With the introduction of the new specialisation in the Master's in Chemistry "Sustainable Chemistry" in the winter semester 2024/25, the University of Regensburg (UR) is setting an important accent in the field of sustainable sciences. The Faculty of Chemistry is thus giving students the opportunity to study topics relating to environmentally friendly and resource-conserving chemical processes in greater depth. The programme is aimed at students who are interested in developing chemical solutions that are less harmful to the environment and at the same time take society's requirements into account.
Making chemical processes more environmentally friendly
The focus on sustainable chemistry is a response to current challenges such as climate change, resource consumption and environmental pollution. The aim is to provide students with knowledge that they can use in their future careers to make chemical processes more environmentally friendly. This also involves reflecting on the social responsibility associated with chemical research and development.
Sustainable chemistry is crucial to meeting the growing challenges of environmental protection, resource scarcity and human health. In the past, the conventional chemical industry has often contributed to environmental pollution, high energy consumption and waste production. To counteract these negative influences, sustainable chemistry focuses on developing environmentally friendly processes and materials that are ecologically compatible, resource-efficient and health-friendly. The recycling of chemical products is also being promoted.
"Step towards a responsible society"
"By switching to sustainable chemical practices, we can not only reduce the impact on our environment, but also secure the long-term availability of raw materials and promote innovative solutions to global challenges such as climate change and pollution. In this respect, sustainable chemistry is not only a scientific necessity, but also a decisive step towards a sustainable and responsible society," emphasises Dr Eva Müller, Research Associate at the Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry.
The University of Regensburg is sending out a strong signal for responsible science with the new Master's degree programme. With this forward-looking degree programme, it is helping to train a generation of chemists who are actively involved in solving global challenges and making tomorrow's world more sustainable.
In the summer semester of 2025, the UR launched its new supplementary degree programme "Shaping Sustainability" for students from all disciplines: the programme is a successful addition to the cross-faculty courses on offer. Over the course of three semesters, in addition to their actual studies, students develop important key skills for shaping current transformation processes on the path to greater sustainability.
Further information on the additional degree programme "Shaping Sustainability"