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Hamburg Sustainability WeekBringing Sustainability to Life with the University of Hamburg
7 July 2026, by Newsroom-Redaktion
Photo: Hamburg Sustainability Week
To draw attention to the immense ecological value of this continent, climate activist Luisa Neubauer, along with scientists from various countries, embarked on a mission to Antarctica in January 2026 aboard the research sailing ship “Malizia Explorer,” owned by the well-known sailor Boris Herrmann. The two gave a presentation about their experience at the university.
Photo: Hamburg Sustainability Week
Two years ago, Luisa Neubauer joined the University of Hamburg virtually during Sustainability Week. Now she was here live with sailor Boris Herrmann to talk about their voyage together.
Photo: Martha-Theresa Koch/F. Laeisz GmbH
As part of Sustainability Week, the F. Laeisz Award for Maritime Innovation was also presented: Dr. Lucas Merckelbach and Dr. Prokopios Georgopanos from the winning project at the Helmholtz Center Hereon, Senator for the Environment and Second Mayor Katharina Fegebank, Prof. Dr. Laura Marie Edinger-Schons, Chief Sustainability Officer and Professor of Sustainable Business at the University of Hamburg, Prof. Dr. Jetta Frost, Vice President of the University of Hamburg, and Ute Schües, Head of Sustainability, F. Laeisz GmbH (from left to right)
Photo: UHH/Gawron
Erik Gawron (left), the University of Hamburg’s bicycle coordinator, cycled 14 kilometers with participants in “Sustainability in Motion – Experience, Discourse & Co-Creation” from the Tiny House on the Von-Melle-Park campus to Gut Karlshöhe.
Photo: Hamburger Klimaschutzstiftung
At the event held at Gut Karlshöhe, the sustainability prospects of other universities were also discussed, including those of the Technical University of Hamburg, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, the Hamburg Distance Learning University, and HafenCity University Hamburg.
For one week during Hamburg Sustainability Week and the Hamburg Sustainability Conference, sustainability issues took center stage in the Hanseatic city. The University of Hamburg also participated in various events and hosted its own.
Climate activist Luisa Neubauer and sailor Boris Herrmann filled a large lecture hall in the university’s main building, where they spoke to an audience of about 400 people about their Antarctic expedition aboard the research sailing ship “Malizia Explorer.” University President Prof. Dr. Hauke Heekeren, Vice President Prof. Dr. Jetta Frost, and Chief Sustainability Officer Prof. Dr. Laura Marie Edinger-Schons took part in various events. A highlight was the presentation of the first F. Laeisz Award for Maritime Innovation, which the University of Hamburg awarded in collaboration with F. Laeisz GmbH.
The topic really gained momentum at “Sustainability in Motion – Experience, Discourse & Co-Creation”—a new format developed by the University of Hamburg’s Sustainability Office in collaboration with the Hamburg Climate Protection Foundation for Education and Sustainability and the Master Plan ESD 2030 at Gut Karlshöhe. Many participants rode their bikes together from the university to the event venue. Once there, the panel discussion focused on the role sustainability should play in future studies and teaching.
(This content has been translated automatically.)
