Sustained Environmental Stewardship: A 15-Year Journey
The Living Lab Multispecies Campus program, a collaborative effort linked to the MUST Project, is set to revolutionise the landscape of Finnish universities. This research initiative, focused on multispecies transitions promoting sustainability, biodiversity, and social justice, aims to foster new relationships between humans and other species for mutual well-being.
Key Details
Starting from autumn 2024, selected outdoor areas at the University of Turku, Tampere University, and LUT University will undergo "rewilding" efforts. These initiatives will involve planting flowering plants and berry bushes, adding logs for decomposition, and building insect hotels to boost habitats for pollinators and increase biodiversity on campuses.
The rewilding actions are not just about environmental transformation. They are also designed to improve habitats and promote awareness and appreciation of multispecies coexistence among campus users. Surveys will be conducted to collect user opinions on campus nature and multispecies issues.
The MUST Project also includes a multifunctional platform, the MUST Platform, which provides immersive experiences to integrate research evidence and public interaction. Additionally, it hosts MUST Festivals and Forums that engage citizens and decision-makers in biodiversity conservation and policymaking related to multispecies transitions.
Upcoming Events and Activities
The main upcoming activity is the start of campus interventions in autumn 2024, with assessments of vegetation and soil beforehand, followed by construction of insect hotels and community engagement activities.
MUST Festivals, Forums, and Platform events will continue to facilitate multispecies conservation awareness and policy dialogue, although specific upcoming dates are not detailed in the current context.
The Living Lab Multispecies Campus program collaborates with Suomen Yliopistokiinteistöt Oy (University Properties of Finland) to manage and maintain the intervention areas, ensuring the sustainability and usability of these spaces.
Beyond the rewilding efforts, the Living Lab Multispecies Campus has already hosted a variety of events promoting sustainability and community engagement. These include graffiti workshops, interactive workshops for transforming glass into art, clothing swaps, an exhibition exploring the relationship between humans and nature, DIY workshops for upcycling clothing, bicycle repair workshops, and live hacks for practical everyday tips.
The program offers opportunities for participation, reflection, and networking, with discussions on ecological and social sustainability issues. A waste sorting game, "Sort to support," and the "Leaf Lounge" providing practical tips on everyday matters, have also been featured in the program.
In summary, the Living Lab Multispecies Campus program focuses on creating biodiverse, sustainable campus environments through rewilding and community engagement, supported by multispecies research and interactive public events. The main upcoming activity is the start of campus interventions in autumn 2024, complemented by ongoing festivals and forums to foster networking and sustainability awareness.
- The Living Lab Multispecies Campus program, in addition to its environmental initiatives like rewilding and habitat improvement, also extends to home-and-garden projects, such as graffiti workshops, clothing swaps, and interactive art transformations, promoting a sustainable lifestyle on campus.
- As part of the MUST Project, the Living Lab Multispecies Campus program plans to introduce lifestyle changes that foster coexistence among various species, not only in outdoor areas but also within homes and gardens, by encouraging sustainable practices and awareness among campus users.
