insert title of presentation panel session aashe 2011: studying sustainability abroad from a...

Insert Title of Presentation

Panel session AASHE 2011:

Studying Sustainability Abroad from a European Perspective – Case Stories and Best Practices

Panel session presenters

Beth Mercer-Taylor, University of Minnesota: Short term faculty-led abroad studies

Christopher Bull, Brown University: Independent research abroad

Anette Birck, DIS – Danish Institute for Study Abroad:Study abroad semester, sustainability programs

10.10.2011 · Studying Sustainability Abroad

Why study Sustainability in Europe?

Why study abroad?

A great opportunity for students to get another perspective on how the issues of sustainability can be dealt with.

Hands-on experience and real life case studies

Why in Europe?

An option that can supplement or prepare for doing a community or service learning project in a developing country.



Why Europe?

• Environmental policy is one of the most important and far-reaching areas of EU legislation

• Continent-wide goals to improve sustainable development

• Europe 2020 Strategy (20% reduction of CO2 emission, 20% increase in renewable energy use)



Why Europe?

Many interesting and relevant case stories for students to learn from:

• Renewable Energy Systems• Waste management• District heating and combined

heat/power stations • Corporate Social Responsibility• Legislation and taxation (national

and EU level)• Public transportation• Bicycling culture (Copenhagenize)



Short term faculty-led abroad studies

Beth Mercer-Taylor, University of Minnesota


Independent Research Abroad

Christopher Bull, Brown University


Study abroad semester - Sustainability in Europe

Anette Birck, Director of Sustainability Program, DIS

What is DIS – Danish Institute for Study Aboard?


• A Danish non-profit, tuition driven, self-governing educational foundation established in 1959

• Offers high quality study abroad programs for credit transfer, taught in English, in Copenhagen

• The DIS students are American undergraduates (3rd or 4th year) from most or more selective U.S. universities.

• DIS has cooperation agreements with approximately 170 American universities. 700-800 students enroll per semester.

Semester Sustainability Programs at DIS


• Unique and cutting-edge European based programs of the highest quality

• DIS guides students to become global citizens and leaders of the future.

• DIS faculty professionals and experts in their field. Their competencies and experience are key to the student’s learning experience at DIS.

• Programs include experiential learning • hands-on elements in the core

classes, e.g. research/volunteer projects

• field studies and European study tour visits integrated into assign.



DIS offers two Sustainability and Environment programs

Sustainability in Europe program (SIE)

Science & the Environment (SE)

These programs inspire students in regards to their future career path and enhance their perspective on environmental and sustainability issues. The programs attract environmental studies and environmental science students as well as students majoring in many other topics such as political science, development studies, business, biology, architecture, urban planning etc.



Sustainability courses at DISCore courses including study tours:• Sustainable Development: Environmental, Political, and Social Issues • Climate Change from a Historical Perspective Elective courses:• Biological Conservation and Sustainability• Environmental Economics• Environmental History of Europe • Environmental Microbiology• Food systems: Ecology, Economy and Ethics• Livability in the Modern City• Renewable Energy Systems• Social Sustainability in Global Supply Chain Management• Sustainable Architecture in the Alps (with study tour)• Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility• Sustainable by Design• Sustainable Production and Consumption



Denmark is strongly committed to sustainable development:

• First country in the world to commit itself to reducing overall energy consumption

• 36% of the CPH population commutes by bike

• 20% of electricity from wind power

• Biomass (including waste) is the most important source of renewable energy in Denmark

Experiential Learning and Study Tours

• Links knowledge with practice and bridges the gap between the classroom and outside world

• Expert and professional faculty

• Field studies• National Lab for Renewable

Energy (Risø)• Copenhagen Food

Cooperation• Amagerforbrænding • Green roofs



Study tours

• 3 day tour in Western Denmark, Southern Sweden, or Northern Germany

• 6 day tour in Europe; UK (London/Devon), Germany (Hamburg/Berlin), or Netherlands (Amsterdam/Rotterdam)

Or Greenland (Science and the Environment program)


Experiential learning is also time for reflection plus training analytical skills and critical thinking



• Development and implementation of renewable energy systems

• Consultant to manufacturers, local consumer groups, and relevant initiators within renewable energy

• The Village for Green Research, where Folkecenter is situated, demonstrates practical examples of integration of several energy solutions, solar housing, water recycling systems etc. as an experimental and functional example of a future ecological society

Case Study: Nordic Folkecenter for Renewable Energy


Case Study: Hamburg European Green Capital 2011

Energy Mountain - A wasteland/landfill that has been resorted to host renewable energy installations

Train of ideas - An exhibition of sustainable ideals

HafenCity - A harbour development project


Case Study: Berlin – Urban Gardening + Ufa FabrikPrincess Garden - A temporary mobile urban garden build on a central site in Kreutzberg, Berlin that had not been in use for 50 years

Inspired by urban gardens in Cuba

Educational community project


Case Study: Totnes Transition Town

• TTT is trying to equip Totnes for

dual challenge of climate change

and peak oil

• Community approach to

sustainability

• Creative initiatives to rebuild

resiliency and cut CO2 emissions

• Totnes is the original Transition

Town


Case Study: Greenland

• Week-long program study tour to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland to learn about arctic phenomena

• Lectures on Aurora Borealis, muskoxen, caribou, Arctic flora and fauna, etc.

• Visit to Kellyville, US National Science Foundation research site for upper atmosphere

physics and chemistry

• All-day excursion and on-site lectures on the Greenlandic Ice Cap

• Discussions about climate change with researchers at KISS (Kangerlussuaq

International Science Support)10.10.2011 · Studying Sustainability Abroad

Extracurriculars and Campus Life

• Interdisciplinary seminars• Climate Seminars

focusing on different environmental issues

• Sustainability Task Force

• DIScover Sustainability Blog• 5 student editors• discoversustainability.s

quarespace.com/


Extracurriculars and Campus Life

• DIS Living and Learning Community (Green House)

• Moves beyond traditional classroom experience with high-impact experiential learning

• Students cook weekly organic meals

• Volunteer at various sustainability initiatives in Copenhagen

• Work on projects to make DIS a more sustainable community

• Host family, cultural immersion10.10.2011 · Studying Sustainability Abroad

“Sustainability is an integrated part of the Danish culture. There are so many innovative ideas that have been implemented here that we can all learn from. The DIS sustainability program is unique in that it shows so many different initiatives in a hands-on way. If you want to study sustainability, DIS is the place to do it!”Lily Fayerweather, Connecticut College, Fall 2011

Student Quotes

“The Sustainability in Europe program has given me a completely new perspective on what is possible in terms of renewable energy, community support, transportation systems and many more aspects of the environmental movement. Denmark is one of the best places to go if you want to experience and learn about a country that has successfully implemented sustainable initiatives into society.”Lauren Hoerr, Elon University, Fall 2011


Copenhagenize – biking culture

A new government was elected and formed in Denmark last week.

The leader of one of the coalition parties, Margrethe Vestager , on bicycle to the official visit with the Queen



Thank you for your attention!Anette [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

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