The Erasmus+ GREENO2 – Green Roofs in Higher Education Institutions as Sustainable Centers for Research, Participation, Environmental Awareness and O2 Generation project was presented at the VIII International Scientific and Practical Conference “Current Issues of the Media Space”, held on 16 April 2026 at the Educational and Scientific Institute of Journalism of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.

The presentation formed part of the GREENO2 Multiplier Event, organized within the annual Days of Science 2026 at the Institute of Journalism. The event brought together representatives of the academic, research and media communities to explore the role of green roofs in higher education as spaces for sustainable research, environmental education, communication and participation.

A dedicated roundtable, “Green Roofs at Universities as Spaces for Sustainable Research and Communication,” provided a platform for discussing the environmental, educational and communicative dimensions of university green infrastructure. The GREENO2 partnership contributed to the conference programme with the scientific paper “GREENO2 Project and Participatory Management of University Green Roofs: Ecological Infrastructure, Collaborative Practices, and Sustainability Communication,” published in the conference Book of Abstracts.

The contribution examines university green roofs not only as technical solutions for improving environmental performance, but also as socio-ecological and educational spaces capable of supporting research, experiential learning, well-being, communication and active participation within the academic community.

Particular attention is given to participatory management, emphasizing that the effectiveness and long-term sustainability of university green infrastructure depend not only on its physical characteristics but also on the involvement of students, academic and administrative staff, and other stakeholders in shared responsibility, stewardship and collaborative decision-making.

The paper further explores the potential of university green roofs as living laboratories, where applied research, experiential learning, environmental education and student participation intersect. From this perspective, green roofs can make sustainability more visible and tangible, connecting environmental knowledge with everyday academic life and encouraging members of the university community to become active participants in the ecological transition.

The contribution also highlights several key dimensions of the GREENO2 approach:

• green roofs as spaces for environmental protection, participation and well-being in higher education;
• environmental education supported by MOOCs and digital learning resources available through the EduOpen platform;
• green roofs as multifunctional spaces for research, learning, environmental awareness and recreation;
• stronger engagement of academic communities in climate adaptation, ecological transition and sustainable urban development.

The GREENO2 approach demonstrates how green infrastructure, education, research and communication can reinforce one another. By integrating green roofs into higher education environments, the project promotes spaces where sustainability can be studied, experienced, communicated and collectively developed.

The Kyiv Multiplier Event provided an important opportunity to disseminate these ideas and engage stakeholders in dialogue on nature-based solutions, sustainable higher education, environmental communication and participatory approaches to university green infrastructure.

Reference:

Nosova, B, Colantoni, A, Domenico Di, G, (2026). GREENO2 Project and Participatory Management of University Green Roofs: Ecological Infrastructure, Collaborative Practices, and Sustainability Communication. Current Issues of Media Space: Book of Abstracts. Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Edited by Yu. Bondar, A. Volobuieva, B. Nosova, V. Ryabichev. (pp. 434–436).  Kyiv–Viterbo. ISBN 979-12-986308-0-2

For more information and the Book of Abstracts, please visit the official website of the Institute of Journalism of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.

https://science.journ.knu.ua/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/apm_book_of_abstracts_2026-conv.pdf