SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The seminar introduces students to aspects of socially responsible and sustainable research and innovation, establishing connections with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 9, 10, 11, and 13. The focus will be particularly on exploring the challenges of sustainable urban development (SDG 11). Students will be encouraged to adopt a transdisciplinary approach when addressing engineering-related issues, taking into account gender and diversity perspectives. Moreover, they will gain an understanding of the importance of fostering an open innovation ecosystem that emphasizes the exchange of knowledge and ideas between the scientific community and civil society.

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Especially in the context of urban and rural communities, engineering solutions can only be effective and sustainable if they reflect the needs of a diverse society. The course analyses the interrelationships between engineering sciences, social practices and their culture in the context of gender and diversity. The course discusses to what extent cultural aspects of gender and diversity have a significant impact on who becomes an engineer, which problems are addressed and how the execution and quality of problem solutions, designs, technologies and products are affected.

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Resilience is closely linked to the guiding principle of sustainable development and is explicitly addressed in various SDGs. 

Particularly in view of increasing natural and environmental disasters, dealing with complexity and uncertainty is becoming more relevant. This requires the design and planning of adaptive infrastructures.

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The seminar teaches the theoretical concepts of social responsibility, sustainability and resilience. The concept of resilience especially is discussed by the example of "resilient cities". Students will also learn to apply and reflect on the concepts conveyed to practical, highly topical case studies of socio-technical developments, for example in the field of urban mobility (car sharing, e-scooters, etc.).

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As part of a mobility transition towards more sustainable and socially inclusive forms of mobility in cities, cycling connects to all dimensions of sustainability. However, many factors must be taken into account to strengthen cycling. To better address the issue of cycling safety, concepts of diversity, inclusion and equity and greater trans- and interdisciplinary collaboration are needed to better integrate civil society engagement and diversity perspectives into research on cycling mobility.

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The interdisciplinary project integrates various aspects regarding the design of future mobility systems and forms. In addition to technical and infrastructural possibilities, individual mobility needs in terms of inclusion and equality as well as environmental compatibility on a local, regional and global scale are considered in order to shape sustainable mobility.

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Diversity and a non-discriminatory, inclusive working environment offer a multitude of opportunities and social as well as economic advantages in innovation processes. In this context, the implementation of diversity management in engineering-based research networks is examined.

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The activities within the RRI Hub promote a socially responsible and sustainable orientation of research, innovation and teaching. In the spirit of an open innovation ecosystem, a cooperation between science and civil society is facilitated, e.g. by providing the local urban society and students with living lab spaces to meet and experiment.

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The mobility turnaround towards a more sustainable and livable design of the public space
requires, among other things, the redesign of urban traffic spaces and a departure from the car-oriented city. The increased desire of citizens for a sustainable transformation of urban space towards a city of the future requires the uncovering of public space, so that urban space can be created for their own concepts and citizens can once again move more freely and safely in traffic. The Living Lab Templergraben represents such a measure for a more sustainable and livable design of public space in Aachen.

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