SUSTAIN IT! is a student-led initiative at Freie Universität Berlin founded in 2010 to promote sustainability through interdisciplinary collaboration. It brings together students, researchers, and administrative staff to establish sustainable practices, encourage discourse on sustainability issues, and inspire sustainable lifestyles. SUSTAIN IT! organizes numerous annual events that engage over 2,000 participants in activities like performances, discussions, and workshops. It also develops project courses for students and carries out initiatives like community gardening and bee habitat creation to green the campus. The group's goal is to make the university a leader in sustainability through participatory action and cross-sector partnerships.

1. SUSTAIN IT!
Initiative for Sustainability + Climate Protection
www.fu-berlin.de/sustain-it

2. 2ISCN Student Leadership Award 2015
OUR STORY
 Founded in 2010 SUSTAIN IT! is a joint initiative of students from different
faculties and researchers of the Environmental Policy Research Centre (FFU)
as well as administrative staff of the Unit for Sustainability and Energy
Management.
 We act as a team, work on a voluntary basis and come from different
backgrounds.

3. 3ISCN Student Leadership Award 2015
OUR OBJECTIVES
 establish sustainable courses of action in research, education and
administration
 promote the interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary discourse on sustainability
 develop innovative learning, teaching, and participation formats
 inspire and encourage sustainable lifestyle choices
 build bridges between stakeholders from inside and outside the university

4. 4ISCN Student Leadership Award 2015
OUR NETWORK

5. 5ISCN Student Leadership Award 2015
Our Activities
2010 – 2015

6. 6ISCN Student Leadership Award 2015
Multiday events to foster participation
through dialogue, art performances, and
activities.
More than 25 events each year.
2,000 active participants from across the
campus interacted with 35 partners.
Activities included: theater performances,
a swap shop, unplugged concerts, science
slams, cooking events, World Café, panel
discussions.
Campus Days 2011 + 2012

7. 7ISCN Student Leadership Award 2015
Public Lecture Series 2013/ Open
Auditorium
 Through 13 lectures and podium discussions we
connected sustainability research and projects at
the university and made them visible to 35-80
people per session.
 Participants included administrative staff and
students, researchers as well as interested
persons from the public.
“From Knowledge to Transformation – Sustainability as a
Challenge for University and Society“

8. 8ISCN Student Leadership Award 2015
Project Courses: Including Sustainability in
Students Curricula
Course (2013/14): From Knowledge to Action – the Social-
Ecological Transformation During Times of Multiple Crises
The aim was to promote creative capacities in education. 22 students
engaged in an inter- and transdisciplinary setting, using methods like Design
Thinking and launched five projects in cooperation with external stakeholders,
e.g.: a Food Coop, reusable water bottles, an energy lab for school children
as well as the gardening project “Think globally, act balcony!”.
Course (2014 – 2015): Green Meetings
25 students and experts from the university, local initiatives, and businesses
explored the facets of sustainable event management. With input from the
experts, students prepared building blocks for a green meetings guide,
customized for Freie Universität Berlin, which will be finalized in collaboration
with the university administration.

9. 9ISCN Student Leadership Award 2015
Greening the Campus
UniGardening
The project UniGardening was initiated in cooperation with project
workshops of Technische Universität Berlin and the Botanical Garden in
2013. The aim is to demonstrate the possibilities of sustainable
agriculture and self-supply within a transdisciplinary team, as well as to
create a green teaching and meeting place.
Coloring the Student Meadow
In fall of 2014 we planted 13,500 early blooming flower bulbs on campus
to raise awareness for wild bees in a hands-on activity. Over the course of
two days, around 200 people participated. This spring the meadow was in
full bloom and we added two fields of summer flowers. A bee hotel was
built in cooperation with the Student Union and a local NGO in June 2015.

10. 10ISCN Student Leadership Award 2015
SUSTAIN IT!:
Participation through Action –
Collaborating for a Sustainable
University

11. This is us in action:
FindtheVideoonline:
http://youtu.be/pEDTlmFsTF0
Thank you for the honor of us awarding us with
the Student Leadership Award!