Sparkle activities are helping establish University community’s sustainability culture
At the turn of the year, the University carried out a call inviting any members of the University community to apply for funding for their sustainability and responsibility ideas, known as Sparkles. The purpose of Sparkle funding is to collaboratively establish with the community itself a sustainability culture, visible in the everyday life of our University and accelerating the achievement of our sustainability goals.
The funding was implemented for the first time, and we were pleased to receive a slew of inspiring and innovative ideas that represented a range of collective proposals for building a sustainable future and supporting the sustainable and responsible conduct of the University and its community. The applicants broadly represented members of our University community, students, staff and alumni. Applications were submitted from the University of Helsinki’s independent institutes and research stations, as well as from all of the campuses.
“Reviewing the proposals was an impressive experience, as we saw how diverse and innovative our community is. These collective ideas originated at the grass-root level of everyday observation and identifying needs. Thanks to the funding, we had the chance to support these ideas,” says Janika Sistonen, Sustainability and Responsibility Coordinator at the University and contact person for the Sparkle scheme.
A total of 46 applications were submitted by the deadline, with the funding sought totalling €303,815.75. The project to implement the University’s sustainability and responsibility plan made it possible to allocate €80,000 to fund the Sparkle proposals.
Sparkles to be implemented in 2024
The proposals to receive funding reflect a broad spectrum of topics related to sustainability and responsibility, from energy efficiency to increasing biodiversity and improving the wellbeing of the community.
- Space for growth – From a greenhouse to a space for sustainability and art education
- Together, we unveil the Viikki Campus Biodiversity, community well-being and sustainability
- Campus Forest Garden
- Recycling nutrients through planter boxes. A composting project of the Kampusviljely ry association
- Increasing the responsibility of kitchen operations at faculty of biological and environmental sciences research stations. Developing such operations into a leading example in responsibility
- Food Futures Sustainable Dining — App Now in Finnish!
- Animated video on Ethical guidelines for responsible academic partnerships with the Global South
- Student-oriented practices in support of inclusion and career paths in university studies
- A sustainable material cycle in the botanic gardens – A brainstorming seminar on creative opportunities
- An animated video on the energy-efficient use of fume hoods
- Helsinki Planetary Health Hub – the health sector as an agent of change in the promotion of planetary health
- Nature-based serenity solutions
Please follow the University’s communication channels on the implementation of the Sparkle ideas and the opportunities for participation. At the end of the news, you will find a more detailed description of the Sparkles and the contact persons for each Sparkle.
Further information
You can read about the Sparkle scheme and its criteria in news item in the Studies Service.
Read more about the project implementing the sustainability and responsibility plan and the project steering group that chose the Sparkle ideas to be funded.
Thoughts, comments, questions? Discuss this news item on Flamma.
Short descriptions of funded Sparkles
Space for growth – From a greenhouse to a space for sustainability and art education
The project involves building a greenhouse at the Faculty of Educational sciences on the Siltavuorenpenger campus. The greenhouse will be a multidisciplinary science and art greenhouse and a place for participatory sustainability and art education, a "Space for Growth". Space for Growth invites you to pause and experiment with how ideas about sustainability can be transformed into actions and practices that change the University. A digital platform will be produced for the project to promote outdoor learning pedagogy.
Contact person: Arja Kaasinen, Biologian didaktiikan yliopistonlehtori, Helsingin yliopisto
Together, we unveil the Viikki Campus Biodiversity, community well-being and sustainability
We take the lead in conservation through education. With our 2024 BioBlitz event, we will engage the University community, the public, and school children in recording biodiversity within the boundaries of the Viikki campus. The data will help the creation of educational boards along a campus walk path, for a lasting impact on visitors. Our activities support well-being, dissemination of the values of sustainability and environmental stewardship.
Contact person: Anne Duplouy, EEB, University researcher at Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, OEB research program, University of Helsinki
Campus Forest Garden
The Viikki Forest Garden project is an initiative that will transform underutilised lawn at the campus into more productive green spaces. Our main target for development in spring 2024 is the open area between the A/B/E-buildings and the greenhouse. The goal is to create public spaces that resemble open and light but forest-like ecosystems, which provides a more diverse and aesthetically pleasing environment.
