Our location on the island of Poel, the campus in Malchow, was the first port of call for the international students and their supervisors on ‘Wismar Day’. An experimental lecture used small experiments to teach participants about the possible uses of renewable resources. These included their use as materials (detergents, medical devices or dietary supplements, etc.) and as energy sources (fuels, biogas, etc.). A highlight was the guided tour of the show garden. Thank you to Prof. Hillmann and the entire team of the Chemistry and Bioprocess Engineering/Biotechnology department of our Faculty of Engineering, who not only answered each of the numerous questions in the laboratories with expert knowledge and background information, but also provided helpful tips.
Of course, after lunch together in the canteen, a city tour of the Hanseatic city was also on the agenda.
Afterwards, the international students visited the Solar Centre MV in Wietow, south of Wismar. Awarded the German Solar Prize and recognised by the UN, the Solar Centre serves as an international communication and meeting centre for applied research and product development. On site, the SustainMV participants learned a great deal about the practical application of state-of-the-art technologies for generating solar power, heat and cooling, as well as their impact on quality of life. The focus was on the diverse applications of solar energy in architecture, horticulture, agriculture and forestry.
After dinner together on campus – also organised by our International Office – the international students were driven back to Stralsund, where the 14-day face-to-face programme will conclude on Friday, 5 September 2025.
The unique SustainMV event is a joint project of six universities that have made sustainability their priority. These are: the University of Greifswald, the University of Rostock, the Rostock University of Music and Theatre, the University of Wismar, the University of Stralsund and the University of Neubrandenburg. Since 2021, all state universities in MV have been promoting north-east Germany as a location for sustainability education, research and business.