Exploring Sustainability: Insights from Una Europa Summer School

The Summer School on Sustainability in Communication and Education recently concluded, organized as part of the Una Europa initiative and hosted by the University of Bologna. This event was a great success, bringing together PhD students from various countries and different academic backgrounds to focus on crucial topics such as communication and education for sustainability.

From July 1st to 5th, participants followed a comprehensive program that included lectures, workshops, and field trips. The sessions were conducted by distinguished faculty members from the Una Europa network, adopting a transdisciplinary approach that provided a rich and diverse learning experience, enhancing both theoretical and practical knowledge on sustainability.

Key Highlights

• Diverse and Inclusive Participation: The Summer School saw enthusiastic participation from PhD students from different parts of the world, fostering a global dialogue on sustainability.
• Sessions Conducted by Experts: Faculty from Una Europa universities delivered in-depth lectures and interactive workshops, sharing their expertise and research on sustainability communication and education.
• Field Trips: The program included a field trip to the Parco dei Gessi Bolognesi, offering practical experience and concrete insights into sustainability practices.
• Networking Opportunities: Participants had the chance to build a solid network with other PhD students and experts, paving the way for future collaborations.

The participants appreciated interacting with colleagues from various cultural and academic backgrounds, wishing to share their feedback.

Patrick, a PhD student from University College Dublin, shared his experience:

"We are in the midst of a climate crisis and many sustainability issues, so I want to learn from others across Europe how to best communicate sustainability and learn from each other. We were in the Gypsum Caves today, really very interesting. We had a fantastic week of workshops and learning, and there are many takeaways to bring back to Ireland and share with my colleagues. I really had a great time."

Elisa, from the University of Bologna, stated:

"The experience so far has been fantastic. We are doing a lot of activities and interacting with a lot of people from different contexts and different universities. My favourite part has been the collaborative activities we have had during these days and of course the field trip to learn more about gypsum and regional parks in Italy. I am really enjoying this experience."

Charlotte, from Freie Universität Berlin, added:

"We learnt a lot about networking and the most enriching part for me was the workshop on how to develop teaching skills that really engage the audience. I really enjoyed it, especially the group work where we had to create competing projects. I really enjoyed the energy and all the interesting people I met and I am sure I will be able to connect with many people."

Eva, from Universidad Complutense de Madrid, affirmed:

"What I appreciated most about this summer school was sharing with colleagues, being able to learn from another point of view, being a quite international and obviously multidisciplinary group. The workshops were not only interesting but also held by experts in different aspects of sustainability, communication, and obviously education. I believe that we should not only train academically but also engage in our different fields of study and, in the end, this is what sustainability represents, being international and multidisciplinary."