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BlueCity, a circular economy incubator, and an innovation hub

Rotterdam, Netherlands: Burch Tackles Resilience in Action

Students in the UNC Burch Sustainability program have learned one main concept from this day: how to move cities forward in a sustainable and resilient way. We feel as though we could conquer anything and it has only been the … Read more

One of the world’s largest offshore wind turbines currently being tested onshore, named the Haliade-X

The Energy Transition: Up Close at TNO labs and the Port of Rotterdam

The Burch Fellowship Students immersed themselves first-hand in the energy transition with two site visits today with TNO labs and the Port of Rotterdam. These site visits provided us with the tools and knowledge to advance in the future of … Read more

Marieke van Doorninck, director of Kennisland

Fireside Chat with Marieke van Doorninck, Amsterdam’s Former Deputy Mayor

The myriad of environmental issues lying before us marks a moment where diversity of thought is more important than ever. As the next generation of innovators, the UNC Burch Fellowship program had a one-on-one fireside discussion with Amsterdam’s former deputy … Read more

The interior of PLLEK with the reused containers

Amsterdam: Global Leader in City-wide Circularity and Sustainability

Today Burch students journeyed to Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands and a current global leader in city-wide circularity and sustainability efforts. More specifically, Amsterdam has embraced the model of economic affairs known as “Donut Economics”- a concept created by … Read more

Basel SBB, the largest train station in Basel and the site for our first briefing

Basel: On the border of Switzerland, Germany and France

On yet another busy day on the 2023 Burch Sustainability Program, the group took a trip with Steffen of Innovation Academy to Basel, a gorgeous city situated right at – and in some places, over – the borders of Switzerland, … Read more

The Centraal railway station, Rotterdam

Rotterdam: Dynamic Designs and Public Spaces

Stepping off the night train from Freiburg to Rotterdam, anticipation ran through my veins. Rotterdam is a city in the Netherlands that has gained recognition for its urban landscape and sustainable architecture. After dropping off the luggage at the hostel, … Read more

Notre Dame

Strasbourg: Learnings from Critical Modernization

The Cathedral Notre Dame of Strasbourg stands 446 feet tall and is a celebrated symbol of the city. It has stood at the center of Strasbourg, a small city located in eastern France near the German border, for over five … Read more

Rootop solar in Germany

Rural Communities and Renewable Energy in Southwest Germany

After a long day of exploring the rural German countryside, there’s much to take away apart from how freaking cute 1-week old cows are. Our group’s thoughts about rural communities went from farming and conservatism to sustainable innovation and the … Read more

Fraunhofer ISE applied research center

Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy: Burch Cleantech Europe Tour

Today’s agenda centered around our visit to the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy (ISE), the largest solar research institute in Europe. Our visit started with a presentation from Professor Dr. Bruno Burger discussing pathways to a climate-neutral energy system focusing … Read more

Rieselfeld, Germany green landscaping

Rieselfeld and Vauban: Bike Tour of Europe’s Most Sustainable City

By embarking on a cycling tour throughout the city of Freiburg, students in the Burch Sustainability Research Field Seminar were able to immerse themselves in the mobility and residential aspects of living in Europe’s most sustainable city. We rose at … Read more