Workshops, lectures and educational events for, among others, pupils and teachers of primary and secondary schools - these are elements of a new project entitled ‘Zero Emissions - knowledge transfer (from) the University of Gdańsk’. The initiative was supported by the Voivodship Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Gdańsk. On August 8 this year, the President of the Voivodship Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management, Szymon Gajda, and Vice-Rector for Cooperation and Development of the University of Gdańsk, dr hab. Sylwia Mrozowska, prof. UG signed an agreement to fund the project.

‘The University of Gdańsk has been intensifying its activities related to sustainable development goals for several years. The assumptions of Agenda 2030 established by the United Nations in 2015 are very close to our university, which is why, among other things, we have established the Centre for Sustainable Development, which conducts educational, research and popular-scientific activities in this area,’ said Vice-Rector for Cooperation and Development UG dr hab. Sylwia Mrozowska, prof. UG. ‘We are very pleased that this potential has been recognised by the Voivodship Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Gdańsk.’

The project’ Zero emissions - knowledge transfer (from) the University of Gdańsk’ is a multi-stage undertaking involving the organisation of events, conferences, workshops, and competitions in the field of sustainable development and zero emissions. Planned initiatives include a Sustainable Development Day at the University of Gdańsk, the Congress of Economic and Environmental Student Circles (KEEKS), the ‘Chemistry – Business – Environment’ conference and a series of online lectures aimed at secondary school students.

‘We have supported yet another educational programme, and this particular one will be carried out with the University of Gdańsk, which we believe guarantees reliable knowledge related to air protection and climate change,’ says Szymon Gajda, President of the Voivodship Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Gdańsk. ‘We try to have a thorough discussion on environmental protection. Young people do not want fake news; they do not want excessive emotions; they want to talk about what concerns them and what they should pay attention to in their everyday lives.’

The activities carried out as part of the project will contribute to raising environmental awareness among the participants of all four events. They will disseminate practical knowledge to, among others, primary and secondary school students, teachers, and University of Gdańsk staff. The Sustainable Development Day or the 'Chemistry – Business – Environment' conference are ideal opportunities to learn about the latest research into the effects of CO2 emissions conducted at the University of Gdańsk and other research centres.

‘Above all, we want to show the true face of science, i.e. not the fake news ubiquitous in social media, but reliable university knowledge,' said Dean of the Faculty of Chemistry dr hab. Beata Grobelna, prof. UG, project manager. ‘This project focuses on raising participants' awareness of climate change and presents the benefits of reducing emissions. Scientists from the Faculty of Chemistry and the Faculty of Economics and staff from the Centre for Sustainable Development will present their perspectives on the problem of emissions and the far-reaching consequences of failing to take any action.’

We will see the project's first results as early as October 2023 during the Sustainability Day, then in April 2024 during the Congress of Economic and Environmental Student Chapters (KEEKS) and in June, when the 'Chemistry – Business – Environment' conference will be organised. A series of online lectures for secondary school students will start as early as 2023.