European Sustainable Development Week (ETUR) is a Europe-wide festival of events, including conferences, exhibitions, workshops, seminars, film screenings, community gatherings, open houses, and many other activities. The variety of events is vast, but the goal is singular: to show that we care about the future of the world we live in.

European Sustainable Development Week takes place annually from September 20 to 26. However, to ensure it isn’t too short, all sustainability-related events taking place between September 18 and October 8 are registered with ETUR.

Faculty of Education

• Vision for School Gardens 2035: The School Garden as a Space for Sustainable Education

September 30, 2026, Faculty of Education, University of South Bohemia, Dukelská 9, České Budějovice

As part of European Sustainable Development Week, the Karel Komárek Family Foundation (KKFF), the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, and the mayor of the statutory city of České Budějovice cordially invite you to an inspiring workshop dedicated to the development of school gardens as a natural educational environment.

Faculty of Theology
• Start with Yourself
As part of European Sustainable Development Week 2026, the Faculty of Theology will launch a university-wide challenge called “Start with Yourself.”
The goal is to show that sustainability is not just a matter of ecology, but also of interpersonal relationships, responsible consumption, caring for shared spaces, mental well-being, and personal responsibility. Each day will feature a simple challenge that participants can complete in their daily lives.
The challenge will take place on social media. Students, staff, and the general public will be able to participate. Participants will share their experiences, photos, or brief reflections—not only what went well, but also what was difficult. The point is not to compete, but to inspire and motivate one another.

Faculty of Arts
• Compost Me
September 24, 2026, 7:00 p.m., Lecture Hall P1, Faculty of Arts, University of South Bohemia

The Faculty of Arts, in collaboration with the One World Festival, has organized a screening of the film *Compost Me* (Belgium, 2024). Admission is free.
The screening will be followed by a discussion with Adam Vokáč, one of the most prominent voices in the Czech funeral industry and an activist for natural burials.
The discussion will also be available online starting at 8:30 p.m. via a live stream on the faculty’s YouTube channel here: https://youtube.com/live/SN9leBSg7o0?feature=share

Faculty of Agriculture and Technology
• The Use of Local and Organic Foods in Public Catering

September 23, 2026, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m., conference room in Pavilion M
A workshop and seminar led by Assoc. Prof. Jan Moudrý, Ph.D., will present the possibilities and benefits of using local and organic foods in public food services. It will focus on current legislative changes, examples of best practices, and the experiences of farmers, suppliers, and public cafeterias. The event will also include a hands-on workshop aimed at connecting local producers with representatives of cafeterias and identifying specific opportunities for collaboration. The event will provide a forum for discussion on sustainability, local supply chains, and ways to support local and organic production through public food services. Are you interested in these topics? Join us to learn more. The capacity is limited.

• Vermicomposting as a Sustainable Approach to Kitchen Waste Management
September 30, 2026, 2:00–3:30 p.m., Pavilion C – Atrium

Workshop with Associate Professor Jaroslav Bernas from the Faculty of Agriculture and Technology.
Do earthworms belong in the kitchen? Vermicomposting is a well-known method of processing kitchen waste, but one that is relatively demanding to manage properly. This workshop will provide a hands-on demonstration of what belongs in a home vermicomposter and what does not, how much and in what form to feed the earthworms, how to work with the individual layers, and how to prevent problems that may threaten the earthworms. The workshop will include a demonstration of suitable and unsuitable materials, as well as interesting facts about earthworms and their species-specific characteristics. The hands-on portion will be complemented by a brief overview of sustainability and the circular economy. Is it possible to avoid odors, fruit flies, and mess? Come see how one such home vermicomposter works.

• Sustainable Amateur Mineralogy
  

September 17, 2026, 3:00–5:00 p.m., Classroom P1, Pavilion C

Lecture with a display of minerals and rocks by Ing. Martin Musil, Ph.D., from the Faculty of Agriculture and Technology.
Mineral collecting is experiencing a huge boom in the Czech Republic and across Europe. People have the time, the resources, and—thanks to the internet—immediate access to information. While legal sites are dwindling and quarries are closing, amateur mineralogy is becoming a phenomenon—and an indispensable partner to science. Come to this lecture as part of European Sustainability Week. We’ll explore how to strike a balance between a mass hobby, nature conservation, and scientific contribution.

