In 2011, the Audi Environmental Foundation presented the SRM Award for the first time to graduates of the Sustainable Resource Management Master's program at the TUM School of Life Sciences in Freising. The prize is endowed with €1,500 and honors outstanding theses in the field of sustainable resource management.
On July 13, 2024, Sina Heubel and Ahmad Awad received the SRM Award 2023 for their contribution to a sustainable approach to our environment and our resources.
The future of Europe's most important tree species
"Sustainability means caring - caring about our environment and our future and making decisions based on science," says Sina Heubel, explaining her understanding of the concept of sustainability. In her Master's thesis, she looked at the future of Europe's most important tree species and provides important insights for sustainable resource management and forest conversion. With her research, the prizewinner aims to "raise awareness of future developments, inspire action and make a difference".
Findings for local urban and land use planning
Ahmad Awad received the SRM Award for a detailed study on land use and land cover change in Amman, the capital of Jordan, as part of his master's thesis. In his research, he meticulously investigated the conversion of agricultural and pasture land into urban areas. This conversion means that less water seeps away and more water flows into the valleys, which significantly increases the risk of flash floods. His work provides valuable insights for local urban and land use planning and highlights the need for sustainable development strategies.