By Lilla Bogø Rasmussen, Student Assistant, AAU Communication. Translated by LeeAnn Iovanni, AAU Communication. Photo: Liv Ellingsøe Attermann, Student Assistant, AAU Communication.

The light shone through the large windows when Pro-rector Anne Marie Kanstrup welcomed attendees to Study Environment Day 2023. Her welcome address included a focus on the good study environment.

- Pursuing university education is partly about acquiring the necessary disciplinary knowledge in a given area, but it’s also about the general education you get by being part of a study environment – gaining experience that we can later draw on in encounters with the world around us.

While enjoying a slice of cake, the students listened to the pro-rector who also focused on a questionnaire survey that AAU sent out to the students in the fall of 2022. Among the findings: most students laugh every day, but that the vast majority also feel lonely once in a while.

- A community is more than a place or an organisation we are part of, and we each have a responsibility to create a good study environment, be there for each other – ask questions and offer support, the pro-rector said.

The presentations that followed dealt with sustainability and how Aalborg University stands out by contributing to the green transition – both in terms of education and research. In this framework, Study Environment Day 2023 was about the students exploring together how we can live, work and study more sustainably.

Idea development and time in the kitchen

In the aroma of the popcorn machine, the students took part in various workshops. In the workshop 'How big is your climate footprint?', it was possible to measure your climate footprint and get tips on how to reduce it.

- The reason I signed up for Study Environment Day is that I think it could be interesting to gain insight on how big my climate footprint is and what it means for the wider world, said Kristine Thordal, who studies International Business Communication in English.

The kitchen was busy at Fibigerstræde 15 where the workshop 'Zero Waste Cooking' took place. This workshop was so popular that it was full after just a few days. After washing their hands and donning an apron, the students cut loose with various vegetables and recipes.

- You get a lot of cool tricks on how to use waste to make something crispy and delicious. It's really nice, said Thomas Mose, who studies Software.

There was also the opportunity to come up with ideas for sustainable solutions for the physical study environment at AAU. In the workshop 'Sustainable Development Goals Game – Solution Camp' and 'Sustainable Development Goals Game', the students provided input on how to make  day-to-day life and the study environment more sustainable.

- Many of us want to help ensure a sustainable future, but it can be difficult to figure out how to do that. I think Study Environment Day is important because we students can learn a lot about how to make our day-to-day lives more sustainable, said Magnus Bornæs, who studies Urban, Energy and Environmental Planning.

Food-waste food and board game fun

The students ate dinner together that included the dishes that were cooked for the workshop 'Zero Waste Cooking'. There were plenty of different dishes, all of which were vegetarian and made to avoid food waste.

The day ended with board games where the students had fun with ludo and card games, all while enjoying snacks. Study Environment Day 2023 made for laughter, new acquaintances and a focus on sustainability.