Dates
| weekly | Thursday | 10:15 - 13:45 | 12.10.2026 - 29.01.2027 | C 7.319 Seminarraum |
Curriculum context
Two page-manuscript about the case study worked in groups during the semester (50%)
Resit date: No resit date will be offered to this assessment, because it is didactically inseparably connected with one of the associated courses. A resit will only be possible, if the module is available again.
Organizational information
Registration
Registration does not begin until 02.10.2026 at 08:00. It ends on 12.10.2026 at 23:59.
The registration is restricted to the following fields or courses of study:
- Leuphana Bachelor / Major Environmental and Sustainability Studies (bis Studienbeginn WiSe 25/26) / nur ab Semester 7
- Leuphana Bachelor / Major Global Environmental and Sustainability Studies (bis Studienbeginn WiSe 25/26) / nur ab Semester 5
- Leuphana Bachelor / Major Umweltwissenschaften (bis Studienbeginn WiSe 25/26) / nur ab Semester 5
- Leuphana Bachelor / Major Studium Individuale / nur ab Semester 3
- Leuphana Bachelor / Minor Studium Individuale / nur ab Semester 3
- Lehren und Lernen / Unterrichtsfach Biologie / nur ab Semester 5
- Lehren und Lernen / Unterrichtsfach Chemie / nur ab Semester 5
This course belongs to the cluster "Major_UWI_GESS_ENVI_Electives".
In this cluster, you have a maximum of 2 of choices during the lottery phases.
Persons
Content
Case studies have been used in Green Chemistry and Sustainable Chemistry only very recently, demonstrating their enormous potential as an effective way to engage students to explore why, for whom, how and what they have learned that applies to real world situations. Cases come in many formats, from a simple scenario-type study to a detailed description of a situation with accompanying data to analyse and address challenging topics, e.g., sustainability, renewable resources, bio-circular economy, diversity, inclusiveness, ethics, esthetics and climate crisis. In this course, controversial socio-scientific case studies will be discussed to better understand the role of Chemistry in sectors such as agriculture, food production and processing systems, textile, building and toy industries, waste, consumerism and behaviors to encourage the students to think about the complexities behind sustainability and bio-circular economy and also their connections tackling (or not) the climate crisis, focusing on the chemistry of renewable resources in the scope of EU Green Deal strategies and the UN SDGs. Students will be asked to produce their own case studies, experiencing how this approach fosters interdisciplinary learning while they acquire theoretical and practical knowledge in Green Chemistry and Sustainable Chemistry. This approach enables students to be more actively involved in decision-making, confidently work in teams and share accountability, expand their horizons and develop excellent products and performances, which are fundamental characteristics for present and future global professionals and citizens.
- Active participation in scheduled discussion in two forums (50%);
- Two page-manuscript about the case study worked in groups during the semester (50%)
References
ZUIN ZEIDLER, V. G. Defining sustainable chemistry—an opportune exercise? Science, 382, eadk7430, 2023.
ZUIN ZEIDLER, V. G. et al. Education in Green Chemistry and in Sustainable Chemistry: perspectives towards sustainability. Green Chemistry, v. 23, p.1594-1608, 2021.
ZUIN ZEIDLER, V. G. et al. Integrating green and sustainable chemistry into teaching undergraduate laboratories: closing & assessing the loop based on a citrus biorefinery approach for the bio-circular economy in Brazil. Journal of Chemical Education, v. 96, n. 12, p. 2975-2983, 2019.
ZUIN ZEIDLER, V. G. Circularity in green chemical products, processes and services: innovative routes based on integrated eco-design and solution systems. Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry, v. 2, p. 40-44, 2016.
UNEP. Green and Sustainable Chemistry. Available in: https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/chemicals-waste/what-we-do/policy-and-governance/green-and-sustainable-chemistry.
Important note! The elective courses are bundled into 7 modules. Please note, that you can only select each module once. However, you can take a second course from a module as "voluntary additional credits" in a following semester.
Based on current planning, this course will be offered regularly in the winter semester in this elective.
Evaluation
Further information on teaching evaluation: https://www.leuphana.de/en/teaching/quality-management/evaluation/course-evaluation.html