Eco Week with the Silesian University of Technology
The world of ecology and sustainable development – this is the main slogan of the ongoing Eco Week at the Silesian University of Technology. The event takes place as part of the European City of Science Katowice 2024 celebrations.
The Eco Week programme will include extraordinary workshops, meetings and popular science lectures that show the diversity and multi-aspect nature of ecological issues in almost every discipline of life.
On the first day there were workshops and meetings. The spinPLACE Creativity Centre in Katowice hosted workshops for the youngest under the slogan - Be Eco with EcoBot!
- During the workshops, the kids learned how to properly segregate waste, what to do with electronic waste, where to dispose of it, and how to call an electronic garbage truck to take away, for example, an old refrigerator. After a short lecture, an art workshop was held, during which preschoolers made an eco-robot from plastic bottles and pieces of paper. In this way, we wanted to show them that not all waste needs to be thrown away, because some of it can be used, for example, during play – said Aneta Dereszewska, who led the workshops.
The co-organizer of the workshops was the Municipal Public Utility Company in Katowice.
- We are happy to get involved in various types of events, such as the current Eco Week, organized by the Silesian University of Technology. We can then present to our residents what we do every day and also provide knowledge about waste segregation, because although a lot has changed for the better in this regard, there are still issues that need to be reminded of - said Agnieszka Rożek from MPGK (Municipal Public Utility Company) in Katowice.
Preschoolers from the School and Kindergarten Complex No. 5 in Katowice took part in the Be Eco with EcoBot workshops.
- Workshops such as those organised as part of this Science Week help to raise children to respect the environment and their immediate surroundings. In our kindergarten, even the youngest groups acquire knowledge and practical skills in the field of ecology – emphasized Magdalena Chrobot, a teacher at the School and Kindergarten Complex No. 5 in Katowice.
- It's important to teach kids the basics of ecology from an early age. The little ones had a great time and learned a lot in the process. It is worth participating in such workshops and we would like to thank the Silesian University of Technology for allowing us to take part in them, added Małgorzata Idasiak, mother of preschool children Marek and Cezary.
During Monday's workshops, children built a robot from waste and met EcoBot, who told them what to do with electronic waste. At the end of the meeting, there was a short trip to the Municipal Public Utility Company in Katowice, where the children could see how a garbage truck works to collect waste in the city.
On the first day of Eco Week there were also events aimed at a slightly older audience. With the participation of representatives of the Ecological Thought Club, an online discussion entitled "Ecology in education - ecological awareness of Poles" was prepared.
Participants presented pessimistic forecasts related to educating the public about climate and environmental change.
- The problem is that schools do not teach that the planet's situation is critical, that we have a so-called red alert on Earth and what is causing it. This is done by a group of several enthusiastic teachers, but the education system does not provide such knowledge – said Prof. Piotr Skubała and emphasized that the solution is not to introduce a single subject called ecological education. Knowledge about the situation on Earth should be taught in many subjects, from physical education to Polish.
Among the solutions proposed during the discussion, which would help raise ecological awareness not only in schools but also among adults, is the encouragement to use ecological footprint calculators or to directly experience the effects of climate change through contact with nature.
- What may be surprising is that research shows that the ecological awareness of young people is lower than that of older people. We also see this in the Youth Climate Strike, where only a few people want to get involved in pro-ecological activities – added Dr Ryszard Kulik.
The conversation with ecologists can be listened to on the YT channel of the European City of Science Katowice 2024.
The unusual Hasiomaszketnik Workshops took place at the Centre of New Technologies of the Silesian University of Technology. – Hasiomaszkietnik means that in the mountain of waste we look for delicacies, something that has value, something that we can transform and give such a thing a new life. This is a new trend. Each of us produces a lot of waste and in order not to store or waste it, we can reuse it – for example, by making art out of it. And it was during these workshops that we wanted to show young people that something interesting can be made from waste – said Dr Hab. Eng. Monika Czop, who led the classes.
The first day of Eco Week ended with two events held in Katowice. First, at the Kato Science Corner, a dozen or so participants took part in the Zero Waste Plant-Based Cuisine workshop, led by Olaf Józefoski from the Free Tea Association.
- The workshops consisted of two parts – theoretical and practical – explains Olaf Józefoski. - We talked about zero waste, i.e. reducing the amount of waste. I talked about how to store food so that it doesn't go to waste, and I also wanted to inspire listeners with freeganism, which is searching for food that is suitable for consumption in garbage cans, most often in containers at grocery stores.
During the workshops, participants shared their experiences related to ecology, vegetarianism and veganism. Together with the host, they also prepared three simple meals – potato salad, bean paste, and banana mousse.
The day ended with a meeting "Among the Weeds" at the Council of Europe Square in front of the Silesian Library with Jacek Hugo-Bader, a journalist and reporter who refers to ecological themes in his work and is fascinated by the culture of the countries of the former Soviet Union.
- They call me a forest ranger and a vagabond, and I like these descriptions. I practice journalism in a hound-dog style, in a hooligan way. I have never been interested in official talks and meetings, for example with presidents, even though I had such an opportunity. I just wanted to look for interesting stories.
In a conversation with Bartłomiej Majzel, a poet and radio journalist, Jacek Hugo-Bader talked about eco-sensitivity, disappearing nature and nomadic peoples. At the end, several dozen participants could also ask questions to the hero of the meeting.
Eco Week lasts until Sunday, there are still places available for some workshops and meetings. More info on the website: https://program.miastonauki.pl/tydzien-eko.
The curator of the event was: Dr Hab. Eng. Ewa Brągoszewska, Prof. SUT, and the producer: M.Sc. Eng. Ewa Głuszek.
