The first Sustainability Week at the Catholic University, which took place from 24 to 28 November simultaneously on all four campuses, was very well attended by students.
At the Braga Campus, the programme included conferences, workshops and other initiatives. The conference ‘Fundamentals for Integral Sustainability,’ promoted by the Faculty of Theology, kicked off the week in Braga. The conference highlighted the need for deep reflection on the fundamentals of integral sustainability, inspired by the concept of integral ecology presented by Pope Francis in his encyclical Laudato si'.
On the second day, the results of the study ‘Católica Braga: How sustainable are we?’ were presented, focusing on the possibilities for building a more sustainable and conscious campus. On the same day, the workshop ‘be@t – Bioeconomy in the Textile Industry’ was held, dedicated to the principles of bioeconomy applied to the textile industry and the results developed within the scope of the be@t project.
On 26 November, the conference ‘Integral Ecology in Action: From Reflection to Commitment’ was held, promoting reflection on integral ecology, bringing together scientific, ethical and spiritual dimensions.
For Joana Lourenço, a master's student in Clinical and Health Psychology, participating in this initiative was particularly memorable: "The Integral Ecology in Action conference and the workshop on bioeconomy in the textile industry gave me practical and inspiring tools to think about sustainable solutions, even in technical areas. In addition, learning about the results of the study “How are we doing in terms of sustainability?” (on how to build a more sustainable campus) made me feel part of a campus that really wants to evolve. It was a week that challenged me to rethink my habits and actively contribute to a more sustainable future."
The penultimate day of Sustainability Week was packed with activities in Braga. The morning began with the workshop ‘BioWaste Management’, which was attended by Pedro Correia from AGERE - Braga Water, Effluent and Waste Company. This was followed by the workshop ‘Loving the Planet’, with the participation of Eduardo Rêgo, presenter of the BBC Wildlife programme, who came to Braga as part of an awareness tour he calls ‘IN SEARCH OF THE LOST BALANCE’. The day ended with the inauguration of Transform4Europe's Students' Garden and the presentation of the results of the Renovar é Sustentar (Renewing is Sustaining) competition.
Dinis Lapyuk, a Communication Sciences student, highlights the positive impact of the initiative and mentions those that most impressed him: "The workshops and conferences, especially Loving the Planet and the inauguration of the Students' Garden, showed me that sustainability is not only an environmental issue, but also an ethical and social one. It was inspiring to see the academic community so involved and to realise that small collective actions can have a big impact. I leave this week with new ideas and a lot of motivation to apply these principles in my daily life.”
The first edition of Sustainability Week ended with the outdoor activity ‘Sport & Nature: Católica Braga Outdoor’, which included a tournament and golf clinics for the academic community at Axis Golfe Ponte de Lima.
With the first Sustainability Week, the Catholic University aimed to encourage the entire academic community to turn intentions into concrete actions. Through a diverse programme that addressed the various pillars of sustainability, the goal was to create moments of reflection and knowledge sharing, based on a holistic and integrated view of this theme, considering the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.