Activities - University Sustainability Days

The language used in presentations etc. will be Swedish.

Activities

Scroll for details.

• Workshop Carbon Budget and Academic Work, 25 March
• Make Your Own Beeswax Wrap and Learn More About Bees, 25–28 March
• Sustainable IT, 25–27 March
• Grab a Pizza Slice and Start Carpooling! 25 March
• Commuting with Västtrafik, 26 March
• Business Travel, 26 March
• Workshop, 26 March: AI as Part of Socially Sustainable Teaching – Focus on Critical Approach and Ethical Responsibility
• Sustainable Career, 26 March
• Researcher Meeting: Social Innovation Hub (MSI), 27 March
• Freedom on a Bicycle (Cykelfrämjandet), 27 March
• Does Your Bike Need a Tune-Up? 27 March
• Clothing Swap Day, 28 March
• Inspirational Lecture on Clothing, 28 March
• Speakers' Corner – Lectures on Sustainable Development, 26–27 March
• Exhibition of New Books on Sustainable Development and Sale of Deaccessioned Books, 24–28 March
• Plant and Cutting Exchange, 24–28 March

Workshop: Carbon Budget and Academic Work, 25 March

The Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) and the University of Borås jointly invite teachers and researchers from both institutions to a workshop on climate-conscious working methods. The workshop focuses on sharing experiences, solutions to goal conflicts, and finding new cultures and forms of collaboration with high quality.

Time: 10:00–11:45
Place: Digital meeting
Language: Swedish
Zoom link: To be provided later
Register by: 21 March via our web form (in Swedish)

Background:
The University of Borås has implemented the carbon budget across the entire organisation to reduce emissions from business travel, and the risk and impact analysis shows that goal conflicts exist. KTH will soon decide on implementing a climate budget that includes reduced emissions from business travel.

The workshop is an opportunity to discuss issues and consider solutions that can assist the institutions in their implementation work to reduce emissions from air travel and provide solutions to the goal conflicts. Researchers will contribute their perspectives on working climate-consciously as researchers.

The workshop is primarily aimed at research and teaching staff, but all employees at both institutions are welcome.

Contact:

Birgitta Losman, Sustainability Strategist, University of Borås
Email: birgitta.losman@hb.se
Phone: 033-435 40 00

Nils Lindh, Administrative Officer for Sustainable Development, University of Borås
Email: nils.lindh@hb.se
Phone: 033-435 40 00

Peter Serrander, Collaboration Coordinator, University of Borås
Email: peter.serrander@hb.se
Phone: 033-435 40 00

Kristina Von Oelreich, Sustainability Manager, The Royal Institute of Technology
Email: krvo@kth.se
Phone: 08 790 88 31

Make your own beeswax cloth and learn about bees, 25 and 28 March

Back by popular demand! This year we will have more sessions.  

Reduce plastic use by using beeswax cloths instead of plastic wrap. Emilie Jamot, beekeeper, explains how bees contribute to sustainability. And together with Emilie, you can make your own beeswax cloth. Easy to do and they can can be reused over and over again. Store fruit, vegetables, sandwiches, etc. in the cloths or cover bowls with them for storage in the fridge. The warmth of your hands allows the fabric to form to the shape you want. The beeswax has antibacterial properties making it ideal for food storage but not for meat/poultry/fish. Hand wash the cloths carefully in lukewarm water with a dish brush and a little mild detergent. 

Beeswax can be purchased at cost (to be paid via Swish on site), Rekotex provides organic fabric pieces.  

Date and time:  
25 March 10:00–11:00
26 March 13:00–14:00 
27 March 10:00–11:00 
28 March 10:00–11:00 
 
Location: Textile Museum of Sweden: Do It Yourself area. We will gather at the entrance to the Textile Museum of Sweden.  

NOTE! Limited number of places (maximum 15 participants per session), first come, first served. Those who receive a place will receive a confirmation email. 

Register by March 14 in our online form (in Swedish)
Form fields will be:
Namn=Name
E-post=Email
Jag är student= I am a student
Jag är anställd=I am en employee
Som anställd jobbar jag på= As an employee I work at faculty/department
Choose a date and time
Behandling av pesonuppgifter=Accept the processing of personal data
Skicka=Submit

Questions? Contact Elisabeth Emanuelsson by email: elisabeth.emanuelsson@hb.se 

Sustainable IT, 25-27 March 

Have you accumulated IT gadgets that are lying around in a drawer in your office? Do you have a lot of data stored? Then you should come to B3 in Balder during the Sustainability Days.

