On the 25th of October 2024, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, the Sustainable Development Day will be held at the University of Gdańsk under the theme: “Respecting Resources – Reducing Waste!”. This event is being organized for the sixth time at the University of Gdańsk. It is held under the patronage of the Rector of the University of Gdańsk, Prof. Piotr Stepnowski, and the Deans of the Faculty of Chemistry and the Faculty of Economics. This year’s Sustainable Development Day is organized by the Faculty of Chemistry, the Faculty of Economics, the Faculty of Law and Administration, the Marine Station named after Prof. K. Skóra in Hel of the Faculty of Oceanography and Geographyin and the Center for Sustainable Development as part of the project “Bay of Knowledge – Developing Ecological Competencies Through Education,” funded by the Provincial Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Gdańsk.
The aim of Sustainable Development Day at the University of Gdańsk is to promote and support the idea and goals of sustainable development by initiating projects that encourage the application of sustainability principles in all areas of social life and economic activity. This event has a Europe-wide scope, and its goal is to integrate the University of Gdańsk into the European network promoting sustainable development as part of the European Sustainable Development Week, initiated in 2015. The event is aimed at a wide audience: primary and secondary school students, university students, staff, entrepreneurs, and the local community.
The main theme of this year’s Sustainable Development Day is the respect for natural resources, which is key to ensuring the well-being of current and future generations. In line with the slogan “Respecting Resources – Reducing Waste!” academic staff will deliver lectures on this topic, and students and scientific clubs will conduct workshops and demonstrations for young people and students.
The event program is divided into two parts and has been designed to be engaging for both younger participants and older students. In the first part, mini-lectures will be held:
- Waste – an Earthly Problem in Space, and a Cosmic Problem on Earth (Prof. Maciej Nyka, Faculty of Law and Administration)
- Chocolate – A Sweet Yet Tough Choice (Dr. Ewa Malinowska, Faculty of Management)
- Money in the Clouds: Are Digital Currencies Environmentally Friendly? (Dr. Magdalena Markiewicz, Faculty of Economics)
- Anthropogenic Threats to the Hel Peninsula (M. Sc. Justyna Kąpa, Marine Station, Hel)
- The Fate of Bio-Waste: What Can Happen to Trash? (Dr. Joanna Jeżewska-Frąckowiak, Faculty of Chemistry)
- Lego on a Loop: How Does the Circular Economy Work? (Dr. Katarzyna Osiecka-Brzeska, Faculty of Economics)
In the second part of the event, young people will have the opportunity to participate in parallel workshops prepared by students and staff of the University of Gdańsk, including topics such as: “The 5 Seconds of Economics – A Zero Waste Lifestyle,” “What, Where, When, How Much, and For How Much? Discovering the Secrets of Logistics,” and “Sustainable Development in E-Business.” Participants will also learn “What’s Hidden in Fabric Scraps?” and what belongs in an “Eco-Friendly Wardrobe.” They will be able to explore a model eco-friendly city and see a prototype of the power plant of the future.
Participants will also have the chance to spin the wheel of fortune and test their knowledge on resource conservation. Additionally, we invite you to a workshop on how to make homemade cosmetics, cleaning products, and plant fertilizers.
This year’s Sustainable Development Day will feature an exhibition: “Fair Trade Principles” prepared by the Polish Fair Trade Association. A detailed event program is attached.
We warmly invite you to participate in the event.
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/
dr hab. Barbara Pawłowska, prof. UG