The communes of Ostrów Mazowiecka and Izabelin as well as Inventia sp. z o.o. are among the winners of the UKSW Ecology Competition “Common Green Future”. On Thursday, the closing gala of the contest took place at the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University.
– Our University intends to promote and develop pro-environmental activities in Poland and in Europe. In our ecology research, we are not confined to UKSW but we undertake various initiatives to promote the idea of nature protection or sustainability in collaboration with various community and business partners, said rev. Marek Stokłosa, PhD hab., University professor, Chancellor responsible for Research and International Cooperation at UKSW at the opening of the gala.
Professor Jacek Tomczyk, PhD, Director of the UKSW Center for Ecology and Ecophilosophy, noted that joint work is the most effective methodology for pro-environmental activity. – Therefore, the role of our Competition is to promote and integrate the various circles that are jointly engaged in working for the future of our country, he said.
Awarded best designs
The awards were presented in three categories: research (with three sub-categories), local government (with two sub-categories), and technology. In the latter category, Inventia Sp. z o.o. received an award for developing an innovative system for monitoring soil conditions in cultivation using wireless data transmission.
In the Local Government: Rural Communes category, the commune of Izabelin was awarded for its innovative projects to reduce the volume of waste, for waste management and promoting the circular economy. The commune of Jednorożec was also recognized in this category for promoting local solidarity in execution of environmental projects.
In the Local Government: Other Communes, the award was given to the commune of Ostrów Mazowiecka for its valuable project that contributes to improved energy efficiency and accomplishment of climate neutrality in the territory of the commune. The Mława Town commune was awarded for promoting green infrastructure and protecting the human environment, health and living standard.
In the Research: Research or Teaching Staff Projects category, the award went to Maciej Thomas, D.Eng., Przemysław Drzewicz, D.Eng., Angelika Więckol-Ryk, M.Eng., and Balamurugan Panneerselvam, PhD, for the development of an innovative method of using potassium ferrite for treatment of waste at car wash stations.
In the Research: PhD Dissertations category, the award for a proposal of an environmentally friendly method of reducing growth of phytopathogenic fungi by yeast was presented to Izabela Podgórska-Kryszczuk, D.Eng., and in the Research: Bachelor and Master Projects category, Sylwia Chorchos was awarded for presentation of the importance of ecology education during a time of energy crisis. Additional award was given in this category to Mateusz Adam Baluk for his proposal of a nanotechnology method of inactivating strains of bacteria.
“Joint Green Future”
The “Joint Green Future” competition is the only initiative of its kind in Poland, aimed at choosing the most valuable and innovative nature conservation projects. Several dozen interdisciplinary projects and local initiatives in the field of protecting the environment and climate, use of renewable energy sources or reasonable management of natural resources, were presented for competition.
The presented projects were evaluated by the jury of the competition, composed of outstanding researchers from several research centers in Poland, as well as representatives of institutions and organizations engaged in protecting the environment and climate.
– The experience of the recent days clearly indicate that we are dealing with an environmental crisis requiring urgent intervention. Therefore, the Global Catholic Climate Movement undertakes various initiatives such as the Laudato Si’ animators program, or the Green Parishes program, promoting environmental awareness among the Catholics and everyone living on our planet. ‘We want to inspire and mobilize the Catholic community to care about the home we share together and to work for climate and environmental justice’, says Piotr Abramczyk, Board President of GCCM Poland – Global Catholic Climate Movement Foundation.
– Any initiative aimed at seeking green environmental impact options and efficiency of materials is very close to our hearts and is consistent with Fortum’s overall activity. Therefore, we commit to such projects as the ecology competition, to appreciate the initiatives focused on energy efficiency and CO2 emission reduction – says Piotr Górnik, Board President of Fortum Power and Heat Polska, partner of the competition.
Energy crisis vs. the environment
The presentation of winners and awards came along with the presentation of a research project entitled “Catholics’ opinions and awareness of climate change” and a discussion panel on “Energy crisis vs. the environment”.
Participants of the panel: prof. Krzysztof Biernat, D.Eng.; Andrzej Kulczycki, PhD hab., University professor; Kinga Makuch, PhD; prof. Maciej Nowicki, PhD hab., eng.; Piotr Górnik, Board President of Fortum Power and Heat Polska, debated whether nuclear energy in Poland would be a safe solution for the energy crisis in Poland. They also evaluated the future of coal energy and the opportunities offered by renewable energy sources as an alternative for nuclear energy. Agata Kosieradzka-Federczyk, PhD of UKSW, was the moderator of the discussion.
Krzysztof Jodłowski from the Global Climate Movement stated that a positive attitude to protecting the environment and the climate is gaining momentum in projects promoting green solutions in the field of research, technology, or good local government practice.
Premiere of The Letter movie
At the grand final of the “Joint Green Future” Ecology Competition Gala, a documentary entitled The Letter was shown, featuring Pope Francis. The Letter is a history of a group of environmental activists who travel to Rome to talk to the Holy Father about the message conveyed by the Laudato Si’ encyclical. During that unique meeting of Catholic eco-activists with the Pope, we learn the personal history of Pope Francis which has not yet been mentioned by the biographers of the Bishop of Rome.
Moribaya band played at the gala as an international group of artists, men of passion and travelers from Poland, Burkina Faso, Australia and Ukraine.
The Ecology Competition is organized by the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in collaboration with the Ministry of Climate and the Environment, the Regional Government of Mazowieckie Voivodeship and the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management. The Global Catholic Climate Movement and a power company Fortum are among the partners of the Competition. The media sponsors of the Competition are: TVP3 Warszawa and Biznes & Ekologia magazine.
WINNERS OF THE “JOINT GREEN FUTURE” ECOLOGY COMPETITION
Category: Research
Sub-category: Research or Teaching Staff Projects
1st award: Maciej Thomas, D.Eng., Przemysław Drzewicz, D.Eng., Angelika Więckol-Ryk, M.Eng., Balamurgan Panneerselvam, PhD
Justification: For an innovative method of using potassium ferrite for treatment of waste at car wash stations.
Sub-category: PhD Dissertations
1st award: Izabela Podgórska-Kryszczuk, D.Eng.
Justification: For a proposal of an environmentally friendly method of reducing growth of phytopathogenic fungi by yeast.
Sub-category: Bachelor and Master Projects
1st award: Sylwia Chorchos
Justification: For presentation of the importance of ecology education during a time of energy crisis.
Additional award: Mateusz Adam Baluk
Justification: For a proposal of a nanotechnology method of inactivating strains of bacteria.
Category: Local Government
Sub-Category: Projects of Rural Communes
1st award – Izabelin commune
Justification: For innovative projects to reduce the volume of waste, for waste management and promoting the circular economy.
Additional award: Jednorożec commune
Justification: For promoting local solidarity in execution of environmental projects.
Sub-Category: Projects of Other Communes
1st award – Ostrów Mazowiecka commune
Justification: For a valuable project that contributes to improved energy efficiency and accomplishment of climate neutrality in the territory of the commune.
Additional award: Town of Mława
Justification: For promoting green infrastructure and protecting the human environment, health and living standard.
Categories: Technologies
1st award: Inventia Sp. z o.o.
Justification: For developing an innovative system for monitoring soil conditions in cultivation using wireless data transmission.
12 January 2023
