World Ocean Day with IVECA

On June 8, IVECA joins the celebration of World Ocean Day to raise awareness about protecting our oceans.

Amidst concerns over the declining health of our oceans and recognizing the countless benefits it bestows upon both humanity and the Earth's rich biodiversity, in 2008 the United Nations General Assembly officially declared June 8th as World Ocean Day.

Our ocean is not only a home to thousands of marine species, but provides numerous resources to humans as well as the species found on land. Our ocean covers 71% of the surface of our planet and provides 50% of the oxygen we breathe comes from it. For humans, it is a vital source of food, supplying a significant portion of the global population with protein-rich sustenance and providing livelihoods for millions of people worldwide who rely on fishing as their primary source of income. Despite this, human activity still jeopardizes the condition of our oceans, even in their unexplored depths.

IVECA students frequently reflect on the impact human activity has had on Earth throughout each of their group projects. During this spring semester, students are researching and discussing water use, condition and access in their countries. They emphasize the importance of reducing pollution in their communities and bodies of water, in particular rivers, which ultimately lead to the sea, thus discarding land waste, mainly plastic, into the ocean. One student boldly said, “We need to change our ways of living.” Another student commented, “I think that we should be more aware of these problems and try our best to solve them. That's why I like our generation. I think we are people that care about the future of the earth and we try little by little to change these situations… water is life.”

Our shared ocean needs attention and support from us. In doing so, other issues that the world faces such as climate change, health challenges and economic issues can be improved as the ocean, ‘the lungs of the planet’, connects us all. Our very own human composition has some of the same elements of the ocean—salt being one of them!

Today we invite you to join the celebration and efforts to protect our ocean, which is vital for humankind and Earth’s flora and fauna. We can all take part in World Ocean Day—today and everyday. There are many ways we can contribute to fostering ocean sustainability, starting with continuing to spread awareness of the importance of ensuring healthy oceans for humanity and biodiversity.

Let’s celebrate World Ocean Day!

"We have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. We are tied to the ocean."

- John F. Kennedy -

#IVECA #WorldOceanDay #InterculturalCompetence #GlobalCitizenship #21stCenturyEducation #GlobalCitizen

IVECA Greening Education Partnership First Live Class

On Monday, May 22nd, IVECA hosted the first university Live Classes of the year with participant universities from India, Korea and the United States. Students from different fields, including International Studies to Biomedical Engineering and Computer Science, presented possible solutions they brainstormed to tackle environmental problems worldwide beginning in their own communities.

All four colleges proposed great, ambitious ideas to resolve the problems in their communities. For example, one way students in the United States plan to improve digital literacy (SDG 4) in climate change for their community is by creating a website that will provide key information to New York citizens on topics of clean water, air, green jobs and sustainable housing. Students mentioned that the next goal in collaboration with local organizations would be to create an app that will continue educating citizens, leading to more people caring about the topic. As one of the students elaborates, “It will explain the laws and policies and everything that is going on in New York to help explain to citizens what is happening with climate change… change is happening, it’s just not being broadcasted enough.”

Korean students focused on SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities.) After analyzing what has contributed to past floods, they found one of the main causes is excessive street waste. Students added the increase in garbage produced by disposable items after COVID-19 still causes serious environmental destruction. Students explained how people are trying to refrain from using disposable, plastic items, but they believe addressing problems at the individual level is key. Although a recycling system is in place in Seoul, they believe that it has to be promoted and explained better so citizens can effectively recycle and adopt a unified process that works for all communities. “As our partner team mentioned the importance of education…,” one student shared, “We think that the understanding of waste management and recycling is important to solve this problem.”

India and their partner American university addressed similar issues that their communities and countries are facing. The students from the United States addressed the pressing issue of poor air quality, specifically in the city of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. They focused on social solutions; such as creating more awareness as students don’t believe that air pollution is a well-known fact in their city. Another solution is the promotion of sustainable transportation by using bikes, improving walking paths and switching to electric vehicle fleets from an individual level to a business level. One of the students mentioned the importance of fostering collaboration, saying, “Programs like this are also really good, we are collaborating, and getting all these new ideas.”

The students joining from India proposed great solutions to the different issues that need to be resolved in their local communities. They addressed problems such as waste management, air pollution and noise pollution. They expressed concerns in the alarming statistics that their existing waste and drainage management systems are not effectively solving. One of the solutions proposed by a student majoring in Microbiology is to use microbes, a species of bacterium that are capable enough to decompose plastic.

After each country’s presentation, there was dedicated time to answer partner university’s questions as well as give constructive feedback. Through the Live Class, students not only learned from their partner university peers, but also had the opportunity to hear from professors that provided subject matter expertise as well as their observations and suggestions for improving and implementing these solutions. “It’s a very good and interactive session. We from India found many solutions and some more experience from the international fellows and professors.”

Students were truly inspired by each other’s work. They look to the future with hope, believing that through educating and spreading awareness of these pressing issues little by little will add up to significant global change. As the first Live Classes were coming to an end, students reflected on the experience of participating in the virtual exchange. A student from India shared: “It was a wonderful experience, bringing two cultures together. It is a privilege to be here and listen to you. The solution is not a solution just for Meerut, India, or just for you, it is for a global purpose.”

#IVECA #GlobalCitizen #LiveClass #Partnership #GlobalCollaboration #GlobalEducation #UniversityProgram #Solutions #EnvironmentalProblems

Uniting for Life’s Richness: International Day for Biological Diversity

May 22nd marks the International Day For Biological Diversity, a global celebration honoring the importance of safeguarding the remarkable variety of life on our planet. This day serves as a poignant reminder of our duty to foster harmony between humanity and the natural world, emphasizing the pivotal role that biodiversity plays in sustaining life and maintaining ecological equilibrium.

IVECA demonstrates its commitment to this by facilitating virtual exchanges that ignite curiosity, critical thinking, and a deeper appreciation for the diversity in our planet. Through these engaging exchanges, students acquire knowledge about various aspects of our world, fostering a sense of stewardship and an understanding of the interconnectedness of global challenges.

As we celebrate the International Day for Biological Diversity, let us recognize the passionate voices of our youth who actively advocate for preserving the natural world. IVECA students of all levels from around the globe have been engaged in biodiversity conservation, promoting sustainable practices, and raising awareness in their communities including students from Algeria, India, Papua New Guinea, Brazil, China and their Korean partners. This semester, universities from the United States, India, and Korea have joined IVECA’s Greening Education Partnership (GEP) where students have begun collaborating by identifying solutions for environmental problems they face in their countries. Based on reflection, students have shown understanding that our collective future depends on living in harmony with nature, by respecting the delicate balance of ecosystems and valuing every living organism.

On this International Day of Biological Diversity, we unite through our purpose of preserving Earth's extraordinary array of life. By embracing principles of respect, cooperation, and shared responsibility, we can forge a world where both humanity and nature thrive. May we listen to nature's wisdom, revel in its magnificence, and tirelessly work to ensure that future generations inherit a planet rich in biodiversity, harmony, and peace.

#IVECA#InternationalDayForBiologicalDiversity#InterculturalCompetence#GlobalCitizenship#21stCenturyEducation#GlobalCitizen