In today’s episode, we dive into the transformative project unfolding at Jagiellonian University, where the campus itself becomes a living laboratory for green initiatives. Join me as we explore how the university is fostering collaboration, innovation, and sustainability in the heart of Krakow, Poland.
Introducing the Campus Living Lab Project (CaLiLab)
In this episode, the discussion lies with the innovative Campus Living Lab project, aimed at reshaping university spaces and fostering community engagement. Jaroslaw Dzialek, a human geographer and representative of the project, shares insights into its vision and mission.
This initiative aims to transform the university campus into a hub for environmental innovation and collaboration with the wider community.
“We are about to make a change at the university, how the university is cooperating with stakeholders around the university and how we also use our space for the good of the whole city, not just the university.”
Nestled between a growing urban district and a natural landscape park, Jagiellonian University finds itself at a unique intersection of urban development and biodiversity conservation. Here, the Campus Living Lab project flourishes, showcasing diverse green spaces that serve aesthetic, educational, and ecological purposes.
“We are in the middle of these two different ways of using the land. And we can show diversity of different types of greenery and different types of using green spaces.”
Catalyzing Collaboration
The vision of the Campus Living Lab project is clear: to foster collaboration among researchers, students, and external stakeholders to tackle pressing environmental issues. The project seeks to rectify past oversights in campus development while proactively tackling issues such as climate change and biodiversity loss.
“Our final goal is to create an environment that would be a campus as a living lab.”
Campus Living Lab receives support from national initiatives, allowing for the execution of pilot projects spanning blue-green infrastructure and social-business innovations. The project embraces interdisciplinary collaboration, bridging faculties and expertise to address multifaceted challenges.
Through study visits and workshops, the project draws inspiration from established research activities such as Kampus+ while actively involving local communities, public authorities, and businesses in co-creation endeavors.
Upcoming Events: April 19th, 2024
While rooted in academia, the project extends a warm invitation to the wider community. Through inclusive workshops and events, the project seeks to bridge the gap between the university and its neighbors, fostering a sense of ownership and collective responsibility for the campus environment.
On April 19th, Jagiellonian University invites you to the Green Triangle to join a series of workshops and events aimed at fostering community engagement and environmental stewardship.
Mark your calendars for a series of engaging workshops, held under the patronage of the New European Bauhaus Festival satellite events:
- Campus design workshop: Explore innovative approaches to campus design, inclusivity, and sustainability with Modulo stamps
- Composter building workshop: Learn how to build composters for a future community garden, promoting waste reduction and organic farming.
- Nature walk exploration for young & old: Engage children in hands-on activities to discover local flora and fauna, fostering a love for nature from an early age.
- Greening the Campus: Join efforts to transform a construction site into a vibrant green space, with opportunities for planting and ecological education
Register to join the event or if you are not able to join the event onsite: you can also join the online Seminar to experience the open panel discussion with international experts, representatives of campus living labs from different European countries.
Embracing experimentation
The ultimate goal of the Campus Living Lab project transcends its immediate objectives, envisioning a campus ecosystem where experimentation, innovation, and community collaboration converge to address evolving environmental challenges.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Jaroslaw Dzialek for sharing his insights and passion for this inspiring project. And to our listeners, I urge you to seize this opportunity to be part of a movement that’s redefining the relationship between urban spaces and nature.
Whether you’re a student, researcher, community member, or simply passionate about sustainability, we invite you to be part of this transformative journey. Register for the event on April 19th (either online or onsite) as we pave the way for a greener, more sustainable future. Together, let’s turn our Campuses into living laboratories for sustainable innovation. Hope to see you there!
- Host and Editor: Fanny Téoule
- Guest: Jarosław Działek, Dr hab., prof. Jagiellonian University
- Music composer: Jenny Nedosekina
- Graphic designer: Julia Micklewright