Contact person: David Israel, Postdoctoral researcher, Organismal and evolutionary biology, University of Helsinki
Recycling nutrients through planter boxes. A composting project of the Kampusviljely ry association
The Kampusviljely ry provides the University community with planter boxes, bringing greenery to campuses and a sense of togetherness through gardening. Our goal is to set up a compost bin at each of our growing sites to make use of the valuable nutrients in the biowaste generated from gardening. We support the development of a sustainable urban culture by introducing our community to composting and the circular economy through our events and by making them visible on our campuses.
Contact person: Rosanna Christiansson, Student, University of Helsinki
Increasing the responsibility of kitchen operations at faculty of biological and environmental sciences research stations. Developing such operations into a leading example in responsibility.
The University of Helsinki is responsible for the kitchen operations at the research stations. As the operation is not chain-managed, the kitchen at each station operates on the basis of instructions from the local management. With this project, we want to harmonise operating models and develop operations in a more responsible and sustainable direction. We will train staff to recognise the impact of their own activities on responsibility and sustainability, and to take conscious action to improve sustainability.
Contact person: Saara Silen, Head of Restaurant, tvärminne zoological station, University of Helsinki
Food Futures Sustainable Dining — App Now in Finnish!
Per capita Finns eat up to 47 kg of red meat and 24 kg of cheese per year. From farm to fork, meal choices accounts for 20–30 % of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. Food Futures supports more sustainable meal choices by transforming intention into action. We bring digital transparency into consumers’ choices at that crucial point between the farm and the fork. Our blockchain technology provides a Measure of sustainability impact, a Record of individual choices, and a Validation of sustainable consumption. We are reaching a Finnish audience by translating our Food Futures Sustainable Dining App, currently operational in Unicafe, from English into Finnish.
Contact person: S.M. Amadae, Programme Director Global Politics and Communication, University of Helsinki
Animated video on Ethical guidelines for responsible academic partnerships with the Global South
The Sparkle on creating animated video material with caption on ‘Ethical guidelines for responsible academic partnerships with the Global South’ supports the dissemination of the guidelines and teaching on research integrity including Global South perspectives. The aim of the video is to make the guidelines more accessible and digestible and facilitate their integration into teaching. The captions allow the video to be translated into different languages.
Contact person: Kaisa Kurki, Project manager/UniPID's director
Student-oriented practices in support of inclusion and career paths in university studies
We open the way for students with different disabilities to accessibility work in a student-centred, inclusive and accessible way. We will develop 1. workshops on responsible communication about individual arrangements; 2. strengthen the participation of the representative of the Crip Student Organisation in the Accessibility Subgroup. We will produce guidelines for students of both goals. We will model employment solutions for paid employment. In this way, we will generate a broad understanding of the need for culture change and solutions.
Contact person: Anu Welling, Student, University of Helsinki
A sustainable material cycle in the botanic gardens – A brainstorming seminar on creative opportunities
The use and recycling of organic waste and soil materials from the Botanic Garden and the sequestration of excess carbon generated on the site can be improved if unprejudiced methods are used. An idea seminar with the experts in the field can help to identify, develop and find the methods. Could biochar be produced from garden waste and used in soil composting, i.e. sequestering its own carbon in the local soil?
Contact person: Pertti Pehkonen, Head Gardener, Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki
An animated video on the energy-efficient use of fume hoods
In total, the University's laboratories have an estimated 1 000 fume hoods. These fume hoods have a large ventilation system and therefore consume a lot of energy. For this purpose, a video animation of the energy-efficient use of a fume hoods is needed. The video will be shown on the university's information screens and will be available on Flamma and can also be used in laboratory tutorials.
Contact person: Antti Pitkänen, HVAC-specialist, University of Helsinki’s Kiinteistöpalvelut Oy
Helsinki Planetary Health Hub - the health sector as an agent of change in the promotion of planetary health
A sustainability crisis is a health crisis. A systemic, multi-perspective and joint approach to research is needed to promote the sustainability crisis in the health system. Health care alone cannot promote its own sustainability. The Helsinki Planetary Health Hub will act as a bridge between the university and the health system, building internal collaboration within UH to strengthen research and expertise on health and sustainability across the university.
Contact person: Kristiina Patja, Professor in healthcare science Clinicum, University of Helsinki
Nature based serenity solutions
Sparkle will be implemented as an interactive exhibition space on the Viikki Campus. The exhibition will highlight the importance of an environment that supports well-being in working and studying communities by making nature-based innovative building and interior design materials visible and tangible. Visitors can experience and evaluate the impact of natural materials for example on learning and physical well-being.
Contact person: Reetta Nakari, Student, Project planner Viikki Innovation Ecosystem, University of Helsinki