Climate change, energy transition, migration, health, humanities facing the challenges of the climate crisis, and the transformation of higher education institutions towards sustainable development – these were the main topics of the papers and discussions attended by the participants of the Science and Education for Sustainable Development conference. We invite you to watch a video summary, with commentary by Krzysztof Szczepaniak, PhD, Director of the Centre for Sustainable Development UG, Professor Mark Mifsud from the University of Malta and Igor Mitroczuk, PhD from Kozminski University.
Film author: Jakub Zboiński
The international conference Science and Education for Sustainable Development was held on November 24-25, 2022 in Gdansk at the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Gdansk, the UG Main Library and the Emigration Museum in Gdynia.
As Krzysztof Szczepaniak, PhD notes, there were more than 160 participants:
“Some of them took part in the desktop sessions, but thanks to technological solutions, we were able to connect with the participants online as well. They shared their research results with us, as well as their experiences in both teaching and sustainability procedures” says the CZRUG Director.
The aim of the conference was to provide a platform for presenting research in the field of sustainability science. The organisers were also keen to foster the exchange of knowledge and good practices between experts in the field of SDGs. The result was an interdisciplinary but also critical discussion of ongoing projects and initiatives.
Why is the conference so important for the University of Gdansk?
“I think this conference is very important for University of Gdansk, because it has got together the number of different specialists from different countries, and that is always a good opportunity to network, meet different people and to listen to different voices. It was well organised. The panellists are also representatives of different areas within the sustainable development field. I think this conference should at least stimulate students and the staff in Gdansk to look forward and first of all becoming more sustainable in their vision within the university and take this vision for sustainability outside of the university, because most of the staff probably have consultancies and directive outside of the university. So obviously the seed that would be born in this conference cannot only serve the university itself, but it will serve the community in Gdańsk at large” says prof. Mark Mifsud, Director of the Centre for Environmental Education & Research.
Igor Mitroczuk, PhD from Leon Kozminski University points out that the very idea of the conference is crucial:
“We are all asking ourselves now what the SDG is and why is it important, why more and more companies will have to report non-financially on their activities. We can see where the legislation of the European Union is going and we must prepare for it and we can do this through education, so many thanks to the organizers for noticing this important topic of education for sustainable development” says Igor Mitroczuk, PhD.
We encourage you to read extensive reports from the first and second days of the conference:
Science and education for sustainable development – report on the second day of the conference
The International Scientific Conference “Science and Education for Sustainable Development” is co-funded by the Minister of Education and Science within the framework of the “Excellent Science” program.