On 27th and 28th of July, the University of Luxembourg will host an symposium on sustainable campus development in the Luxembourg pavilion at the Expo in Shanghai.

The Symposium ‘Better Campus, Better City: learning for a sustainable future’ asks questions central to the Expos theme ‘Better City, Better Life’.

About 25 speakers from leading universities across the globe will relate their experience and state of the art approaches to better link sustainable campus and urban development.
The symposium is co-organised by Tongji University and the International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN). After words of welcome by the heads of the three organising institutions, including UL President Rolf Tarrach and an overview on the symposium by Dr Ariane König, the General Planner of the Expo 2010 and Dean at Tongji University, Prof. Zhiqiang Siegfried Wu, will open the symposium with a keynote speech. This will highlight the links between the objectives of the symposium and the objectives of the Shanghai Expo.

The symposium will serve to explore the pivotal role University campus communities can play in fostering sustainable development of cities and in society at large. Campus communities can serve as role models and living laboratories developing technical and design solutions as well as best practices. „Universities are the drivers of the knowledge society, which will only be sustainable if it is really anchored on knowledge “, states Rolf Tarrach.
„The interest of the Symposium for Luxembourg is on three main levels. First, an outcome will be salient to the development of policies relating to green growth and coordinated sustainable development. Second, the Symposium will provide state of the art perspectives for the development of the Cité des Sciences in Belval. Last but not least, insights gained will feed into current activities on sustainable campus development at the University “, says Ariane König, head of the cell for sustainable development at the UL and lead-organiser of the Symposium.

The event will distil recommendations for urban and campus development projects from presentations by Member Organisations of the ISCN. Discussions will consider best practices from case studies from leading Universities, including Australian National University, Tongji University and the University of Tokyo.

About the Cell for Sustainable Development

The main mission of the Cell for Sustainable Development at the University of Luxembourg is to convey to students, staff and interested civil society knowledge on principles and practice of sustainable development. Life on campus shall provide opportunities for staff and students to work together to develop and implement solutions to reduce environmental impacts and improve social cohesion by drawing on different disciplines.
A strategic action plan sets out activities relating to facilities and planning, research and teaching, and civic engagement for the forthcoming years.
The core team of the Cell, headed by Dr. Ariane König is supported by a working group of about 30 members of the university. The Cell is actively contributing to the ISCN-GULF network.

More information:
www.uni.lu/sustainability/expo_2010_shanghai or contact Ariane König