On 25.10.2024, the Sustainable Development Day was held for the sixth time at the University of Gdańsk.
This year's Sustainable Development Day main theme was "I respect resources - I don't throw them away!". Respecting natural resources is crucial to ensuring the well-being of current and future generations.
The Rector of the University of Gdańsk, Prof. dr hab. Piotr Stepnowski assumed patronage over the event. During the official opening of the Sustainable Development Day, a letter was read from the Minister of Climate and Environment, Paulina Hennig-Kloska, who emphasised the importance of engaging young people and appreciated the organisers' efforts.
As usual, participants had the opportunity to attend fascinating and unique lectures combining environmental protection with aspects of economics, chemistry, oceanography and law. The lectures were prepared by excellent popularisers of science, who were: dr hab. Maciej Nyka, prof. UG ("Garbage - an earthly problem in space and a space problem on Earth"), dr inż. Ewa Malinowska ("Chocolate - a sweet difficult choice"), dr Magdalena Markiewicz ("Money in the clouds. Are digital currencies environmentally friendly"), mgr Justyna Kąpa ("On anthropogenic threats to the Hel Peninsula"), dr inż. Joanna Jeżewska-Frąckowiak ("The fate of bio-waste, or what can happen to garbage"), dr Katarzyna Osiecka-Brzeska ("Lego all around, or how the closed cycle of products works"). The lectures attracted over 500 participants, simultaneously filling two halls at the Faculty of Chemistry.
The event took on a vibrant energy after the scientific part, which included knowledge competitions and a group photo symbolising the 17 sustainable development goals. Students from primary and secondary schools filled the university spaces, eagerly participating in the diverse and exciting workshops, quizzes, and shows prepared by the Center for Sustainable Development, Chemical Business Science Club, Electronic Business Science Club, International Finance Science Club, Hazet Science Club, Environmental Protection Science Club, Chemistry Science Club, Logistics Science Club, Student Government of the Faculty of Chemistry, and Student Business Club.
The Sustainable Development Day was marked by a fantastic atmosphere and the unwavering commitment of the lecturers, clubs, and their academic supervisors. Their dedication to addressing important topics related to environmental protection and popularizing these topics was a testament to the event's success.
The event was also accompanied by a photography exhibition prepared by the Fair Trade Association.
The Sustainable Development Day was organised as part of a project co-financed by the Provincial Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Gdańsk, “The Bay of Knowledge - developing ecological competencies of society through education”, which is being implemented in 2024-2025 by the Faculty of Economics, Faculty of Chemistry, Faculty of Law and Administration, Faculty of Oceanography and the Marine Station in Hel named after Prof. Krzysztof Skóra. The project manager is dr Magdalena Markiewicz.
The project activities include an “Academy on the Beach” and a “Summer Course in Ichthyology of the Sea”.
Report from the event on the UG website and the Instagram UG, Faculty of Economics: