INNACH – UR’s New Study on Sustainability

• Research
• Human Sciences
• Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
• Economic Sciences
• Sustainability

Why do we find sustainable behavior so difficult?

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7 July 2023

Analyzing the impact of mindfulness interventions on sustainable behavior at the University of Regensburg (UR), with a particular focus on dietary behavior: This is the main objective of UR’s new project "From inner sustainability to sustainable behavior at universities - INNACH".  On 4 July, the study’s interdisciplinary core team - Professor Dr. Petra Jansen (Sports Science), Dr. Carmen Jochem (Medicine), Professor Dr. Lea Cassar (Economics), Professor Dr. Gunther Hirschfelder (Cultural Studies), and Ann-Kathrin Roßner (UR Green Office) - started the project with a kick-off-meeting.

INNACH is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). It described UR’s project as "practice-relevant, innovative and ambitious". Following the concept development phase, which will be completed by November 2023, the key topics sustainable behavior, well-being, planetary health, stress reduction, and psychological variables will be measured for one semester, starting in 2024. The study will focus on the different status groups within the University.

Healthy and sustainable living: The BMBF-funded UR study INNACH analyzes why we find sustainable behavior so difficult. Credit: Julia Dragan/UR

Participants from sports sciences, cultural sciences, medicine, UR’s Green Office, UR’s Center for University and Academic Teaching (ZHW), University Sports, the Studentenwerk Niederbayern/Oberpfalz, UR's personnel development as well as representatives of "Mindful Students Regensburg" and the "Center for Mindfulness and Resilience in Regensburg" participated in the meeting. Professor Dr. Andreas Roider, UR’s Representative for Sustainability, explained the study’s relevance and how it is supported by UR’s Executive Board. Dr. Ute Thiermann, social scientist from Berlin, presented her research on mindfulness and gave insights into the topic.

Together with the support of research and students assistants, the team will start working on the project's theoretical concept as well as the methodology for linking and measuring mindfulness and sustainable behavior. The workshop offered first opportunities for an open exchange, questions and feedback.