Sustainability at the IDGS

The IDGS defines sustainability as a consistent and long-term symbiosis of different linguistic and intersectional minority groups with the majority society. It aims at the common, equal and non-discriminatory coexistence of people in society: in our case, deaf and hard of hearing people who use German Sign Language (DGS) as their first language (the deaf communities) and non-deaf people who use DGS as their first or second language (the sign language community). In our teaching and research, we deal intensively with power structures, medicine, psychology, ethics, culture, languages, politics, translation processes and diversity. We exemplify this at our own institute and transfer our knowledge to society and politics and preserve this wealth of knowledge with our sustainable digitally archived projects. This also includes a conscious and careful approach to people and nature, always with a firm focus on the future of deaf communities.

Relevant sustainability goals for us are

• Health and well-being (SDG 3)
• Quality education (SDG 4)
• Gender equality (SDG 5)
• Fewer inequalities (SDG 10)
• Sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11)

Further information on sustainability in other institutes of the SLM1 department can be found at the page of the department.