Tag Archive for: Prague

11th WEEC: Hybrid, young and integrated

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The 11th edition of the WEEC world environmental education congress has come to an end.
A special edition, held in Prague (Czech Republic) from 14 to 18 March 2022, characterized during its organization, by two years of pandemic. This has led to a change in the travel and training habits of all environmental educators, teachers and researchers, associations and institutions.

The WEEC adapted to the new context proposing for the first time a hybrid edition. It was a bet, which we can say we have won: about a third of the delegates participated online, making the participation possible for those who couldn’t or didn’t move (for health reasons, uncertainty linked to travel or for the costs).
The hybrid congress – which will probably remain in the next editions – will open the door to many new delegates, becoming more and more inclusive and welcoming. Environmental education is not for “a select few”, it must involve associations, parks, young people… and the 11th congress in Prague did it. «The future belongs to hybrid congresses – said Prof. Jan Cincera, co-chair of the congress and LOC organiser – I was quite sceptical about this, however in reality it worked very well. There may not be a covid in the next few years, but we will be certainly dealing with the carbon footprint. The key is to professionally provide and set up the interactive platform to suit the needs of the event. We were the first hybrid WEEC in history, but probably not the last».

The youth congress was a great success, it gathered over 120 participants from 22 countries and allowed children to compare themselves with each other and also with the adult congress. «The linking the “big” congress with the youth congress worked very well – added Cincera – In the future, I could imagine a higher level of integration between the two events. The YEEC organizers did a great job!»

An online platform with recordings of all content is built, extending the congress beyond its runtime, a participatory way, for creating a wider community. «The linking of the “academic” and “field-based, practice-oriented” parts also worked very well. Again, I could imagine a higher level of integration. Both “theorists” and “practitioners” have their own unique perspectives and it is important that they meet from time to time».

The 11WEEC is a new stage of the path started in 2003, with inspiring debates, conferences, and presentations. Every congress is a milestone for environmental education worldwide «but the congresses should above all be an opportunity of coagulation for a flow of energies, proposals, regenerative learning experiences, and best practices – explained Prof Salomone, Secretary General of the WEEC Network – It is crucial to fill the time between a congress and the next one, not only as individuals or education bodies but as a worldwide network.
As permanent secretariat, our human and technical resources are limited but are at the disposal of the worldwide community of researchers, teachers, and educators.
So, many positions are open at the network: positions for volunteers, for goodwill people. We must enhance initiatives and prepare at best the next congress thanks to the help of a large community».

Higher levels of integration, roadmap for future events

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The future belongs to hybrid congresses. I was quite sceptical about this, however in reality it worked very well. There may not be a covid in the next few years, but we will be certainly dealing with the carbon footprint. The key is to professionally provide and set up the interactive platform to suit the needs of the event. We were the first hybrid WEEC in history, but probably not the last.

An online platform with recordings of all content is a “game-changer”, extending the congress beyond its runtime. The only question is how much it will be used in the coming months.

It’s important to do congresses of this type in a participatory way, involving people from the wider community. It was challenging sometimes (there were a lot of people to coordinate), but it definitely paid off.

The linking the “big” congress with the youth congress worked very well. In the future, I could imagine a higher level of integration between the two events. The YEEC organizers did a great job!

The linking of the “academic” and “field-based, practice-oriented” parts also worked very well. Again, I could imagine a higher level of integration. Both “theorists” and “practitioners” have their own unique perspectives and it is important that they meet from time to time.

The conditions were not easy… but it was manageable. The support from our partners helped a lot: Charles University, Praha.eu, Ministerstvo životního prostředí, Skupina ČEZ, Kongresové centrum Praha, Embassy of Switzerland in the Czech Republic, British Chamber of Commerce Czech Republic – thank you!

And thanks so much to everyone who was in it with us!
Jan Činčera

11WEEC: We started “building bridges”

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The 11th WEEC started today in Prague in the new hybrid guise, linking more than 600 environmental educators, practitioners and experts who have come in person to the Czech Republic and those connected online from all over the world in a single embrace.

In the opening ceremony there were greetings and speeches from Miloš Vystrčil, President of the Senate of the Czech Republic, Anna Hubáčková, Minister of the Environment of the Czech Republic , Milena Králíčková, Charles University, Rector, the UN agencies representatives Stefania Giannini, UNESCO and Niclas Svenningsen, UNFCCC, Nouzha Alaoui, Secretary General of the Mohammed VI Foundation for the Environment, the sponsors and, of course, the chairs and organisers of the congress Mario Salomone, WEEC Permanent Secretariat and Jan Činčera, Masaryk University, Local Organizing Team.

