Recap Discover Route – Experiencing Sustainability & Science, Sharing Inspiration

DISCOVER: Explore, Participate & Transform – and specifically the [SDG] Discover Route was one of the five program modules in the festival program of the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games. Alongside the sporting competitions, the festival grounds at Jahrhunderthalle Bochum, Grugapark Essen, and Sportpark Duisburg also became spaces for learning and experiencing sustainability & science – playful, interactive, and for all generations.

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Open gallery

Nearly 4,000 visitors embarked on a journey through the 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Whether climate protection, human rights, fair trade, resource conservation, or further educational initiatives – the Discover Route offered diverse impulses and encounters that made sustainability tangible and motivating. Participants could collect stamps along the way, with small sustainable gifts marking the end of the route.

Interactive Learning for All Generations

The Discover Route featured a mix of hands-on activities, exhibitions, and edutainment, for example:

Democracy Fitness: Experiencing community and civic engagement through play.
Zero Waste Parcours: Soil analysis, avoiding waste, and conserving resources.
Sport for Development Exhibition: International sports projects as a driver for change.
Interactive programs on climate education, biodiversity, ecological footprint and handprint: Making impact visible in everyday life and sports.

Special programs were designed for young visitors:

Junior Uni Essen: Hands-on science – experimenting, researching, and discovering creatively.
Löwenzähnchen play trailer with Keks: Fun and games for children aged 3–9.

Open-Air Cinema: Experiencing Nature & Humanity on Screen

The Discover module also brought cinematic highlights:

On July 22 in Essen, the European Outdoor Film Tour (EOFT Discover) thrilled audiences with stories of courage, adventure, and a deep connection to nature.
On July 24 in Duisburg, the International Ocean Film Tour showcased stunning ocean imagery, exciting adventures of surfers, and powerful stories of marine conservation.

This way, environmental protection and mindful outdoor activities also became emotionally engaging experiences for audiences.

Thanks to All Partners

A heartfelt thank-you goes to the 40 Discover Partners, whose dedication, creative ideas, and programs brought the Discover Route to life. From information booths and exhibitions to interactive activities, they helped make sustainability accessible, exciting, and inspiring.

Thanks to you, we succeeded in taking the SDGs out of abstract theory and translating them into direct experiences – for children, young people, students, and adults alike.

Creating Inspiration Together

Nearly 4,000 participants, 40 dedicated partners, and countless encounters prove: the [SDG] Discover Route was more than just a program item. It was a tangible source of inspiration for sustainable change in and through sport, and a meeting place where everyone could learn from each other.

We hope this will lead to new ideas, collaborations, and developments – and that the enthusiasm of visitors will continue to resonate far beyond the festival. Because the SDGs are not an abstract concept, but a call to all of us to shape the future together.