What can I do?

We all know our digital workspace best. Therefore, identify where you want to start cleaning up. Here are some tips to help you structure your personal Digital Cleanup Week:

Day 1: Organize your email inbox. Identify and delete unnecessary emails. Tip: Don't forget to empty the "Trash" folder afterwards.

Day 2: Reduce your used storage space on Sciebo. The university cloud Sciebo is designed for easy and secure file sharing. Often, files remain stored there for too long - even if they're no longer needed. Identify these files and free up storage capacity! Tip: Useful information on data backup is available in an e-learning course offered by the CIT for employees.

Day 3: Sort and archive files on the network drive. Delete unnecessary files, such as old versions, duplicates, etc.

Day 4: Are you already using a password manager tool? Set up password management instead of storing them in unsecured notes and emails. Tip: For employees, the CIT offers an e-learning course on secure password management.

Day 5: Establish new routines and schedule regular digital cleanups. Find more tips and tricks below!

What to consider when deleting data?

When deleting and archiving data in the public sector, specific guidelines apply. For information on retaining, archiving, and destroying documents, refer to §15, Geschäftsordnung.

Since May 2020, all researchers at the University of Münster have had access to the datasafe service. datasafe allows research data generated in research projects involving our institution to be archived simply, securely, and free of charge on University of Münster servers for ten years. More information can be found here.

Events during the Action Week

Monday

12:00 - 12:30 PM, Online Check-in to kick off the Digital Cleanup Week

Link to video conference

The action week starts with a brief virtual check-in, where you'll gain insights into current data and facts about the ecological footprint of our daily digital activities. Additionally, the program will be presented, and a space for exchange and discussion will be provided.

Tuesday

10:00 AM, Tour of the Data Center

Holger Angenent, CIT Department 6 - Systems
Registration required, only for employees!

The Systems department of the CIT operates server and storage systems, including server rooms, as the central infrastructure of the University of Münster. During the tour, you'll get an insight into where our data is stored and processed, and what energy expenditure arises from the use and operation of this infrastructure.

12:00 - 12:30 PM, Mindsnack Data Protection

Nina Meyer-Pachur and Sophie-Charlotte Rydzik, Data Protection Office
Online, registration required

In this Mindsnack, the colleagues from the Data Protection Office will explain why a digital cleanup is also relevant to data protection. They'll discuss questions such as which data can be deleted (or must be deleted) and when they should be deleted. In addition to the theoretical background, practical tips for everyday office life will be provided.

Wednesday

12:00-1:00 PM, Generative AI and Climate Balance: Prompting as if there were no tomorrow

Dr. Anne Mollen, Institute of Communications Science
Link to video conference

The enormous resource consumption of generative AI is now widely known and has even reached high-level political discussions. However, this has not led to a reflective use of the technology. Instead, it is being implemented and institutionalized uncritically everywhere. What responsibility do universities, among others, have to use generative AI in a resource-efficient manner, and is there perhaps a sustainable AI?

Thursday

10:00 AM, Tour of the Data Center

Holger Angenent, CIT Department 6 - Systems
Registration required, only for employees!

The Systems department of the CIT operates server and storage systems, including server rooms, as the central infrastructure of the University of Münster. During the tour, you'll get an insight into where our data is stored and processed, and what energy expenditure arises from the use and operation of this infrastructure.

12:00 - 12:30 PM, Mindsnack Data Protection

Nina Meyer-Pachur and Sophie-Charlotte Rydzik, Data Protection Office
Online, registration required

In this Mindsnack, the colleagues from the Data Protection Office will explain why a digital cleanup is also relevant to data protection. They'll discuss questions such as which data can be deleted (or must be deleted) and when they should be deleted. In addition to the theoretical background, practical tips for everyday office life will be provided.

Friday

12:00-1:00 PM, Universities in the Fediverse: Shaping social media sustainably!

Nate Wessalowski, Institute of Communications Science
Link to video conference

At the beginning of the year, the University of Münster shut down its Twitter/X account. But what are sustainable social media alternatives, and how can the future of social media be shaped practically? The input will briefly cover the differences between alternative and commercial social media and provide an overview of decentralized, self-managed, and interoperable Fediverse services (including Mastodon, Pixelfed, and PeerTube). In addition to best practice examples (University of Innsbruck), the 'Fediminar' project server developed by communication science students will be presented.

Afterwards, we'll conclude the action week with a virtual check-out, providing an opportunity for exchange and feedback on the Digital Cleanup Week 2025.