Sustainability at COS

The Centre for Organismal Studies (COS) at Heidelberg University is committed to interdisciplinary teaching and research ranging from the molecular to the organismal level. For many years our researchers have made key contributions to understanding fundamental processes of life in plants and animals. The preservation of biodiversity on our planet, as illustrated by the Timeline Evolution exhibition and the extensive collections of the Botanic Garden, is therefore at the heart of our institute and we feel obliged to use our natural resources in a sustainable manner for the benefit of humans and the environment.

The COS Goes Green initiative is an inclusive, community-led network committed to integrating sustainability measures throughout all levels of our centre. Our goal is to foster a research, work, and teaching environment that is both environmentally responsible and community-oriented. Following the sustainable development goals of the UN 2030 Agenda and the 2040 climate neutrality initiative of the state of Baden-Württemberg, we want to integrate awareness for the long-term consequences of our daily work into the teaching and research culture at COS.