There you can drop off IT gadgets and learn how to do a digital cleanup. 

Learn more about how to do a digital cleanup

Grab a pizza slice and get started with carpooling, 25 March

Do you have extra space in your car or don't have a car and are looking for someone to ride with? Get started with carpooling! The carpool group Skjutsgruppen will show how and the City of Borås will offer pizza.

During the university's sustainability week, we want to show you how to get started with carpooling to school, work, or leisure activities. You can save money, meet new people and reduce emissions at the same time. Win-win-win! You will be helped to start using the Skjutsgruppen smart carpooling platform immediately via your smartphone. Who knows, maybe you'll find someone to start carpooling with right away!  

Free membership for those who participate.  

The City of Borås offers a one-year membership in Skjutsgruppen during the event (membership price is SEK 80/year). We also offer pizza slices (until we run out).  

Skjutsgruppen is a non-profit organisation that has been working with carpooling since 2007. They have received national and international attention for their smart carpooling platform, which has been joined by the Swedish Tourist Association (STF), Friluftsfrämjandet and the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, among others. Together with Region Västra Götaland, Skjutsgruppen has developed a carpooling function for commuting that is open to all members to use.  

Find out more about the Skjutsgruppen (in Swedish)  

Time: 12:00-13.00   

Location: “Vardagsrummet” aka the University Library foyer, Sandgärdet entrance. 

The event is free and no pre-registration is required.

Welcome! 

Questions can be sent to maria.westerlund@hb.se  

Commuting with Västtrafik, 26 March

Västtrafik will be there to tell you about the student discount – come and listen and ask questions! 
 
By the way, did you know that the University of Borås has a carbon budget for employees' air travel? Come and ask Maria & Maria questions in “Vardagsrummet” aka the University Library foyer, and they can tell you more.

Time: 11:30–13:00 
Location: “Vardagsrummet” aka the University Library foyer, Sandgärdet entrance.

Work travel,  26 March

Maria Kantvik from HR and Maria Westerlund from the Campus Facilities and Sustainability Office will be in “Vardagsrummet” aka the University Library foyer. Get answers to questions about work travel, public transport, our agreements and rules.  

Get tips on public transport, annual travel passes, Egencia travel agency, ask questions about the carbon budget and more. 

Time: 11:30–13:00 
Location: “Vardagsrummet” aka the University Library foyer, Sandgärdet entrance.

Workshop: AI as part of socially sustainable education – focus on critical thinking and ethical responsibility, 26 March

The workshop focuses on addressing technological advances in artificial intelligence (AI) with a discussion that brings out the complexities and nuances of both the challenges and opportunities that AI brings: Technological feasibility in relation to critical approaches and ethical values, in the context of social sustainable development. 

The activity is aimed at staff working in education.  

ICT educators will be on site.  

No registration is required. Limited number of spots: 38 spots, first come first served.

Time: 10:15-11:15
Location: D307 

Welcome!

More about the workshop

The workshop provides an opportunity to collectively reflect on the use of AI and how it can be managed in academia in a critical and ethically responsible way. Specific values of academic integrity such as intellectual honesty and respect will be discussed theoretically but also practically, how they can be made visible in teaching and how frameworks can be formulated and applied in academia.

If you have any questions, please contact Maria Cronqvist, Associate Professor and Senior Lecturer at the Department of Educational Work at the University of Borås: marita.cronqvist@hb.se
Tel: 033-435 4269 

Tip!

For anyone interested in learning more about a critical approach and how to handle AI in an ethically responsible way, two university pedagogical courses are also offered:
A critical approach in higher education - visibility in teaching and AI as part of teaching - in the perspective of academic integrity 

Read more about the courses (in Swedish)

Sustainable career, 26 March

Study and Career Counselling will discuss sustainable career choices and green guidance based on the 2030 Agenda and the three dimensions of sustainability: social, environmental and career resilience. 

Date and time: March 26 around lunch  

Location: “Vardagsrummet” aka the University Library foyer, Sandgärdet entrance. 