Faculty of Science
• Volunteer Work in the Faculty Garden

During the week of October 5–9, there will be an afternoon of volunteer work in the garden of the Faculty of Science at the University of South Bohemia (Branišovská 1760). The exact date will be determined based on the weather.
We’ll be working together on gardening tasks—such as turning compost, planting bulbs, or weeding the sand dunes. In addition to helping out in the garden, you’ll also have the opportunity to learn more about how it operates. The garden features a pond, an insect house, and a number of other elements that promote biodiversity. We’d be happy to share our experiences and offer inspiration on how to create similar features in your own garden or in your neighborhood.

• Nature Walk
October 4, 2026, 9:00 a.m., participants meet at the “Jihočeská univerzita” public transit stop (lines 3 and 7)

Calla and the Faculty of Science at the University of South Bohemia (JU) are organizing an event as part of a series of nature walks for the public. The event will take place on the JU campus, primarily in the Faculty of Science garden. The walk will be led by botanist Klára Řehounková, ornithologist Petr Veselý, and entomologists Vojtěch Kolář and Jiří Řehounek. The walk will begin with a demonstration of bird trapping and banding; it will also include the collection of aquatic insects from ponds on campus and a botanical and entomological walk through the Faculty of Science garden, including the sand dune.

Faculty of Economics
• Land Art: Still Alive. Seeking New Opportunities for the Sustainability of Place, Academic Half-Hours
October 7, 2026, Alšova South Bohemian Gallery – Wortner House
This lecture builds on the topic of Land Art presented two years ago. Land Art, as an artistic protest against galleries and the exclusivity of art—and against the alienation of art from nature—has evolved into many forms today. However, the fundamental ethos of protest and respect for nature remains. The lecturer, Prof. PhDr. Miroslav Lapka, CSc., will present iconic works of Land Art and its continuation in the unique setting of the Svachovka golf course, where a project to connect the landscape, art, and non-golfing visitors is beginning to take shape. We will attempt to answer the question of to what extent this is sustainable.
• Management of Public and Semi-Private Sports Activities in the Context of Long-Term Sustainability

September 25, 2026, 9:00 a.m., Dean’s Office of the Faculty of Economics, University of South Bohemia, Room A120

Speaker: Jan Bürger, Svachovka Golf Resort
As part of European Sustainable Development Week, the Faculty of Economics invites you to an open lecture held as part of the “Seminar with Industry Experts” course in the Sports Management and Economics program.
The lecture explores the practical specifics of managing public and semi-private sports projects with a strong emphasis on their long-term sustainability. We will demonstrate how to effectively balance various demands without compromising public access to sports.

Faculty of Health and Social Sciences
• Memory Training: Fitness for the Brain
September 24, 2026, 2:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Classroom U6, J. Boreckého 1167/27

Instructor: PhDr. Lenka Žižka Motlová, Ph.D.
Want to do something for yourself and your brain? Come join us to exercise your brain and maintain its neuroplasticity. During the workshop, you’ll learn about memory techniques (mnemonics) and try out practical exercises. You can look forward to practical and fun exercises for concentration, short-term, and long-term memory.
• Demonstration of the Simulation Center’s Sustainable Operations

September 22, 2026, 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.; Výstaviště Building—Simulation Center, U Výstaviště 517/26, 370 05, České Budějovice

A tour of the ZSF JU Simulation Center, during which visitors will learn about its operations, sustainability, and the opportunities it offers.

• Photovoltaic Power Plants on the Main Building of the University of South Bohemia’s Faculty of Health Sciences
The University of South Bohemia currently operates photovoltaic power plants in České Budějovice and Vodňany.
The construction of all five photovoltaic power plants operated in České Budějovice was funded by the Operational Program Environment 2014–2020 (project CZ.05.5.11/0.0/0.0/20_152/0015240). The investment
costs totaled 13.8 million CZK.
The Faculty of Health and Social Sciences prepared an Analysis of Electricity Savings and Costs. The results and impacts of the photovoltaic installations will be presented in detail during European Sustainable Development Week.

Faculty of Fisheries and Water Protection
• Tour of the Aquaponics Hall
September 21 at 10:00 a.m.
October 8 at 12:30 p.m.
campus, FROV JU Aquaponics Hall