Dr Michael Scharp

The person

Michael Scharp (Dr. rer. nat., Dipl. Chem., M.A. Philosophy) studied chemistry (doctorate) and philosophy (master's degree) at the TU Braunschweig and the FU Berlin. He has worked as a researcher and project coordinator at the IZT since 1995. He is head of the research department "Education and Digital Media" at the IZT. In his research activities, he combines (vocational) education for sustainability (ESD) with digitalisation and future topics. In terms of content, his work focusses on the topics of nutrition, energy and material resources. He has conducted numerous application-related studies on these topics.

Nutrition: He has led many projects in this field of research, such as KEEKS, CLIKIS, KEEKS-Berlin, KEEKS-Rhineland-Palatinate, CLIKIS-Network and KORN. All of these projects focused on the question of how to promote climate-friendly nutrition in out-of-home catering. In the KEEKS project, Dr Scharp and his team were the first to determine reference values for the energy consumption and GHG emissions of school menus and to show how great the GHG reduction potential can be in this segment of out-of-home catering (approx. 40 %). A guideline, a transformation concept or a training manual will show how kitchens can become more sustainable. Analogue and digital learning units and screencasts (see elearning.izt.de) will show how (ESD)ESD can be implemented sustainably in schools and at work.

Material resources: Dr Scharp has been working on the BilRess - Education for Resource Conservation and Resource Efficiency project since 2013. This very long running project (currently until the end of 2024) includes many modules: From network conferences to educational analyses and the promotion of resource education through to the development of educational games. Other projects include RessScout (resource conservation and resource efficiency for trainees) and LehrRess (learning resource skills). In the RessKoRo project, he has developed a competence model "resource competence" for the university sector and a seminar (resource-conserving aluminium value chains). In the MaRess project, he developed a methodology for describing environmentally relevant rare raw materials and compiled a mass balance of mobile telephony in Germany. In the "Raw materials for future technologies" project, he developed scenarios for different technologies to promote resource conservation and resource efficiency.

Energy: In the "Solarsupport" (integration of solar systems in lessons) and "powerado" research projects, he has developed a wide range of educational materials for schools (13 topics such as energy, renewable energies, energy saving and climate protection) and organised numerous teacher training courses. In the energy sector, he evaluated the German government's energy transition measures for the BMWi (EMEW project). His research into energy services combines the areas of energy, housing and services. He has led various European (BewareE, Energy Services) and national projects (SEWOWI, Benchmarking Services).

Digitalisation and digital education: Projects with digital media included SLHw - Smart Learning in Crafts (BMBF, development of digital learning objects for further training to become a building energy consultant), SLOW - Smart Learning Online Further Training (office clerks, energy technicians), WAVE - Wissen Anwenden - Verstehen Erfahr von künstlicher Intelligenz (travelling exhibition in Science Year 2019), DigiHand - Digitales Handwerk (travelling exhibition in Science Year 2018) and LamKi (Land mit KI - Land mit Chancen). As part of the e-fit research project (BMBF), he has developed various e-learning materials on photovoltaics, solar thermal energy, inverters and biomass CHP for the further training of employees and set up a learning platform under Moodle (elearning.izt.de).

Vocational education and training: In 2021, Dr Scharp was commissioned by the BMBF to establish the Vocational Education and Training for Sustainable Development Project Agency (PA-BBNE). In a network of 12 research institutions and 37 scientists, more than 250 materials were developed for 82 occupational profiles (from geriatric nurses to two-wheel mechatronics technicians) and 128 specialisations or focus areas: 

• Background materials that provide information on sustainability for the respective job profile in line with the SDG Sustainable Development Goals, 
• Impulse papers that operationalise the skills that need to be taught in the company along the occupational profile positions.
• PowerPoints and handouts that specify conflicting objectives and key topics for the respective job profiles.

His research project powerado was honoured by the Berlin Senate in 2010 as the best Berlin Decade Project. His KEEKS project was honoured by the UN Secretariat for Climate Action at the COP24 International Climate Change Conference in 2018. Out of 560 projects from around the world, KEEKS was one of the five winners in the "Planetary Health" category and was recognised as a lighthouse project for its contribution to climate protection.

More info

• Dr Michael Scharp in an interview with the Hub for Vocational Schools (HubbS)

Expertise

• Applied futurology
• Service development
• Knowledge transfer with digital media
• Future studies and foresight projects
• Technology assessment, technology evaluation