«In spite of everything – said Mario Salomone – against all the odds, we are here, in some way, in person or thanks to the Internet. “Thanks” is the first word I want to underline, the second is “In spite of everything, we are here”. After two years of huge pandemic and in times of war near us, with refugees around us. This goal is ever valid, solid, and compelling. This year we celebrate two significant fiftieth anniversaries: the first UN conference on the environment in Stockholm and the MIT report to the Club of Rome: “The Limits to Growth”. Environmental education is to build a new ecological society.
According to Edgar Morin, it is to build a human community -a planetary community of destiny. Thanks to the culture of interdependence, and of the limits, it can come to light, a culture we can cultivate, breed, and spread.
We must be a force of peace and ecological transition drivers. It needs more competences, more research, more relationships, and alliances. In sum, more contacts and a stronger WEEC Network».

Jan Činčera highlighted the good chance and joy of being reunited again on such a occasion of professional growth and networking.

Nouzha Alaoui underlined the role of the countries of the southern hemisphere, still underestimated, but facilitated by the spread of new technologies that shorten distances and make online connections possible.

Anna Hubáčková, Minister of the Environment of the Czech Republic, underlined the importance of the European Green Deal and the challenges to be faced with regard to the delay in communicating climate change. Along the same lines, the rector of the University of Prague reiterated the need for collaboration between schools to strengthen the SDGs. Thus Stefania Giannini, Unesco, drew attention to issues related to youth for climate.

Two interventions focused on the means we already have available for sustainability. Svenningsen said that people are the most important goal, the work that needs to be done is to give the means for understanding the tools we already have. Piccard stressed on education and economics are not in competition, they are two poles that must be in balance. “we already have the tools to build the future we imagined and the solutions are already among us, we have collected over a thousand!”

VIDEO Join the 11th WEEC Congress in Prague

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We are happy to invite you to the 11th World Environmental Education Congress.
Discover why to join the most important meeting for academics and practitioners involved in environmental education

WEEC2022: “2G” policy for the onsite participation

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Three months remain to the 11th World Environmental Education Congress in Prague.  Despite our hopes, the world still struggles with the global pandemia of COVID-19. In Central Europe, we experience the new wave of this infection. At the same time, we have more reasons for optimism than a year ago. The new vaccines provide a reasonable level of protection against severe illness. Based on the previous experience and the contemporary pandemic speed, we have good reasons to expect the situation to improve by the end of winter.
After consideration, we decided to keep the hybrid form of WEEC as it is planned. You are welcome to participate in either online or onsite forms. You may also use the mix of both worlds – you can register onsite but participate online in plenary sessions or other parts of congress. Please, find the way that works best for you.
For the onsite participation, we adopt the “2G” policy. As a result, we will ask participants to prove that they are either fully vaccinated or have recently recovered from COVID-19. We hope you understand this requirement – we want to make our meeting safe for everyone. We are looking forward to meeting you – either online or in Prague – in March 2022! Keep safe and healthy

11th WEEC: Not sure about COVID and travel? Join us in building bridges online

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The 11th WEEC, as the first in its history, is applying the hybrid conference format. As a result, participants may choose between online and onsite participation. In light of the changing pandemic situation, participants may register either online or onsite and switch between these modes until the end of December 2021.

What does online participation look like?
As an online participant 
⦁ You can actively participate by submitting your presentation or participating without a presentation
⦁ You can choose whether to introduce your presentation in one of the virtual rooms in real-time and get immediate feedback or just upload it on the virtual platform and discuss it on the discussion forum
⦁ You will have access to the virtual platform with all of the ongoing online presentations and workshops, streamed onsite plenary sessions, and recordings of the parallel sessions (both online and onsite)
⦁ You can discuss selected topics with all of the WEEC participants
⦁ You can access the virtual platform up to one year after the closing of WEEC

The online presentation is reasonable if you want to be a part of WEEC but cannot come to Prague. Let’s join online!

Any questions about the online WEEC?
Contact Jan at cincera@mail.muni.cz

Abstract submissions close: 30th November 

Due to the covid’s situation, this time WEEC gives you the chance to choose between online and onsite participation

WEEC2022: connecting cultures in Prague VIDEO

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The WEEC congress is for and about all those of us who are not indifferent, but passionate about environmental education.
We are looking forward to seeing you along with all the chairs, guest speakers and staff of the Czech centres from 14-18 March 2022

WEEC2022: submission & early bird registration deadlines extended

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More than 300 submissions from more than 40 countries have already been submitted to the 11th World Environmental Education Congress (14-18 March 2022 in Prague)! The keynote speeches, cross-cutting dialogues, webinars, and panels form a basis for a rich and inspiring program.

