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Sustainability

The latest developments at TUM for a more sustainable future: Research findings, technical innovations, degree programs – as well as our commitment at home and in our global network.

More about Sustainability at TUM

Trees on a densely populated street with apartment buildings on a sunny day
4/25/2025
Reading time: 2 Min.

Citizen Science project “Mein Baum”

Contributing to Sustainable Urban Planning via Smartphone App

Trees reduce heat pollution in cities, provide us with oxygen, and bind climate-damaging Carbon dioxide. However, it is currently unclear which and how many trees grow in urban areas and how much this stock can help with climate adaptation. In collaboration with the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and University of Applied Sciences Weihenstephan-Triesdorf (HSWT), BUND Naturschutz has launched the citizen science project “Mein Baum” ('My Tree'). With the help of a smartphone app, people can document local trees and play an active role in scientific research.

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Research Sustainability Public Engagement
Michael Penk in the laboratory's “brain” with central control cabinet and monitor for all measurement data
4/9/2025
Reading time: 2 Min.

Energy laboratory for school classes

Renewable energies and technology you can touch

How do you get children and young people interested in renewable energies and the energy transition? A research group at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has come up with a solution: a laboratory for sustainable energy systems. Here, schoolchildren can observe the energy consumption of household appliances in real time. In this way, the team aims to make technology and sustainable energy systems tangible.

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Sustainability Energy Public Engagement
There are sheets of paper with various diagrams on a table. Several people are leaning on them, discussing the diagrams. However, only their hands are visible.
4/2/2025
Reading time: 1 Min.

Comprehensive method for the environmental assessment of business processes

Creating measures to determine whether companies are truly sustainable

Companies are increasingly making claims of sustainable production part of their public communications. However, the related ratings and seals of approval tend to focus primarily on CO₂ emissions and energy consumption – while ignoring other important aspects. Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have now developed a comprehensive method for a holistic environmental analysis of business processes: Sustainability-Oriented Process Analysis (SOPA). This will enable companies to make targeted searches for shortcomings and take measures to conserve resources and reduce emissions.

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Research Sustainability
Interior view of an industrial hall at the LRZ with the SuperMUC high-performance computer.
3/6/2025
Reading time: 2 Min.

Training neural networks more efficiently

New method significantly reduces AI energy consumption

The enormous computing resources needed to train neural networks for artificial intelligence (AI) result in massive power consumption. Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have developed a method that is 100 times faster and therefore much more energy efficient. Instead of taking an iterative approach, the parameters are computed directly based on probabilities. The results so far are comparable in quality to existing iterative methods.

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Research Sustainability Artificial Intelligence Energy
A microscope image can be seen. The background is black, a yellow fragmented and serpentine line runs from the bottom right to the top left. In addition, various small ovals can be seen in red on a background of red serpentine lines.
2/27/2025
Reading time: 2 Min.

Fertilization affects the plant immune system

Why too much nitrogen is harmful to plants

Even for plants, there can be too much of a good thing. When nitrogen levels are too high, for example due to excessive fertilization, plants become more susceptible to certain diseases. However, the exact reasons are not yet fully understood. A group of researchers involving the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has now taken the first steps towards answering this question. They identified a small protein (peptide) that makes the plant resistant to certain bacteria. However, its effect is limited when there is a high nitrogen supply.

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Research Sustainability
2/26/2025
Reading time: 1 Min.

Decision by the TUM Senate

Daniela Schwarz is the new Gender Equality Officer at TUM

The Technical University of Munich (TUM) has a new Gender Equality Officer. The TUM Senate, the university's academic supervisory body, elected Dr. Daniela Schwarz. She was previously the Gender Equality Officer of the former Department of Sport and Health Sciences and works at the Chair of Sport and Health Didactics in the TUM School for Medicine and Health.

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Campus news Sustainability Community
2/14/2025
Reading time: 1 Min.

TUM and Imperial establish a joint research center

Fight against harmful microplastics

The Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Imperial College London (ICL) are expanding their flagship partnership further. They are founding the “Centre for Health Resilience in a Changing Planet”, focusing on the harmful effects of microplastics and nanoparticles on health. A memorandum of understanding to this effect was signed in Munich.

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President Research Sustainability Community Public Engagement
Leihfahrradstation an Busbahnhof
2/7/2025
Reading time: 2 Min.

MCube's five-point scientific plan for the future of mobility

Call for fundamental change in German mobility policy

MCube, Germany's largest mobility research cluster, calls for a fundamental change in mobility policy. MCube Co-Director Prof. Sebastian Pfotenhauer, Professor of Innovation Research at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), warns: "Germany is currently at a crossroads in many areas - including mobility policy. While other countries are pushing innovative concepts to reconcile economic growth, climate protection, and social justice, Germany is missing out on many opportunities to consciously set the tone and position itself as a leading global region. This is incomprehensible, especially regarding a key issue such as mobility."

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Research Sustainability Mobility Public Engagement
A tractor drives over a field and applies nitrogen fertilizer in a spray mist.
2/6/2025
Reading time: 2 Min.

Agricultural policies in Germany

Regulations for ammonia reduction are successful

From the soil to the atmosphere — ammonia emissions pose a global issue for human health and the environment. In Germany, two regulations aim to reduce ammonia emissions from agriculture: the Fertilizer Application Ordinance (DüV) and Technical Instructions on Air Quality Control (TA-Luft). Research led by the Technical University of Munich (TUM) suggests that their implementation led to a significant reduction. The research identifies which measures are particularly effective and which are yet to be improved.

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Research Sustainability
Street view in Singapore with cars and buildings.
1/21/2025
Reading time: 4 Min.

Planning traffic in cities with precise models

Smart simulations for urban mobility

Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have developed a simulation tool to create detailed models of everything from traffic junctions to entire cities, in order to answer various mobility questions.

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Sustainability Mobility
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