The Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) wants to become a role model in research, education, and institutional governance. Thus, we recognize our duty to implement an ambitious and impactful sustainability strategy that reflects the concerns of our scientists, students, and employees.
We comprehend the alerting reports of the International Panel of Climate Change (IPCC) and are aware of the urgent need for systemic transformation in response to the climate crisis, environmental destruction, and the likelihood of subsequent ecological collapse [1]. The Institute is committed to keeping the +1.5°C degree global warming goal of the Paris Climate Agreement [2], while being aware of the scope of this major challenge.
“If it is called radical to take scientific evidence serious,
then yes, I want to be considered radical.”
Georg Schneider, Managing Director © Peter Rigaud/ISTA
At ISTA, we believe that sustainability is certainly about reducing our own environmental footprint – but not just that. It is about fostering a more just and equitable world too. Beyond measures on campus, our sustainability strategy aims to raise awareness among our community and in society about the issues, solutions, and benefits of sustainability measures. In addition, we want to provide knowledge that is necessary to enable systemic change towards a healthier society.
A long way ahead
Despite ISTA’s recent establishment, we already require improvements on many levels, ranging from energy efficiency to encouraging participation across the whole campus community in this collective endeavor. The sustainability strategy addresses such fields of action. In 2023, we will:
- Develop a concept for re-usage/recycling of equipment
- Modernize traveling guideline
- Conduct commuting study
- Raise awareness on Campus
As a scientific institution, we are fully committed to transparency in all of our efforts. We also strive to attract the most talented and dedicated researchers and students who are passionate about making a positive impact on the world.
Together, we can make a difference!
Green Meetings
Scientific communication and collaboration are key to share gathered knowledge and to facilitated novel discoveries. Meetings, gatherings, outreach events and publications have been key in the success of basic research but have a substantial environmental footprint. To reduce our impact as much as possible we aim to conduct events on campus as environmental friendly as possible and conduct several events as “Green Meetings”
Green Meeting Information for Participants
Mobility/Arrival
Find information on how to get to the ISTA campus here.
Certified Locations
- Raiffeisen lecture Hall.
- The Raiffeisen Lecture Hall adjoining the Central Building is a state-of-the-art lecture hall with a maximum capacity of 200 seats
- Accessibility Statement
- Moonstone Building
- The Moonstone Building opened in summer 2023. In addition to laboratory and office space it provides space for the new VISTA science education program to hold student workshops and teacher training sessions on 12,000 m². It also houses a state-of-the-art seminar center for scientific conferences holding 400 people.
- Accessibility Statement
Accessibility
It is very important to us to make events barrier-free. We look forward to your enquiries so that we can best meet your and the participants’ individual needs. Please find more information in our general accessibility guide for the ISTA campus.
Waste separation
Dispose of your waste (residual waste, PET, glass, paper, metal, batteries & accumulators, etc.) via the separate collection offered at the event.
Hotels
If possible, please choose an environmentally certified hotel (Austrian Eco-label, European Ecolabel, EMAS, etc.) and use the environmentally friendly services offered by your hotel (change towels and sheets only when necessary, etc.). Switch off all lights and electronic devices (TV, air conditioning, heating, computer, etc.) when leaving the hotel room temporarily.
Drinking water at ISTA
Refill your empty drinking bottle with tap water again and again instead of buying a new drinking bottle. The water on campus is of drinking quality.
Reusables
Reusable is environmental protection: Prefer openly served drinks, food on dishes, milk and sugar without portion packaging, etc. Refrain from using disposable PET water bottles and use a reusable bottle instead.
Writing utensils
Use your own writing utensils or laptop/tablet.
Program
Call up the program of the event online on the website instead of printing it out. This way you always have the current program.
Name badges
Return your badges or name tags to the registration desk after the end of the event if you have received any.
Green Meeting Information for Organizers
Key infos
- Incorporate the green criteria from the beginning when organizing a meeting to make sure the certification is done in time and it is included in all communication (emails, website, etc.).
- Travel, catering and hotels comprise the bulk of the footprint of a scientific meeting or event. Organizing a green meeting will mean that all parts of the event will need to full fill certain criteria. List of the criteria can be found here.
- Provide sustainable travel options and promote the ISTA shuttle bus and public transport as much as possible. If taxi or flights are needed, specify the greenest option available. When planning the meeting also to care of people with special needs, so it is accessible for all.
- Vegetarian, organic and local food caterings are preferred. Please ask the events team for caterers that fulfill these criteria, or find a list of certified caterers here.
- Please use or advertise hotels that have been certified. Details and a list of hotels can be found here.
Support and contacts
Please contact the events team as soon as possible when planning your meeting because this needs to be implemented and communicated from the beginning.
For more general information about sustainability at ISTA and support for green events please contact the sustainability office.
Certified events
We are currently in the process of getting our license and aim at organizing events according to the criteria of the Austrian Ecolabel for Green Meetings.
Created with ISTA’s spokespersons for this important topic, Florian Schlederer and Yi-Ling Hwong.
Florian Schlederer, ISTA Communications & Climate Book Author
Yi-Ling Hwong, Climate Scientist & Science Communicator
Read our Sustainability Stories:
Sources
[1] Hagedorn et al. (2019): Concerns of young protesters are justified. Science Vol. 364, Iss. 6434, pp. 139-140:
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aax3807 [2] Paris Climate Agreement:
https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/the-paris-agreement
