During her participation in the 2024 ESA Conference, held in Portugal, Dr. Katarzyna Iwińska took the opportunity to visit the University of Porto, a long-standing partner of Collegium Civitas.
This visit was no coincidence – our universities have been collaborating in the field of research for many years. From 2015 to 2017, the University of Porto was a partner in the international project Widening Interdisciplinary Sustainability Education (WISE), and from 2019 to 2022, it took part in its continuation, the Partnership for Sustainable Development and Social Innovation (PASSION). Both projects were led by Collegium Civitas under the direction of Dr. Iwińska.
During her visit, Dr. Iwińska met with Dr. Cristina Calheiros, a researcher and biotechnologist, who gave her a tour of the Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR). This modern research facility, located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, specializes in oceanology and ecology. The building itself is an architectural marvel, resembling a giant seashell. The two researchers discussed global challenges related to the human impact on the environment, the potential for further academic collaboration between the two universities, and the prospects for continuing the WISE and PASSION projects.
Dr. Iwińska also visited the Jardim Silvestre (Wild Garden) located within the Campo Alegre Botanical Park. This community initiative, with the active participation of students from the University of Porto, has successfully restored greenery to areas affected by human activity and construction. In 2016, the WISE project team planted a “WISE” tree in the garden as part of their contribution to the initiative.
We invite you to visit the WISE project website, where you will find innovative teaching materials developed by an interdisciplinary team of social and natural science researchers. These resources, based on case studies, provide valuable insights into sustainability education.
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The WISE project was funded by the Foundation for the Development of the Education System as part of the Strategic Partnerships competition under the Erasmus+ program. The PASSION project was funded by the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) under the Academic International Partnerships program.