On 2 December 2025, Sustainable University Day in Switzerland featured an engaging Blue Community workshop, which explored ways in which universities can contribute to a sustainable water future. The focus was on the principles of the Blue Community and how these can be put into practice. Representatives of three Swiss Blue Universities introduced to their achievements:
- Martin Zabe-Kühn from the University of Bern, the first Blue University worldwide, explained how they have successfully replaced bottled water with tap water.
- Christoph Lüthi from Sandec-Eawag, the federal Aquatic Research Institute, presented the long-standing partnership with Makerere University in Uganda, demonstrating how international cooperation can effect change.
- Dorothee Spuhler from the University of Applied Sciences of Eastern Switzerland (OST) presented how the Blue Community is embedded in the university’s research and teaching programmes.
During the subsequent discussion, staff, lecturers and students from the universities ZHAW (Zurich Highschool for Applied Science), ETH, the University of Bern, OST and the Pedagogical Highschool PH Zurich, among others, shared valuable insights. The workshop demonstrated how universities can promote a sustainable water future by collaborating and sharing knowledge.
