Sternwarte Sustainability Group
The Sternwarte Sustainability Group was established in December 2022 and is based at the Department of Astrophysics, in the Faculty of Earth Sciences, Geography and Astronomy. The group is currently composed of over 10 team members including research staff, PhD and MSc students, and admin staff, and it mainly aims at carrying out activities and implementing improvements that could make the Sternwarte more “green” and more energy-efficient.
Sternwarte Sustainability Group Initiatives
The Sustainability Group has already successfully implemented several actions at the Sternwarte, such as promoting the installation of new bike racks with a roof to protect bicycles from rain and snow and therefore encourage their use also in non-optimal weather conditions, setting up recycling bins and battery collection boxes, helping to significantly reduce energy and gas consumption, providing returnable glass bottles “Mehrweg” for events only, promoting and increasing re-use of office furniture and creating a terrace vegetable garden.
Pilot Project Night Train Support
In 2025 and 2026, the Department of Astrophysics is running a pilot project to promote night train travel as an alternative to air travel for duty trips. The project is funded through the institute’s flight levies, which have accumulated over previous years. The aim is to make lower-emission travel options more attractive and easier to choose in practice.
Demand has been strong from the outset: in 2025, around 90% of the available funds were used for night train travel. By May 2026, approximately 75% of the annual budget had already been allocated. Several factors have contributed to this success: A key element is direct and repeated engagement with the target group, for example in regular meetings or informal exchanges. In addition, clear information, visual communication, and a straightforward administrative process play an important role in supporting uptake.
The pilot project provides strong indications that targeted financial incentives, combined with clear communication and simple procedures, can effectively support more sustainable travel choices. It offers a solid basis for considering similar measures at university level.
Recipient of the 2026 univie award for Sustainability
Green University - Nachhaltige Universität
(C) Andrea Socci
Current Team Members
Tim Bliek, Oliver Czoske, Laurane Fréour, Shivam Joshi, Lilly Kormann, Efrem Maconi, Gwenaëlle van Looveren, Petra Schönfelder, Ivan Stanković
