Integrating green technology into education

On July 6, Van Hien University organized an international scientific conference with the theme "Green technology and sustainable education". The conference attracted more than 100 scientists, researchers, and lecturers from many universities at home and abroad.

Change your lifestyle

At the workshop, Associate Professor Dr. Mai Huynh Cang - Deputy Head of the Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Ho Chi Minh City University of Agriculture and Forestry, said that with the trend of green living, finding clean sources of raw materials and solvents, and limiting the use of chemicals is very necessary; therefore, it is necessary to change the green living habits of each person, especially the younger generation.

Dr. Madan Mohan Sethi, Consul General of India in Ho Chi Minh City, shared that India is still facing huge environmental consequences caused by humans in the economic production process.

"India has a population of 1.5 billion people and an economy worth 3,300 billion USD. The application and promotion of green technology in India is a conscious effort to reduce dependence on non-renewable energy sources and reduce emissions," said Dr. Madan Mohan Sethi, pointing out 5 areas in which the country is interested in applying green technology for sustainable development, including: renewable energy, sustainable transportation, energy efficiency, waste management and sustainable agriculture.

According to experts, green technology exists everywhere in life and anyone can make themselves "greener". Dr. Tran Phuoc Nhat Uyen, lecturer at Van Hien University, said that durian waste has been used to recover pectin. This is a sustainable and economically developing solution in waste management.

Integrating pectin extraction into durian processing not only minimizes environmental impacts but also promotes the use of natural plant materials in the food and pharmaceutical industries. This approach is in line with global efforts on sustainability and resource efficiency, becoming a promising area for research.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Vu, Vice Principal of Ho Chi Minh City University of Foreign Languages ​​and Information Technology, presented innovations related to artificial intelligence in the field of sustainable education.

Green school and dormitory

Discussing solutions and applications of green technology in sustainable education, Associate Professor Dr. Lia Warlina - Head of the Faculty of Design, University of Computing, Indonesia, proposed integrating green technology right in the student dormitory, which can be designed to promote the development of green technology and environmental protection, thereby helping to raise environmental awareness and encourage sustainable lifestyles.

Specific changes include installing vertical gardens to improve air quality, create a green environment and reduce temperature; increasing indoor greenery; installing solar and wind power systems; installing motion sensors to automatically turn off lights when no one is using them; setting up a rainwater collection system to water plants and clean common spaces; using water-saving sanitary equipment such as showers and toilets with water-saving flushing modes. "In particular, the issue of waste treatment must be a top priority. Schools and dormitories need to increase the installation of waste sorting areas, separate organic waste, plastic, paper and metal; install organic waste processors to create fertilizer from kitchen waste" - Associate Professor, Dr. Lia Warlina noted.

Talking about waste, Dr. Madan Mohan Sethi shared more about India’s program to improve solid waste management and promote sanitation. The Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban (SBM-U), launched in 2014, aims to help the country become open defecation free and achieve 100% scientific management of urban solid waste. The second phase of SBM-U was launched in 2021, for a period of five years. The vision of SBM-U is to achieve “zero waste” status in all cities by 2026.

In addition, the three areas targeted by India in the coming time include: reducing the emission intensity of GDP to 33%-35% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels; achieving about 40% of cumulative installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy sources by 2030 with the help of technology transfer and low-cost international finance including from the Green Climate Fund (GCF); creating an additional carbon sink equivalent to 2.5-3 billion tonnes of CO2 through increasing forest and tree cover by 2030.

Need the cooperation of many educational units

According to Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Minh Duc, Principal of Van Hien University, using advanced and modern technologies is the golden key to promoting global sustainable development. To have sustainable education with the breath of green technology, it is necessary to have the cooperation of universities and colleges.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/tich-hop-cong-nghe-xanh-vao-giao-duc-196240706205138787.htm