Lectures, workshops and a garage sale were just some of the attractions available to participants of “Green Day at the University of Warsaw”, an initiative aimed at promoting ecological solutions and climate protection. The event took place on 6th November.

“Green Day at the UW” is one of many university initiatives aimed at promoting ecological solutions and climate protection. This year, under the slogan “Energy of the future,” the event was held for the third time. It took place on 6th November in the new building of the UW’s Faculty of Psychology at Stefana Banacha 2D in Warsaw’s Ochota district.

“Green Day at the UW is a space for discussion, inspiration and exchange of experiences on environmental protection and sustainable development. At the university, we take these issues very seriously — scientifically, educationally, as part of our mission. We are delighted that you, future students of the UW, also share our concern for the environment and that today we can reflect together on how to protect our planet,” said Prof. Ewa Krogulec, the UW’s Vice-Rector for Development and Chair of the Programme Council of the Smart Green University, during the part of the event attended by Warsaw high school pupils.

The event was aimed at anyone interested in issues related to nature and environmental protection. Participants included UW students, doctoral candidates and employees, high school pupils, and residents of Warsaw.

The initiative aims to promote environmental protection activities, present innovative pro-ecological solutions, and build environmental awareness in the community. It is part of the “Smart Green University” programme, which is the University of Warsaw’s response to the challenges posed by the climate and ecological crisis.

This year, as in previous years, participants were able to take part in a variety of activities, including lectures, workshops and a garage sale.

Lectures on nature and ecology

This year’s lectures focused on nature and animal conservation. Prof. Marcin Zych, Director of the UW Botanical Garden, gave a presentation entitled “O (nie)wrażliwościna zieleń i jej konsekwencjach” (ENG: “[In]sensitivity to greenery and its consequences”), Dr Anna Batorczak from the University Centre for Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development spoke about sustainable development, Maria Januszczyk, a doctoral candidate at the UW’s Doctoral School of Social Sciences, gave a presentation on the law in the service of animal protection, and Marcin Musiałowski, a doctoral candidate at the UW’s Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences, spoke about how microbiology changes the soil environment. A presentation on zero-waste cooking was given by Sylwia Majcher, journalist and educator.

The discussion panel on sustainable development activities in the context of investments, including the latest completed investment by the UW – the new building of the Faculty of Psychology in Ochota – was attended by: Prof. Kamil Imbir, Dean of the Faculty of Psychology, Grzegorz Bochenek, Head of the UW’s Office for University Advancement, and Karolina Kotek, a student.

An important part of Green Day at the UW was the Partner Zone, where UW units and event partners presented their initiatives, including the Masurian Center for Biodiversity and Nature Education “KUMAK” named after Prof. K. A. Dobrowolski from the UW’s Faculty of Biology in Urwitałt, the UW’s Open University, Students’ Council of the UW, and the University of Warsaw Press.

In addition to the lectures and attractions prepared in the Partner Zone, participants could take part in workshops on creating plant compositions in jars, culinary workshops, and a garage sale, during which exhibitors offered decorations and clothing.

Environmental report

The second part of the event featured a meeting attended by UW authorities, deans and heads of university departments, during which Prof. Ewa Krogulec presented the activities of the University of Warsaw in the field of sustainable development and the assumptions of the Environmental report – a document published by the UW in October, which comprehensively presents the university’s relationship with the natural environment. Prof. Krogulec spoke about the pro-ecological activities undertaken as part of the university’s investments, as well as about environmental management at the UW and the initiatives undertaken by the university to protect biodiversity.

“We conduct educational, infrastructural, and management activities, as well as research in the field of environmental protection. Thanks to the fact that we combine all these paths, we can say that sustainable development begins at the UW. The university undertakes many climate initiatives. These are summarised in the Environmental report. It is a document that shows what we can do for the environment. The aim is to diagnose, ensure transparency and plan actions for the future,” said Prof. Ewa Krogulec when presenting the report’s assumptions.

Prof. Agata Dziewulska, Rector’s Plenipotentiary for the Green Dialogue Platform, presented some of the scientific publications issued by the UW, which address, from various perspectives, pro-environmental and pro-ecological issues concerning drought, energy security, sustainable development, etc.

Green Day at the UW ended with a panel discussion entitled “Energy of the future – cooperation between science, public administration and business”, moderated by Prof. Ewa Krogulec. The participants included Dorota Zawadzka-Stępniak, President of the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management, Dariusz Grajda, Vice-President of Polish State Railways, and Paweł Jamrozik, Director of the Strategy and Sustainable Development Department at ORLEN Termika. The panellists discussed how to build partnerships between universities, businesses and public institutions in the field of sustainable development.