About Greenstorytelling

About
Green
storytelling

We create, discuss and share knowledge about sustainability in the cultural sector.

Greenstorytelling is a website developed by researchers at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU). We are scholars committed to creating, discussing, and sharing knowledge about sustainability in the cultural sector.

Our understanding of sustainability is broad, encompassing Environmental (E), Social (S), and Governance (G) dimensions.

SDU is a university with a strong institutional focus on sustainability — in research, teaching, and everyday operations. The researchers behind this site are based at the Department of Design, Media and Educational Science and are anchored in the study programmes Media Studies and Screenplay Development.

Research foundation

SDU
Projects

Sustainable Greenplay

Sustainable storytelling / screenwriting

Research

Green Media Production Development

Media production / climate responsibility

Development

Climate Blue

Climate knowledge / cultural sector

Insight

The website builds particularly on insights from the SDU projects Sustainable Greenplay, Green Media Production Development, and Climate Blue. If you would like to learn more about any of these projects, you are welcome to contact Associate Professor Heidi Philipsen at Heidij@sdu.dk.

The development of this website has been supported by RIO (Research & Innovation Organisation) at SDU.

CUHRE

Ecoliteracy / sustainability education

Framework

Greenstorytelling relates to the SDU center CUHRE.

CUHRE stands for the “Elite Centre for Understanding Human Relationships with the Environment”. At its core, CUHRE is an international research environment dedicated to strengthening society’s ecoliteracy—that is, people’s collective ability and willingness to create a more life-friendly, sustainable, regenerative, and carbon-neutral society.

CUHRE’s work focuses on developing new knowledge and pedagogical tools that help citizens—especially in carbon-intensive Northern European countries—understand and engage with the green transition. It is built on the assumption that responding effectively to today’s environmental crises requires radical societal change, and that education plays a decisive role in shaping the ideas, practices, and behaviours needed for that transformation.

The centre brings together researchers across humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences to explore how humans relate to the more-than-human world and how those relationships can support a sustainable future. Heidi Philipsen is part of CUHRE.

Learn more about CUHRE →

Who we are

Behind the site

Associate Professor, PhD

Heidi Philipsen

Heidi Philipsen is an Associate Professor of Media Studies and Screenplay Development at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU). She is an expert in sustainable storytelling and works daily with research and teaching where sustainability plays a central role. Her vision is to create impact and foster dialogue on sustainable narratives as well as on screenplay development and storytelling, ensuring a thoughtful balance between, for example, climate concerns and artistic expression. She has led two sustainability-focused research projects: "Sustainable Greenplay" and "Green Media Production Development". She is also part of the research project "Climate Blue" and serves in the leadership of SDU's elite research centre CUHRE.

PostDoc, PhD

Nathali Pilegaard

Nathali H.S. Pilegaard is a researcher in media production studies. Her research focuses on sustainable storytelling, green media production, audience reception, and creative processes in film and television development. Alongside her academic work, she has practical experience from the Danish film and television industry, where she has worked in production roles including production assistant, producer and screenwriter.

Research assistant

Helena Mervartová

Helena Mervartová is a Master's student of Business, Language and Culture at the University of Southern Denmark. She has experience from the theatre industry, where she developed her passion for culture and arts. She is particularly interested in how culture can open new ways of thinking about sustainability.

Webdeveloper

Mads Grumstrup

Mads Grumstrup Jensen is a web developer and digital designer with a passion for creating intuitive and visually engaging digital experiences. He enjoys turning ideas into reality through thoughtful design and development, always with a focus on usability and aesthetics. Through his work, he thrives in combining creativity and structure to create digital solutions that feel natural and engaging to use.

Education at SDU

Study programmes

At SDU, we offer two study programmes in which sustainability in relation to media appears in several courses. Students also have access to the software "Green Producers Tool" for CO₂ budgeting.

Media
Studies

BA Master Media sustainability

Media Studies is available at both BA and Master's level. At Master's level, the course Dimensions of Media Management includes methods for media sustainability as a compulsory part of the curriculum. Elective courses related to sustainability are also offered on a regular basis.

The book Medier og bæredygtighed (2024, Grønning, Birkved & Rasmussen) is written by researchers in Media Studies at SDU and addresses this topic.

Screenplay
Development

Creative elective Full-time Part-time

Screenplay Development is a creative elective programme that can be taken either full-time or part-time. The application deadline for both formats is 1 May each year.

Read more about how to apply at the SDU website. The programme is also visible on social media including Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Read more: Screenplay Development at SDU →

Let's talk
green stories

Associate Professor, PhD Heidi Philipsen heidij@sdu.dk

PostDoc, PhD Nathali Pilegaard nathali@sdu.dk

Research assistant Helena Mervartová hemer26@student.sdu.dk

Webdeveloper Mads Grumstrup madsgrumstrup@gmail.com

Programme info Secretariat medievidenskab-sek@sdu.dk

AboutGreenstorytelling

SDUProjects