Sustainability is a very divided term. Some see it as a life’s work, others as an absolute non-word. Does it make sense to use your coffee cup several times in the cafeteria when the light is permanently on in the SL building next door? Should you cycle to college while your neighbor just starts the SUV to get a cigarette?
Getting started
It seems a little absurd. But someone has to start sometimes. And that’s why we are looking forward to more and more projects in this direction. The most recent candidate, for example, is the project with the handy name “Environmental Communication Concept for Sufficient Mobility Behavior: Using Instead of Owning”. Doesn’t sound quite sexy, but it’s a great project! 😉
The team led by Prof. Dr. Griese, Prof. Dr. Kumbruck, Christin Michaelis and Alexander Piwowar has been addressing the issue since April 2015 and putting our mobility behaviour to the test in order to promote CO2 reduction. Students have the unique opportunity to take part in a pilot study. The aim is to research which means of transport you use when and for what purpose or why not. The main question to be clarified here is: What barriers are there to sustainable mobility? In the study, the team is testing an interactive app and creating a communication concept for CO2-reducing behavioural change. Now the question may also be asked: Sufficient mobility behavior? Huh?! “Suffizient” means “frugal” and is in principle intended to highlight the extent to which a frugal and environmentally friendly approach to mobility is perceived as attractive. So the whole thing is based on the strategy that a certain need for consumption (for example, the car ride to Münster) can be reduced without feeling a loss. But honestly, who wants to go to Münster?! 😉
And how does the project work?
The study is being carried out in cooperation with Stadtwerke Osnabrück . The subject of research is your mobility behavior. This means cycling to the university, walking into the city, taking the bus to her girlfriend and driving to her parents. Participants in the study document their positive and negative experiences and otherwise behave quite normally on the way from A to B. A new app including the associated “Mobile Card for Students” helps to find the best connections and combine different means of transport. With this mobile card from the municipal utilities, you have the following advantages, for example:
- Environmental subscription XXL: This means that you can also take one person with you during the week from 7:00 p.m. – and not only on weekends
- You have a monthly credit of 20 euros for CarSharing in Osnabrück
- You can take your bike with you on the bus for free and use the bike station at the train station
- 10% voucher at three bike dealers
This “mobile card for students” is only a prototype and of course costs a few thalers. In addition to using this card, you will take part in a workshop as a test subject during the block week starting November 2nd – and this will also be credited to you as a regular block week in the form of credits! After that, the actual practical phase begins – the field test, in which you document your behavior for two weeks.
Be part of it!
We can absolutely understand if you now feel like participating in this awesome project. And that’s no problem! You can register for the study here. Please note that binding participation is only effective if you have registered for the corresponding block week. If you have any further questions, just contact Alexander Piwowar from the Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences (phone 0541 969-3915).
The supporters
The project is funded by the German Federal Environmental Foundation. Located near Pagenstecherstraße in Osnabrück, it is important to the foundation to promote the development and use of new environmentally friendly technologies and products. They want to promote people’s environmental awareness with the aim of positive behavioural changes and therefore support this exemplary project.
Be a role model
This project aims to better understand our mobility behaviour and positively influence it through innovative offers and appropriate communication. It is running as a model project at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences and there are even plans to transfer the results to other universities. The goals of the Osnabrück master plan “Climate Protection 2050” must also be considered here. This envisages reducing CO2 emissions by 95% and saving 50% of energy consumption by 2050.
A well-rounded thing and we are looking forward to results!