Funding topic 1: Sustainability communication, education and evaluation

The sustainability assessment of processes, products and services is a major challenge. This consists of developing and applying decision-making aids for the evaluation of sustainability on the basis of indicators. The teaching of appropriate competencies and systemic contexts as well as the promotion of awareness and action within the framework of education for sustainable development are the prerequisites for shaping a sustainable society. Questions about guiding values and basic ethical attitudes should also be considered. This requires the development of new methods and instruments of communication, learning, dialogue and participation, which also target children and young people in particular.

In particular, the following are eligible:

• Measures to identify and develop practical sustainability indicators;
• Development, optimization and research of practical methods and concepts of sustainability assessment;
• Measures to develop and strengthen sustainability skills, especially among multipliers;
• new methods and approaches for communicating systemic sustainability contexts and goals, especially in schools, universities and extracurricular educational institutions;
• new methodological approaches to developing and strengthening sustainability awareness, especially among children and young people;
• Develop and optimize transformative methods to strengthen sustainability action and participation (e.g., citizen science, reallabs);
• Develop and test digital methods and techniques in sustainability education.

As a rule, the following are not eligible:

• Artistic projects such as art exhibitions, performances, theater, music and dance projects, video installations, festivals, etc.
• Established, regularly recurring specialist and annual conferences, festive and anniversary events of associations, clubs, universities and companies as well as sustainability days, student conferences and symposia
• Establishment of new environmental learning sites
• Nature trails
• Educational projects in the context of regional, state, national and international garden shows
• Public relations campaigns, information dissemination, awareness raising
• Individual gardens as well as so-called world fields
• School gardens and school and kindergarten redesigns
• Projects aimed at setting up, expanding or redesigning Internet presences/websites
• Green office concepts, e.g. at universities
• Financing of third-party services/programs at schools, kindergartens, etc.
• Measures for specialist advice on environmental issues
• Established, regularly recurring exchange programs, school trips and encounter trips

As a rule, reasons for exclusion apply to such projects and/or funding would not correspond to the statutory purpose of the DBU (see funding guidelines).

Project examples from this funding topic:

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In addition to project funding, the DBU also awards doctoral scholarships to promote young scientists and fellowships for university graduates from Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).

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