableUniMA
Karla Funes
Mannheim Master in Sustainability and Impact Management
 Renke Meyer. Er trägt eine Brille und ein dunkelgrünes T-Shirt, dabei lehnt er lachend an einem Baum.
I will make a difference by organizing the AStA lecture series on climate change in the fall semester 2023.
#SustainableUniMA
Renke Meyer
Student, B.Sc. Economics
Theodor Hankammer lächelt in die Kamera. Er trägt einen dunkelblauen Pullover und steht vor einem grün bepflanzten Hintergrund.
I will make a difference by supporting the university's sustainability management in calculating the university's carbon footprint.
#SustainableUniMA
Theodor Hankammer
Student, B.Sc. Business Administration
Laura Schmitt. Laura Schmitt trägt eine weiße Bluse und lächelt.
I will make a difference by taking the train for all trips required for my semester abroad in Norway.
#SustainableUniMA
Laura Schmitt
Student, B.A. Sociology
Gerrit von Zedlitz-Neukirch steht lächelnd mit Brille und grünem Pullover vor einem Hintergrund aus grünen Blättern.
I will make a difference by analyzing in which cases and how increased corporate transparency leads to more sustainability in companies.
#SustainableUniMA
Geritt von Zedlitz
Doctoral student
Clara Schünemann. Sie steht unter einem Baum und lächelt, dabei trägt sie ein schwarz-beige gemustertes Oberteil.
I will make a difference by integrating environmental protection into my daily life and by not buying fast fashion or a car.
#SustainableUniMA
Clara Schünemann
Student, B.A. Culture and Economy: German Studies
 Lukas Dausend. Er lächelt freundlich, trägt ein weißes Hemd und eine Brille.
I will make a difference by supporting international exchange.
#SustainableUniMA
Lukas Dausend
Study Abroad and Bilateral Agreements
Nina Todorovic. Sie trägt einen schwarzen Anzug und lächelt.
I will make a difference by supporting international students coming to Mannheim with my work at the International Office.
#SustainableUniMA
Nina Todorovic
Student, Master of Comparative Business Law
Sarina Gallus. Sie trägt ein schwarz-weißes Outfit und lächelt.
I will make a difference by working for INFINITY Mannheim and by getting students excited about sustainability through events such as the Social Entrepreneurship Workshop.
#SustainableUniMA
Sarina Gallus
Student, Master's Program in Psychology: Work, Economy and Society

How are you making a difference?

All members of the university – students, teachers, researchers and administrative staff – are invited to bring their perspective to this campaign. Please contact us via the form if you would like to submit your testimonial and to take us with you on the way to a more sustainable life. We look forward to receiving your ideas, ideally based on a specific example from your professional or private everyday life. After you have given your approval, the statements will be published on this website, on the Intranet and the university’s social media channels. You do not need to submit your own photo for this. We will approach you and arrange a professional photo to be taken.

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