At the Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, we strive to implement solutions that contribute to the protection of water resources, support biodiversity and help reduce human pressure on natural resources. Educational and awareness-raising activities, as well as the incorporation of sustainability-related issues into study programmes, are also important elements of our work. Our research responds to the needs of the modern world, aiming to improve the quality of life of humans and animals while safeguarding environmental well-being.
In September, the UniLodz Faculty of Fiology and Environmental Protection hosted Anna Bruun Månsson, Sustainability Coordinator at the University of Malmö (UNIC). The meeting was attended by dr hab. Tomasz Jurczak, Associate Professor at the University of Lodz, Vice-Dean for Cooperation with the Socio-Economic Environment; dr hab. Aneta Balcerczyk, Associate Professor at the University of Lodz, Vice-Dean for Internationalisation; Dr Natalia Ratajczyk, Dean's Representative for Sustainable Development at the Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz; and mgr Joanna Goździk, Director of the Infrastructure Unit.
The representative of the University of Malmö willingly shared her experience in implementing environmental and social sustainability initiatives at her institution. As she noted: “We have achieved success in a number of areas. For example, we have managed to reduce emissions generated by business travel, introduced a system for purchasing refurbished IT equipment and achieved very good results in improving waste sorting”.
The Climate Action Weeks initiative, as well as visits, face-to-face discussions and workshops organised within individual units, have attracted considerable interest among the Malmö academic community. Collaborative activities carried out with the city and students through various events are also very popular. Anna Bruun Månsson added: “For around three years, we have had the Climate Kollegium, which focuses on climate-related research and societal transformation. It is an academic initiative, but it is open to all interested staff members as well as the city. It provides another way of connecting the academic community with non-academic sustainability activities."
The meeting also included discussions on challenges and limitations. Participants reflected on how to strike the right balance between top-down measures introduced by central university authorities and grassroots initiatives. An important aspect is the development of a university-wide strategy with clearly defined goals, whose implementation must involve all levels of the institution. Limited human and financial resources remain an additional challenge.
Anna Bruun Månsson was highly impressed by our faculty campus. She spoke positively about the research projects being carried out and highlighted the abundance of green spaces as well as the impressive campus grounds available for further development.
We are delighted with this visit and look forward to continuing our fruitful cooperation.
Text: Dr Natalia Ratajczyk (Department of Biogeography, Paleoecology and Nature Conservation, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz)
Edit and photos: Mateusz Kowalski (Promotion Centre, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz)
