The Summer School 2026: Sustainability & Innovation, hosted at the Environmental Campus Birkenfeld (ECB) from 26 July to 1 August 2026, brought together international students to explore sustainable development and innovative solutions to global challenges through lectures, site visits, and collaborative project work.
A key part of the programme was the Sustainability & Innovation Workshop, designed and led by Dr. Ana-Maria Boromisa. Students worked in interdisciplinary teams on challenges related to energy systems, circular economy, water management, sustainable mobility, and campus sustainability. Following an initial systems-mapping exercise, teams developed innovative solution concepts and transformed them into structured project proposals.
During the intensive Innovation Challenge, participants created technical concepts, business models, sustainability impact assessments, and prototypes, while strengthening their teamwork and problem-solving skills in an international environment. The workshop concluded with team presentations, where students pitched their solutions and received feedback from evaluators before being awarded certificates.
The programme provided participants with valuable hands-on experience in sustainability innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the development of practical solutions to real-world environmental challenges.
