News #12

Figure: Own image.

Blended GINA International School Rotterdam - Greening Streets and Squares

From May 19–22, the in-person part of the GINA Summer School took place in Rotterdam. The event brought together students from Warsaw University of Life Sciences (Poland), Gdańsk University of Technology (Poland), and VIA University College (Denmark).

The GINA project focuses on developing competences related to Nature-Based Solutions (NBS), green urban transformation, and the education of future specialists in climate change adaptation.

The main task assigned to the students was to develop concepts for the transformation of selected public spaces in Rotterdam using blue-green infrastructure solutions, together with strategies for social participation and community engagement. The workshop programme was based on Module 5 of the GINA e-course. Students worked with real spatial data from Open Access sources and Web Map Services (WMS), as well as their own field observations and interviews conducted with residents and users of urban spaces. The analyses were carried out using QGIS software, in line with Module 2 of the GINA e-course. The developed concepts were continuously supported by academic staff from all GINA partner universities.

The GINA School was not only about learning and design, but also about exchanging experiences, building international relationships, and sharing scientific and educational insights. Special thanks go to the organiser — Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences — as well as to Rick (T.H.) Heikoop and Ted Veldkamp for the excellent organisation and well-prepared school programme.

More information:

• GINA Project website: projectgina.eu
• GINA e-course platform: gina.aau.at