EURECA-PRO
ONLINE Lecture Series IV

1 November 2022

Objectives of the Lecture Series

EURECA-PRO – European University on Responsible Consumption and Production is starting the fourth free online lecture series consists of 14 lectures presented by leading professors and researchers.

The Lectures are intended to provide an introduction and initial overview of the multi-faceted nature of responsible consumption and production illustrated by the following thematic areas:
  • Sustainable Development Goals
  • European Union and Culture
  • Responsible Mining Approach
  • Circular Economy
  • Sustainability and Energy Technologies
  • Key role of materials in responsible production
Innovative solutions for current issues of society and industry focusing on United Nation Sustainable Development Goal 12 “Responsible Consumption and Production” are drafted. The lectures are open for all students, researchers and academic staff.

This lecture series focuses on “Responsible Consumption” and will be presented by 15 leading professors and researchers of nine European universities from eight countries. The lectures are open for students, researchers and academic staff.
Students from EURECA-PRO partner universities can take the series as a free elective and receive five credit points.

Certificates

All participants can get a Certificate of Attendance for each lecture!

The lecture series is one part of the module „Introduction to Sustainable Development Goal 12 in its economic, social, environmental and technology dimensions“. Recognition with 5 ECTS credits can be granted if 11 lectures are attended, an online test is taken at the end and a study paper is written. The paper should comprise 10 pages and show the student’s understanding of SDG 12, describe the major of study and show a research approach towards applications of relevant dimensions of SDG12 to this major. We will send necessary information and conditions of participation until the end of November to anyone who has expressed interest by registering.
More information

Topics of the 4th Lecture Series

The lecture series 2022/2023 will start in November 2022. The series will consist of the following 14 lectures on Responsible Consumption with a focus on private household consumption:

Topic
Definition of sustainability within the 21 century

DI. Alexander Griebler,
Montanuniversität Leoben

Topic
Circular Economy for Dummies

Prof. Dr. Tom Kuppens,
Hasselt University

Topic
How green is “green consumption”?

Sarah Kollnig, PhD,
Montanuniversität Leoben
Topic
Creative Re-use
Prof. Konstantinos-Alketas Oungrinis,
Technical University of Crete
Topic
On the Sustainability of Photovoltaic Solar Energy
Prof. Dr. Bart Vermang,
Hasselt University
Topic
Analysis of sustainable behaviors through web scraping and artificial intelligence
Sofía Blanco Moreno,
University Leon
Topic
Digitalization and Responsibility: Authorship, Ownership, and Data Security
Dr. Gunter Süß,
Mittweida University of Applied Sciences

Topic
Energy Crisis and Future Cities

Prof. Denia Kolokotsa,
Technical University of Crete
Topic
Historicizing Responsible Consumption: Political, Ethical and Cultural Perspectives in the Anglophone World
Prof. Dr. habil. Stéphane Guy,
Université de Lorraine

Topic
An overview of economic ideas on consumption

more details
Prof Dr. Ecem Okan,
Université de Lorraine
Topic
Digital technologies in infrastructure design and management
more details
Prof. Marek Salamak,
Silesian University of Technology
Topic
Self-generation and self-use of energie (heat, cold and electricity): an overview of frameworks, technologies and their applications
more details
Dr. Thomas Grab,
TU Bergakademie Freiberg
Topic
Is glass a sustainable material?
more details
Prof. David Horwat,
Université de Lorraine
14thFebruary | 11:00–12:30CET
Topic
Shifting Responsibility – A Behavioral Ethics Perspective
more details

Prof. Dr. Gari Walkowitz,
TU Bergakademie Freiberg
16th February | 11:00–12:30CET

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An overview of economic ideas on consumption

Dr. Ecem Okan, Université de Lorraine | 24 January 2023 | 14:00 - 15:30 CET
This lecture will provide an overview of economic ideas on consumption, spanning from Veblen’s concept of conspicuous consumption to the more recent concepts of (un)sustainable consumption. After showing the coupling and decoupling of consumption and welfare throughout the history of economic thought, we will discuss the plausible idea of reducing consumption without negative welfare effects. Ecem Okan’s field of research is history of economic thought. More specifically, she works on the relation of economics and philosophy of history through the works of David Hume and Adam Smith in particular, and the Scottish Enlightenment in general.

Digital technologies in infrastructure design and management

Professor Marek Salamak, Silesian University of Technology | 31 January 2023 | 14:00 - 15:30 CET
The lecture will provide an introduction into the threats and opportunities of digital society and construction bridging the limitations of traditional construction. The role of building information modeling (BIM) in the construction illustrates the idea of construction 4.0 and supports the life cycle of infrastructure objects due to its graphic and generative programming. Furthermore, general technological development of artificial intelligence, structure monitoring and digital twins, the virtual /mixed reality, the robotization of construction as well as the infrastructure asset management will be highlighted. Marek Salamak is involved as leading CAD and BIM expert in the digitization of construction industry.

Self-generation and self-use of energie (heat, cold and electricity): an overview of frameworks, technologies and their applications

Dr. Thomas Grab, TU Bergakademie Freiberg | 7th February 2023 | 14:00 - 15:30 CET
The lecturer will talk about self-generation and self-use of energy (heat, cold and electricity) and provides an overview of technologies and their applications. A further highlight consists of the question how green energies can be combined. Examples of mine water plants and autonomous houses will be illustrated and heat pump systems will be introduced. Thomas Grab is head of the Process Engineering Material and Process Data working group at the Chair of Technical Thermodynamics and the scientific diving centre Freiberg.

Is glass a sustainable material?

Prof. David Horwat, researcher at Université de Lorraine | 14th February 2023 | 11:00 - 12:30 CET
The use of synthetic glass as a material by humans can be traced back to ca. 2500 BC. Initially essentially used for decorative purposes, glass has progressively evolved towards a material hosting various functional properties, thereby offering services to human societies. Yet, with the current multiple transitions (energetic, ecological, …) that human societies are experiencing, one may wonder whether glass is sustainable or, more precisely, under which conditions it could be considered as sustainable. This lecture aims at investigating this question. After a brief historical introduction and reviewing the basic principles underlying the formation of technological glass, we will investigate the environmental impact of glass depending on specific functions to be met and compare it with other materials. David Horwat‘s expertise is on the physical chemistry of inorganic functional thin films for energy applications.

Shifting Responsibility - A Behavioral Ethics Perspective

Prof. Dr. Gari Walkowitz, TU Bergakademie Freiberg | 16th February 2023 | 11:00 - 12:30 CET
In this lecture, we will illustrate the need for a behavioral approach to ethics which, complementary to normative considerations, enriches our understanding of how economic agents (can) make moral decisions. Using the example of moral hypocrisy, we will discuss how firms can effectively shift social responsibility through “figleafing” tactics to deceive their socially-minded stakeholders. The lecture shall help to better understand the conditions under which firms (can) shift their social responsibility by using fig leaves in the pro social domain, when this behavior may or may not be helpful in protecting their social image. Students will also be informed about whether such figleafing is effective and about its detrimental social consequences. Gari Walkowitz‘s research lies in the fields of behavioral ethics, economic psychology, and organizational behavior. He is interested in better understanding how personal dispositions, situational factors, and institutional frameworks interact and shape (un)ethical behavior.