25 years study program Environmental Engineering

Interdisciplinary and successful

The study program Environmental Engineering was successful and was a pioneer in the interdisciplinary orientation of the University of Stuttgart, emphasised Prof. Oliver Röhrle, Vice Dean of the Faculty 2: Civil and Environmental Engineering. Initiated by the "founding father" Prof. Karl Heinz Hunken, once Rector of the University of Stuttgart and Director of the Institute of Sanitary Engineering and Water Quality Management, the course started in the summer semester of 1994 with around 40 students switching from the civil engineering and mechanical engineering courses. It was supported by 45 institutes from 10 of 14 faculties. A "child" born 2001 has been the successful English-language master's programme WASTE (Air Quality Control, Solid Waste and Waste Water Process Engineering).

The study program Environmental Engineering can now boast 2,000 graduates who, as specialized generalists, face the challenges of the present and the future. 50 percent of current graduates are female. "It is important to continue the study program in its current form, and the motto 'The future is taking place today' is as relevant as ever," explained Prof. Martin Kranert, Chairman of the Joint Commission for Environmental Engineering.

Visions for a future-oriented development

At the beginning of his lecture, Prof. Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker stated that Environmental Engineering is important for any "normal technology" to function. Nevertheless, ecology has deteriorated and biodiversity is declining. One of the greatest dangers for the environment is agriculture, he explained. In view of the added value of one euro, which is equivalent to 2.24 euros in losses, he said: "Agri-environmental technology would be important".

Since people are only prepared to recognize truths when they feel them themselves, von Weizsäcker called on politicians to act. For example, the danger posed by rising sea levels is simply repressed. This would result in up to 200 million refugees. With regard to global warming, von Weizsäcker drew a comparison with doctors who make a reasonable prognosis but prescribe completely idiotic therapeutic approaches.

Von Weizsäcker explained that an important point is to make the consumption of nature more expensive, and bans are actually drivers of innovation that not only benefit the environment, but also companies. At the beginning of the 1990s, for example, Sweden's industry experienced a wave of modernisation as a result of taxes designed to help reduce air pollutants.

Sustainability can be cool

In the engaged discussion round alumni and students of the study programme and Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker, Prof. Jan Paul Lindner from the Department of Sustainability in Engineering at the Bochum University of Applied Sciences, in view of the fact that all forecasts were made earlier than expected, demanded: "We must be aware of the finiteness of the planet".

Claus Lang-Koetz, Professor of Sustainable Technology and Innovation Management at Pforzheim University of Applied Sciences, stressed that a change in behaviour was important because technology alone was not enough. Communicating that sustainability can be cool is also a concern of Vincent Dapper, who is studying Environmental Engineering at the University of Stuttgart, like Franziska Rehle, who sees the government as responsible. "To do what is morally right should become more profitable," emphasized Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker. Prof. Wolfgang Nowak from the Chair of Stochastic Simulation and Safety Research for Hydrosystems at the University of Stuttgart said that there was no solution to the problem, but "we can train people here to work on solutions".

The course director Andreas Sihler, who has accompanied the course since its foundation, organised the "family celebration" together with alumni and students. With discussions, films, photo shows, sketches and live music, the anniversary celebration of the environmental protection technicians lasted well into the night.