Welcome! 

Research Meeting: Social Innovation Hub (MSI), 27 March

In conjunction with the university's sustainability days, we at MSI Borås are organising our first research meeting with a focus on collaboration.

Time: 12:30–14:00
Location: A604

The research meeting is aimed at researchers from all disciplines at the University of Borås with an interest in the field of social innovation. Maria Wolmesjö, Professor of Social Work, will talk about MSI's national research network and opportunities to engage in upcoming research activities.

Themes and issues from previous research meetings in the national knowledge platform will be presented. Researchers interested in the field are welcome to share their interests, making it inclusive for all participants.

Collaboration is a crucial aspect of social innovation, which by nature is often cross-sectoral and involves the private, non-profit, and public sectors. Therefore, it is important that research on social innovation also works cross-sectorally. The research meeting will be an opportunity to discuss issues, share experiences, and identify common needs.

We will capture needs and interests for upcoming research meetings with a thematic focus on how we can work with innovative solutions to societal challenges together.

Registration required. Email: ulrika.sjolund@hb.se

Contact for questions: Ulrika Sjölund, Node Manager, Social Innovation Hub, University of Borås. Email: ulrika.sjolund@hb.se, Phone: 033-435 4000.
Maria Wolmesjö, Professor, Department of Work Life and Welfare, University of Borås. Email: maria.wolmesjo@hb.se, Phone: 079-3002717.

Freedom by Bike (Cykelfrämjandet), 27 March

Monika Sekovska, project manager at Cykelfrämjandet, the Swedish national cycling advocacy organisation, will be on site in the “Vardagsrummet” aka the University Library foyer during lunch, and will speak about cycling courses and that Cykelfrämjandet is looking for volunteers who want to teach people in Borås to cycle, for example newly arrived adults.   

Time: around lunchtime  
Location: “Vardagsrummet” aka the University Library foyer, Sandgärdet entrance.

Cykelfrämjandet is a non-profit organisation that works towards better cycling in Sweden. Cykelfrämjandet believes that everyone, regardless of age, should have the opportunity to learn to ride a bike. Cycling courses are offered in several locations around the country. The courses are mainly aimed at adults, but young people from 13 years old are also welcome. Cykelfrämjandet is represented in many cities in Sweden has been in Borås since 2023.

Read more about Cykelfrämjandet

Contact: monika.sekovska@cykelframjandet.se  

Questions can be addressed to maria.westerlund@hb.se 

Does your bike need a tune-up? 27 March

Jonas Ehrenberg, University Library, will guide you. You'll fix your bike together, so you can learn how to fix it yourself. Jonas will be on site with his bike stand and tools and will show how to lubricate things, adjust brakes, and change tyres. Bring any needed spare parts.   

Time: 11:00-13:00 

Location: “Vardagsrummet” aka the University Library foyer, Sandgärdet entrance. 

Welcome! 

Clothing Swap, 28 March

Welcome to the university's and the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation's clothes swap day for students and staff!

Where and when? Wednesday, 28 March in the Do-tank Center, Textile Fashion Center.     

09:30-11:00 Collection of clothes. Women's/men's/children's garments are fine, up to ten garments in total. Clothing should be intact and clean. 

12.00-14:00 Clothing Swap! Come and pick up the same number of garments as you dropped off. (There will be a single changing room.) 

Leftover clothes will be donated by the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation to the Red Cross. 

Inspirational lecture on clothing, 28 March

Students and staff are invited to hear Johanna Persson from the library talk about how to put your own stamp on your clothes.  

She will showcase some of her own creations and give examples of how to style your outfit for different occasions, such as going to a concert. 

For many years, Johanna has let her creativity flow by creating both clothes and jewelry. Why should clothes be boring? 

Location: Do-tank, Textile Fashion Center 

Time: 14:00 

Speakers’ Corner – lectures on sustainable development, 26-27 March

Welcome to Speakers’ Corner and listen to short lectures on sustainable development from different perspectives. Take the opportunity to ask questions! 

Location: “Vardagsrummet” aka the University Library foyer, Sandgärdet entrance. 

Most of the presentations will be in Swedish, but some will be in English.

