Organized by the Interdisciplinary Research Department of the Science Area of the UNR, these First Conferences on Environmental Education take place in the Innova building.
The opening of the meeting was in charge of the Rector Franco Bartolacci, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change of the Province of Santa Fe Erika Gonnet, the Secretary General of the UNR Guillermo Montero, the Secretary of the Area of Science, Technology and Innovation for Development Elena Gasparri and the Director of Interdisciplinary Research Agustín Prospitti.
"If today the University is discussing environmental problems, it is because many people for a long time pushed from different places so that today the topic has the hierarchy and occupies the place it does," said Rector Bartolacci, acknowledging the awareness and genuine commitment of the young people who are the ones in the world alerting what is happening on our planet.
“Universities are often closed palaces of knowledge. We assume that we are convinced that all this transformative power must be turned around and face the problems that society has”, he expressed and clarified that the University is not only an institution that accredits training of excellence through a certificate, but also you have to make your contributions to transform people's lives. “That implies assuming an agenda that was not present, giving it centrality and hierarchy. One of the central and strategic issues in which we want to make a contribution is the environmental issue, ”she said.
The Minister of Environment and Climate Change of the Province of Santa Fe Erika Gonnet affirmed that there is a society that demands that the State take different actions in environmental matters. “In the province of Santa Fe we have a climate action law and at the national level there is a comprehensive environmental education law. Within this framework, environmental education is a fundamental axis”, she expressed and recognized the commitment of the University to mainstream the issue.
"The hope for transformation is that these issues are discussed from the beginning of the school journey," said UNR Secretary General Guillermo Montero, adding: "We believe that research in these areas is done in dialogue with the territory, there is than receiving the different views of the problems, these transform us researchers and the knowledge that we develop together, transform the territories”.
The official listed various actions that have been carried out by the University, such as the discussion on the reconversion of agricultural production systems, the enhancement of natural reserves in the south of the province, the recycling of computer materials, the removal of paper, the composting of canteen waste. In this sense, he commented that the equipment of the UNR environmental platform is about to be installed, which, among other services, will allow the detection of waste, he highlighted the actions of the University's Environmental Observatory and from the curricular point of view, the opening of diplomas and careers with different interdisciplinary perspectives. .
"From the University we intend to incorporate a transversal agenda on environmental issues and put educational paths in dialogue with society," said the secretary of the UNR Science, Technology and Innovation for Development Area Elena Gasparri and emphasized: "Environmental problems They question us as an institution of teaching and production of science and technology, so it is necessary that this production be deepened, reflected on and transformed in order to be able, in an interdisciplinary way, to respond to these problems.”
“These Conferences invite us to build an agenda for interdisciplinary reflection on environmental problems, on everyone's right to live in a healthy environment, to choose the way we want to live, to fight for our rights, to push for awareness in the urgency of the environmental drama”, said the Director of Interdisciplinary Research Agustín Prospitti and added: “It is essential to advance the environmental agenda and education has a crucial role”.
The first central panel focused on "The right to environmental education as a public policy" and was led by Roberto Marengo (UBA), Juliana Enrico (UNC), Lía Bachmann (UBA) and Graciela Mandolini (CTERA - UNR). The round tables addressed “Environmental education at different educational levels. Political-pedagogical challenges in the framework of the comprehensive environmental education law” and “Research from the University: environmental problems and the challenge of interdisciplinary work”.
The second central panel refers to "Conflict and environment: approach from the educational point of view" and is in charge of Silvina Corbetta (UNAHUR), Pablo Sessano (UBA) and Raúl Montenegro (UNC). The round tables revolve around the "Approach to environmental education from the State. Perspectives from the local, provincial and national level” and “Environment and heritage: A way of thinking about sovereignty from the protection of our natural and cultural landscape”.
The Conferences were organized by the Observatory of Education and Environment and the Directorate of Interdisciplinary Research of the Area of Science, Technology and Innovation for Development of the UNR.
Journalist: Victoria Arrabal/Photographer: Juan Giovacchini