Event at the Kharkiv urban living lab

The event was organized by Nadiia V. Maksymenko – Doctor of Geographical Sciences, Professor, and Head of the Department of Environmental Monitoring and Nature Reserve Management. The main goal was to familiarize students of the Institute with the theoretical foundations and practical implementation possibilities of "living labs" in the field of environmental management.

Two speakers presented their experience in developing and implementing "living labs".

Anastasiia Klieshсh, Associate Professor of the Department, presented the idea of an urban living lab. She detailed the concept, the organization process, and future prospects of using such a lab for green infrastructure management, particularly in the context of frontline cities. Her talk focused on finding adaptive solutions in complex urban and security conditions. (Fig.1 – 3)

Iryna M. Shpakivska, Head of the Ecosystemology Department at the Institute of Ecology of the Carpathians, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, presented a practical case study of organizing a living lab for a local community. The experience was implemented at the "Boikivshchyna" National Nature Park. The project aims to develop eco-friendly businesses among local residents in cooperation with the NNP, including the harvesting of mushrooms, berries, and the production of herbal teas  (Fig.4 – 6).

After the presentations, students actively joined the discussion of the ideas presented. They offered their own visions for improving the living lab concepts, particularly in the context of adapting to the needs of specific communities and increasing their resilience in wartime conditions. The participants showed genuine interest and expressed a desire to get involved in the further organization and practical implementation of these initiatives, demonstrating the high level of motivation among students to bring about real change in the field of sustainable development. (Fig. 7)