About event

European Sustainable Development Week (ESDW) is a pan-European festival of events, including conferences, exhibitions, workshops, seminars, film screenings, community meetings, open days, and many other activities. The variety of events organized is vast, with a single goal: to demonstrate that we care about the future of the world we live in. The European Sustainable Development Week takes place annually from September 20 to 26. However, to extend the period, all sustainability-related events occurring between September 18 and October 8 are registered as part of ESDW. More information about ESDW and other events can also be found on the festival’s website here.

The University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice has already participated in the European Sustainable Development Week twice.

We are preparing a program for this year’s edition with the theme: Resilience and Balance.

Novohradské Mountains: A Resilient and Fragile Landscape

On September 18, a symposium followed by a roundtable will take place at the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, organized by the Novohrad Landscape Association in cooperation with the Czech Nature Conservation Agency, the Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, and the Faculty of Science of the University of South Bohemia, under the auspices of the South Bohemian Region Governor, MUDr. Martin Kuba.

A rich program of expert lectures, presentations, and discussions about the natural phenomena of the Novohradské Mountains and the threats they face is prepared, with a special focus on water protection.

Excursion to the Faculty of Fisheries and the Protection of Waters Aquaponic Hall

The lecture combined with an excursion to the USB Aquaponic Hall on the topic of wastewater recycling through aquaponics and other concepts will take place on September 23 at 9:30 AM and 10:30 AM.

The Aquaponic Hall will be guided by Bc. Karel Procházka and Ing. Pavel Franta, Ph.D.

Plant Swap with a Tour of the Botanical Atrium

Bring your own plant or take a new one.

What is a plant swap?
It is an exchange of plants, cuttings, or seeds. Participants bring their own plants and take others away. Plants will be placed in designated spots from which visitors can choose those they do not yet have in their collection and would like to own. The event supports the principles of sustainability, community sharing, and slow growing (so-called “slowplants”).

Location: Study Department premises of FZT JU (Pavilion A)
Date and time: September 24, 2025, from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
The program will also include tours of the plant atrium in Pavilion C at 4:00 PM, 5:00 PM, and 6:00 PM, accompanied by one of the team members (Ing. Adéla Kalkušová, Ing. Eliška Kůrková, Ing. Nina Veselovská, Ing. Iva Šímová, Ph.D.).

Lecture on the Topic: Brownfields

Brownfields—old factories and abandoned sites—often appear as scars on the landscape, but they can become sources of new life. In this lecture, we will show how these “dead zones” can be transformed into cultural centers, parks, or residential areas, using examples from the Czech Republic and abroad. Come and get inspired by stories of transformation that prove even neglected spaces can have a future.

Presenter: Ing. et Ing. Vendula Moravcová, Ph.D.
Date and time: September 25 at 3:00 PM
Venue: Building ZR 2, Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, USB

Lecture on Economic Growth, Sustainable Development, and Bioeconomy

On September 30 at 3:00 PM, in room A301, Faculty of Economics, USB, there will be a lecture by Assoc. Prof. Ing. Eva Cudlínová, CSc., and Prof. PhDr. Miloslav Lapka, CSc., on the topics of economic growth, sustainable development, and bioeconomy.

Lecture on the Sustainability of Land Use in the European Context

How has the European landscape changed from the time of the first farmers to the present day? This seminar will guide you through a colorful journey—from artificially shaped Mediterranean terraces to forgotten historic structures in Poland and Slovakia, to the disappearing tidal zones of Normandy. We will also touch on land reclamation, the influence of cities, and ways to use the landscape sustainably in the future.

Leader: Ing. Jana Moravcová, Ph.D.
Date and time: October 2, 2025, at 3:00 PM
Venue: Room ZR-Z2, Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, JU

Seminar on the Topic: Environmental Sustainability – An Integral Approach

At the Faculty of Theology, USB, an interdisciplinary seminar will be held on the current topic of environmental sustainability from the perspectives of ethics, theology, and pedagogy. Contributions and discussions will focus on the so-called integral approach, which seeks to connect ecological, ethical, theological, and educational dimensions of caring for our common home.
The seminar will also introduce a planned continuing‐education course designed to foster deeper understanding of environmental sustainability through experiential methods, thematic lectures, and reflective work. This course is being developed in collaboration with the experts who will also lead the seminar.
The seminar is open to students, educators, and the general public interested in environmental and ethical issues in a broader context. Its goal is to present and share individual professional perspectives—their specifics and contributions—and, through joint debate, to seek pathways for responsible and sustainable practice in contemporary society.

Date and time: October 8, 2025, from 12:20 PM to 2:00 PM
Venue: USB, Faculty of Theology, Room 104