The University of La Laguna celebrated today, June 24, the second edition of '‘Feel the change’', a meeting that brought together representatives of public institutions, social entities, research staff and citizens to share projects that contribute to the protection of the environment and the sustainable development of the Canary Islands.
The opening ceremony was attended by Marta Domínguez, Vice-Rector for Sustainability and Infrastructure at the University of La Laguna; Julio Brito, Managing Director of the General Foundation; and Ciro Gutiérrez, Deputy Minister of Universities and Research of the Government of the Canary Islands.
Gutiérrez praised the university's role as a key agent in addressing society's challenges. Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of "a committed perspective on the environment for the present and future of the islands," a collaborative effort with the Canary Islands Government to measure the impact of institutional decisions.
For his part, Brito emphasized the importance of improving our environment, providing guarantees for future generations through the SDGs. In this context, he highlighted “the capacity of all institutions to create synergies, connecting talent and knowledge with actions already underway.”.
Finally, Marta Domínguez emphasized the importance of “thinking more sustainably, paying special attention to the fragility of the Canary Islands.” She also raised the need to address the challenges of climate change through decision-making processes.
Following the inauguration, the governance panel on the 2030 Agenda began, with the participation of Ángel Pablo Montañés, Director General of Environmental Quality of the Government of the Canary Islands; Domingo Galván, Councilor of the La Laguna City Council; Yarci Acosta, Canary Islands Delegate of SEO Bird Life; Susana Eva Franco, researcher of the project Environmental, Social and Economic Sustainability of Justice. Challenge of the 2030 Agenda; and Leopoldo Moro Abad, representative of RedPROMAR.
The panel was moderated by Cintia Hernández, director of the Sustainability Secretariat of the University of La Laguna, who structured the debate through questions linked to the Sustainable Development Goals related to the work carried out by the different participating institutions and entities.
The program continued with the presentation ‘'Illustrate the Canary Islands'’, Led by Leire García and Álex Basha, specialists in scientific illustration and photography, the presentation addressed the role of visual communication in science outreach. They highlighted how these disciplines allow knowledge to be presented to the public in a rigorous yet accessible way, while also contributing to raising awareness and promoting biodiversity conservation.
Virtual reality tent about SDGs.
Next, Cintia Hernández presented the results of the 'Cultivating Change' project, an initiative launched by the University of La Laguna to promote a culture of sustainability throughout the university community. The project has developed various awareness and participation activities to promote more responsible habits and move towards a more environmentally committed institution.
The day concluded with a speech by Isidro Ibarra, coordinator of ODServa, who presented the latest developments in this virtual reality project designed to bring the Sustainable Development Goals closer to the public. In her presentation, she highlighted the improvements recently incorporated to ensure the accessibility of the experience for people with disabilities.
In addition to the program of lectures and dialogue sessions, the meeting included parallel activities such as recycling craft and textile recycling workshops, a charity food stand aimed at animal protection and the 'Families Lineages' exhibition, made from recycled materials.
The second edition of 'Feel the Change' reaffirms its role as a meeting point for dialogue and shared action on sustainability, strengthening the joint commitment towards a more sustainable future in the Canary Islands.
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