At the same time, we know that many people still struggle with the uncertainty of the COVID situation in their countries and need more time planning. In light of this, we have decided to postpone the upcoming deadlines: early bird registration to October 1st and abstract submission to November 30th

We hope that more time makes congress more available for the world environmental and sustainability education community.

In addiction, we allow an opportunity to flexibly change the form of registration from onsite to online (and vice versa) by the end of December 2021. What does it mean? If you are not sure about coming to Prague, you may still register for the onsite participation and submit one of the onsite forms of presentation now. In December 2021, you may change your registration from the onsite to online (or from online to onsite) form. This change could be done only one time and in the mentioned period. After this, you will automatically receive the surplus (for the change from onsite to online) or asked to pay the difference in the registration fee (for the change from online to onsite).

We are looking forward to seeing you!

Water for life: a cross-cutting theme at 11WEEC

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Photo by @naja_bertolt_jensen Unsplash

Photo by @naja_bertolt_jensen Unsplash

Water quality and quantity are very crucial for sustaining life in many parts of the world. In arid and semi-arid zones, communities are suffering from water scarcity due to population growth, climate change and lack of technological development. Therefore, education for water conservation and reuse in an urban setting is very crucial for sustaining life in dry regions.

The cross-cutting theme “water for life” addresses issues of water reclamation using extensive technologies, which are suitable for low technology and suitable for direct application in an urban setting. The utilized technologies will also be suitable for the collection of stormwater. The workshop “water for life” will establish a group of educators and researchers interested in using the topic “water” to enhance the awareness and research in environmental education and will follow the group established in WEEC 2019 in Bangkok. The subtheme consists of two parts, the round table session (90 min) and the follow-up workshop (60 min). As an output of the workshop, a subgroup of water for life will be formed.

The Round table session focuses on sharing the experience with the following topics (not limited to):

– extensive technologies for wastewater and greywater treatment suitable for none-potable water reuse
– environmental education through water conservation and reuse
– water quality and natural water treatment processes
– case studies of water treatment and utilization for environmental education water cycle and the impact of human activities
– utilization of treated wastewater and stormwater for green city projects

Individual presenters are assigned to numbered tables in rooms where interested participants may gather for discussion with the presenter about his/her paper or project.

Short presentations (up to 15 min) are expected. These discussions will be held in English. All of the submissions will be reviewed.

More about this session and abstract submissions.

Prague: flying to a more sustainable airport

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Prague Airport welcomes WEEC delegates with major improvements in terms of sustainability.
Together with other airports, airlines and aircraft manufacturers, the airport has committed itself to reducing the environmental impact of aviation in the pan-European Destination 2050 initiative and introduced a commitment to reach carbon neutrality on all flights across Europe and beyond by 2050.

“Airlines are phasing out older aircraft and replacing them with new, much greener and more environmentally friendly models. In about the next ten years, Prague Airport plans to execute several long-term development and sustainable projects, which include, for example, the expansion of the Terminal 2 building. In the preparatory phase of the terminal capacity increase project, very close coordination with Správa železnic (The Railway Administration) is pursued regarding a train connection to Václav Havel Airport Prague. The goal is to provide a more environmentally-friendly and more convenient way of transport to the airport” Vaclav Rehor, Chairman of the Prague Airport Board of Directors, said.

Terminal capacities will also be expanded in a sustainable way. The intention is to minimise the overall impact of the construction on the environment, for example by using recycled materials, retaining and subsequently using rainwater, etc. Another goal is to ensure a quality indoor and outdoor environment for users, reduce the use of non-renewable natural energy sources for the implementation and operation of the building and, in terms of energy concept, strive for the building maximum energy self-sufficiency. “During the next development stages of the building design, we will reduce the energy, water and material consumption requirements. Wherever possible, we will look to generate these sources locally. Similarly, we will promote the use, for example, of renewable solar energy, heat pumps and other sources with minimal environmental impact,” Soňa Hykyšová, Prague Airport Environmental Protection Director, added.

Prague Airport also supports environmental protection projects in the surrounding municipalities and city districts. Since 2004, over 380 million crowns were invested in environmental projects under the “Living in Harmony” grant programme.

Examples of Prague Airport “Green” Achievements:
-Long-term reduction of CO2 emissions
– Since 2019, 100% green electricity.
– Biomonitoring (using bees, fruit and crop). Honey produced by airport bees has an excellent quality. It has won the Gold Medal in the Czech Honey contest for the seventh time in a row.
– Taking care of over 3,000 mature trees and shrubs and of about 580 hectares of grassed areas. In terms of species, there are 42 species of woody plants.
– Since 2012, replacing conventional light sources with LED lights. The 2020 electricity cost savings exceeded seven million Czech crowns.
– Limiting the use of disposable plastics.