"Green Germany"

Abstract

As the concern over Global Climate Change (GCC) continues to grow and the emphasis on energy efficiency, sustainability, and resilient communities becomes stronger, the need for expanded opportunities to learn about sustainability concepts and methodologies also becomes more apparent. It is, however, difficult to limit such a curriculum to one discipline. Interdisciplinary study is needed to work on solving complex problems such as sustainability. As the United States struggles to develop its own energy policy, among other environmental initiatives and debates, ideas can be gleaned from looking abroad. I spent the spring of 2011 developing sustainability and environmental curriculum modules based on case studies, policies, cultural norms, conversations with and research by field leaders in German-speaking countries. These modules are the preparatory work for a future German sustainability course, which will help to bridge the German Studies major with other University programs including topics from the Environmental Science, Policy, and Management major, as well as the Sustainability Studies Minor. The modules will help open opportunities for language majors, in addition to moving University curriculum forward by connecting the increasingly important sustainability concerns to a wider variety of students.