Awarded for the first time: TH OWL honors commitment and ideas for sustainable development

The festive event offered over 100 invited guests the opportunity to exchange ideas on sustainability topics, accompanied by a poster exhibition featuring 15 projects from the university. “Sustainability is a central guiding principle at our university,” emphasized TH-OWL President Professor Dr. Jürgen Krahl in his welcoming address. The new awards are intended not only to highlight existing commitment, but also to provide new impetus.

Following the welcoming address by TH OWL President Professor Jürgen Krahl, sustainability managers Christian Einsiedel and Dr. Christoph Harrach gave a brief presentation. They explained what global sustainable development means and how TH OWL is addressing the issue across all areas of the university.

The awards ceremony began with the presentation of the special prize. This was awarded for the design of the Sustainability Award trophy: architecture student Linda Schulte-Frankenfeld was honored in a competition organized by the Detmold School of Design at TH OWL, which was coordinated by Professor Vera Lossau. Professor Lossau emphasized that among the ideas and concepts submitted, “the favorite rose to the challenge with a great deal of time and elaborate craftsmanship. Linda's trophy enhances the old by giving it new meaning and putting it into a new form. Her consciously crafted object raises awareness and inspires reflection with its stories.” The trophy she designed is a creative work of art made from recycled materials that brings the various dimensions of sustainable development to life: ecology and society, tradition and modernity, but also aesthetics and design.

In the category “Previous Commitment,” the award went to Manfred Lux, professor of building construction and building materials at the Detmold School of Design. With his project “Rohrkolben-Leichtbaukonstruktionen” (lightweight constructions made from cattail), he is developing innovative, biodegradable building materials from the cattail plant. These can help to significantly improve the carbon footprint of construction projects and promote the circular economy. At the same time, the cultivation of these plants promotes the rewetting of moors, which bind CO₂. The jury particularly praised the holistic approach to sustainability and the exceptional innovation potential of the lightweight construction method developed. Professor Lux was delighted with this recognition: “It makes me happy because our long work is being recognized. In research, you often fail, but you also achieve a great deal, and I am grateful that this is being recognized today. Sustainability is something that is inherent in our society and culture. You can't save the world, but you can make it better in small ways. That's what we're showing today.”

Aysegül Gürleyen was awarded the prize in the “Future Ideas” category for her concept idea for the “Future Hub Höxter,” which she developed as part of her master's thesis. The graduate architect from the Detmold School of Design at TH OWL impressed with the high innovative potential of her concept, which shows how the university town of Höxter could be sustainably renovated. She focuses on the transformation and reuse of existing buildings – combined with social, energy, and urban planning perspectives. Her vision: a lively place for science and encounters.

The award ceremony does not necessarily mean that this concept will be implemented. However, the jury, consisting of Professor Natalie Bartholomäus (Bielefeld University), Professor Ingrid Hemmer (German Society for Sustainability at Universities), Michael Stolte (Society for Economic Development in the District of Höxter), and Wolfgang Marquardt (OWL GmbH), praised the quality of the conceptually successful design, which could serve as a model for other universities. Aysegül Gürleyen: “I feel very honored to receive this award. I would especially like to thank my professors. Their support was a great inspiration during my studies.”

“With the Sustainability Awards, we are creating space for recognition and inspiration: we honor concrete contributions to sustainable development and encourage people to think ahead. The commitment of our university members is a strong signal for transformation from the heart of society,” said Professor Dr. Jürgen Krahl, President of TH OWL.

The event was coordinated by the sustainability management team at TH OWL, which has been systematically promoting the university's further development in the area of sustainability since 2023.

“It is important to us that sustainability issues are put into practice at TH OWL,” emphasized Professor Dr. Yvonne-Christin Knepper-Bartel, Vice President for Education and Sustainability. "Today, the awards give an impression of how sustainability is anchored in teaching, research, and transfer. However, it is equally important in the operation and governance of our university—we are talking here about a ‘whole-institution approach.’"