26 March:

12:00 Climate transition and justice. Lotta Johansson, former director of Navet Science Center.  Birgitta Påhlsson, former teacher and sustainability coordinator at the University of Borås. Questions and discussions on solutions and opportunities for climate transition and justice. Birgitta and Lotta are both volunteers in Klimatomställning Borås and the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, Borås. 

12:10–12:30 Hållbarhet, klimatförändringar och perspektiv på lärande. Sumit Sharma, Senior Lecturer at Department of Textile Technology, speaks about “Advanced Nonwoven Structures for Water Harvesting and Energy Efficiency: Towards Sustainable Resource Management”. He will discuss how the unique fiber arrangements in nonwoven structures enable efficient fog harvesting and coalescing by balancing droplet capture, airflow resistance, and pore clogging. His research showcases innovative nonwoven materials that surpass conventional fog harvesting systems. These design principles can also be applied to advanced coalescing filters for industrial use, significantly improving energy efficiency by reducing moisture in HVAC systems. By enhancing water collection in fog-rich regions, these materials provide a sustainable solution for clean water access in vulnerable areas while reducing industrial energy consumption, contributing to environmental conservation. 
(In English)
 
12:30–12:50 Social Sustainability Through Inclusive Innovation and Practices. Speakers are Nasrine Olson, docent, Associate Professor, and Veronica Johansson Sydqvist , Senior Lecturer at the Swedish School of Library and Information Science:
– This talk explores the role of inclusion as a fundamental pillar of social sustainability and outlines how howINCLUDE - Centre or Inclusive Studies and the EU-funded project MuseIT contribute to a more equitable society by developing strategies and technologies that ensure cultural and social participation for all. 
(In English)

27 March:  

11:40-12:00 Meeting Place Social Innovation at the University of Borås (under establishment at Science Park Borås) is presented by Ulrika Sjölund who is the node manager together with Maria Wolmesjö, Professor of Social Work, who is involved in the knowledge platform as a researcher. The development of the activity, current projects and processes, and opportunities to participate are presented. 

12:00-12:20 The automotive industry's transition within the green transition and its social impacts. Mattias Bengtsson, Professor of Sociology, discusses in conversation with Marita Flisbäck, Professor and Scientific Director at the Centre for Welfare Studies, social sustainability consequences of the automotive industry's green transition in western Sweden. 

12:20-12:35 Sustainability, climate change and perspectives on learning. Therése Wahlström, Lecturer, doctoral student at the Department of Educational Work, talks about the research on climate change and ecological sustainability from a learning perspective. She also shares perspectives on how teaching about climate change can be more equitable and inclusive 

 12:35-12:55 This is not a socially sustainable society: Socio-economic examples from pre-school and primary education. Fredrik Zimmerman, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Educational Work on:  
Children and students from more disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds are more likely to fail at school and have poorer mental health, increasing their risk of exclusion. Parents' poorer economic conditions and lower education have the clearest relationship to this. This creates a negative spiral that reproduces exclusion. The fact that not all children in Sweden get the same chance is not socially sustainable. Fredrik Zimmerman's lecture focuses on giving examples of why poorer economic conditions and lower education have a negative effect at group level. In the lecture, several examples will focus on the income, education and occupation of guardians. So the lecturer's hope is to contribute with examples that teachers in different programmes can take with them to discuss social sustainability in Sweden. 

Exhibition of new books on sustainable development and sale of out-of-print books, 24-28 March

Do you want to learn more about sustainable development? Then you should come to the University Library and take a look. During the Sustainability Days, the library will have an exhibition of new books on sustainable development and will also provide tips on fiction on that theme. 

Starting March 24, the library will also have a spring term sale of culled books. This takes place on the ground floor of the library and the price is SEK 5 each.  The sale of culled books will continue until April 4.

Welcome! 

Exchange of seedlings and cuttings, 24-28 March 

Bring your cuttings or small seedlings and exchange them for another plant at our exchange table outside the University Library entrance!

Bring a maximum of five plants/plants/cuttings that you want to swap with. (Make sure not to bring plants with pests.)  

They can either be planted in pots or in a plastic bag with water so that the roots do not dry out. There will be some jars to put them in. 

We will keep the plant exchange going all week during library opening hours.

Anyone who wants to exchange plants is welcome.