Between 14 March and 25 May everyone could join an eco-marathon held as part of the project “Green Campus VSU: On the green track”. Among the main activities were the introduction of separate waste collection systems and the installation of special bins in the university building. Informational lectures on how to sort waste and what to do with it were held for students. The students’ eco-marathon was aimed at the promotion of eco-friendly habits and lifestyle.
Students also visited the EcoSPHERA land fill, one of the largest waste sorting plants in the Voronezh Region. The employees told students about how the plant works and gave them a tour during which they talked about the issue of waste in our region and paid special attention to the need for a large-scale implementation of separate waste collection.
VSU students and staff also took part in the eco-challenge “10 simple steps to a Zero Waste lifestyle”. Over the course of 5 weeks, the participants performed tasks aimed at the development of eco-friendly thinking, healthy habits, and saying no to unnecessary things. Many participants performed their tasks creatively and shared their experience and ideas.
A video competition “My green university” was announced and the applications can still be submitted. You can find more information on the VK page of the project.
The most active participants of the eco-marathon were awarded with a trip to the Nelzha recreation park where they visited the Sokolov Khutor museum complex. As part of an interactive excursion “Truth be told”, the students learnt more about the everyday life of zemstvo schools as well as their students and teachers, joined some agricultural works, and tried to perform some everyday tasks of peasants. After that, they were invited to a dinner and a themed tea party.
The students’ eco-marathon was aimed at the promotion of eco-friendly habits and lifestyle.
“Students learnt to follow the principles of rational use. For example, they could give away unnecessary things, save resources, give up disposable things in favour of those that can be used repeatedly, sorted, and recycled. These new skills and knowledge obtained during the eco-marathon have become important elements of everyday life without waste,” said Lilia Alayeva, one of the coordinators of the eco-marathon and Associate Professor from the Department of Ecology and Land Resources of the Faculty of Medicine and Biology.
Although the eco-marathon is over, the work within the Green Campus VSU project still continues. There are new events and activities ahead that VSU students and staff can take part in, among them are the opening of an apothecary garden and the announcement of the results of the “My green university” video competition.
You can check out the latest news on the VK page of the project and on the website of the International Relations Office.
