Educational workshop „Clean water for sustainable world”

On 22^nd of March 2018 an educational workshop “Clean water for sustainable world” organized by Space Research and Technology Institute at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (SRTI-BAS) as a part of the activities of the Space School educational initiative devoted to the World Water Day – 22^nd of March, as the theme announced by UN for 2018 is Nature for Water was held at the Great Hall of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. This is the first educational workshop dedicated to the UN Sustainable development goals (SDGs) and in particular Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation, Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities Goal 15: Life on Land. The event is also dedicated to the Priority “The Future of Europe and Young People – Economic Growth and Social Cohesion “of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union

Keynote speakers of the workshop were Prof. Chen Jun from the National Geomatics Center of China and First Vice-President of the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) and Prof. Songnian Li from Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada and ISPRS Treasurer.

The event was attended by students from 5 schools in Sofia Municipality –  National High School of Mathematics and Science “Acad. L. Chakalov”, 3 High School „Marin Drinov”, 138 High School „Yuri Gagarin”, First English Language School and High School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Geodesy “Hristo Botev”, scientists from Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy, Union of Surveyors and Land Managers in Bulgaria, Bulgarian Cartographic Association, Bulgarian Geographic Society, SCGIS Chapter Bulgaria and experts from “Sofiyska voda”, part of Veolia – water supplier of Sofia Municipality, and част от Веолия и GIS-Sofia Ltd. The Bulgarian students and guests of the event has the possibility to hear presentations of scientists from China, Canada and Bulgaria, and presentations of representatives from international and national scientific organizations and companies. The presentations were devoted to achieving UN sustainable development goals, which leads to preserving the nature and improving the quality of life.

At the beginning of the workshop Dr. Stamenov presented in brief the educational activities of SRTI-BAS including the Space School educational initiative and educational projects. Prof. Chen presented the sustainable development goals (SDGs) of the UN, the global land cover product GlobeLand30 and its role for achieving the UN SDGs, and Prof. Songnian Li presented to the students the essence of ISPRS, the educational activities of the organization and its role in achieving the goals aimed at sustainable development.

A main emphasis on water was placed in the presentation of Sofiyska Voda AD, in which Eng. Velichkov, manager of the GIS Department, presented to the students and guests of the event the role of Sofiyska Voda for the Sustainable Development of Sofia City and how they fulfill the sustainable development goals of the UN. The last presentation by Eng. Petrova, Head of Photogrammetry department at GIS Sofia EOOD presented the activities and initiatives of the Union of Surveyors and Land Managers in Bulgaria, chaired by Dr. Eng. Ivan Kalchev in the field of photogrammetry and remote sensing with emphasis on young people.

PROGRAM

PROGRAM