INSECTOPIA: more life on campus
This project focuses on promoting biodiversity on the OVGU Campus, as well as unity between nature and people.
the INSECTOPIA project is a living example of how science, commitment and nature can go hand in hand, here on the Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg campus. The aim is to transform the previously monotonous lawn in front of the EU GREEN Pavilion into a diverse, natural green space, a place where people and native species can come together and coexist.
A project from the heart of the community
The project was initiated by an interdisciplinary team O-Bee-GU (Staying Alive), consisting of Stefan Weidner (SAP UCC), Anna von Busse (M.A. Peace and Conflict Studies) and Ian Averkamp (M.Sc. international management). They are united by the conviction that biodiversity is not a secondary issue, but a cornerstone of sustainable living.
From personal experiences, such as the transformation of a private garden into a natural garden, and from the desire for more green spaces and lively retreats on campus, the idea was born to create a Biodiversity Living Lab. The goal ist to create an open learning and meeting area that promotes biodiversity and makes ecological connections tangible for everyone.
Combining education, research and practice
INSECTOPIA is designed as living laboratory. Information boards will explain ecological relationships, workshops and guided tours illustrate biodiversity. Teachers, students and external experts can use the location for seminars, project work or citizen science activities.
At the same time, the area will become part of a network of regional initiatives: Among others, the Unigarden MagdeGrün, the Wild Bee Alliance Magdeburg And the Nature Conservation Youth Saxony-Anhalt. This creates a practical example of how universities and civil society can jointly make concrete contributions to SDGs #15 (Life on Land), #11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and #4 (Quality Education).
Focus on sustainability and participation
The project makes use of natural and recycled materials: Sand, gravel and lime reduce nutrients and promote native plants; nesting tubes made of bamboo and elderberry stems create suitable breeding grounds for wild bees. Many plants are donated by citizens from their gardens, another example of close cooperation between university and society.
INSECTOPIA shows that lived sustainability not only takes place in research and teaching, but can also be seen and experienced in everyday campus life. It will be a place that connects people, strengthens responsibility for the environment and raises awareness of the value of biological diversity.
Impact on campus and region
INSECTOPIA is creating a showcase project that makes the campus greener, livelier and more attractive, for students, employees and visitors alike. It offers recreational spaces, strengthens identification with the campus and at the same time raises awareness of one of the most pressing issues of our time: protecting biodiversity.
In the long term, the project should not only improve living conditions for insects and other animal species, but also contribute to making the campus a sustainable, inclusive and open place of learning to develop. It is an example of how the EU GREEN Alliance combines education, research, commitment and lived sustainability.
