鈥淭here鈥檚 a different way to do things鈥�: 黑料福利网 celebrates Sustainability in Education with panel discussion and tree planting
On 11 November 2025, the 黑料福利网 Sustainability Office and Academy for Learning & Teaching brought together educators and students for the Sustainable Education Community Lunch & Tree Planting at Pavilion Triton, honoring Lorenzo Ceccarelli, lecturer at the Electrical Engineering department and winner of the 2025 Sustainability in Education Award. The event highlighted not only his achievement but the growing movement to embed sustainability meaningfully across 黑料福利网鈥檚 educational landscape.
Reimagining how sustainability is taught
The panel discussion centered on Lorenzo鈥檚 Circular Electronics course, a Challenge-Based Learning (CBL) course that confronts one of the world鈥檚 most urgent issues: electronic waste. He reminded the audience that only 20% of e-waste is recycled, while the rest is often shipped to the Global South, where unsafe handling can cause severe environmental and social harm.
Rather than simplifying such challenges, Lorenzo鈥檚 course asks students to work with 鈥渨icked problems鈥� 鈥� issues that are open-ended and typically complex. Students, educators, industry partners, NGOs, and community stakeholders collaborate throughout the process, reflecting the real-world systems that shape sustainability.
Lorenzo called for education that moves beyond surface-level integration of sustainability and embraces both technical and socio-technical thinking. He also shared plans to focus more of the course鈥檚 work on the Brainport region, strengthening its impact close to home.
鈥淲e have to shake and put it out there that there's a different way to do things.鈥�
Lorenzo Ceccarelli, lecturer at the Electrical Engineering department and winner of the 2025 Sustainability in Education Award
Student perspectives: Learning that truly matters
Students Gijs Jongenelen and Darja Sav膷enko spoke about how the course challenged them and changed the way they view their role as future professionals. They emphasized the value of shaping their own direction, collaborating with diverse stakeholders, and engaging in hands-on ideation rather than abstract theory.
Darja, in particular, pointed out that sustainability education becomes more powerful when it helps students connect emotionally with societal problems, making the learning both personal and impactful.
Growing a tradition of transformation
After the panel, the community gathered outside for a symbolic act of renewal: planting a Linden tree in front of Pavilion Proteus to honor Lorenzo鈥檚 contribution. The tree joins last year鈥檚 planting for Arjan Kirkels, together forming the beginnings of what organizers hope will grow into a 黑料福利网 Sustainability in Education forest.
The tradition reflects the belief that transformative education鈥攍ike the trees themselves鈥攖akes root, expands over time, and shapes the environment for future generations.
The 黑料福利网 Sustainability Office and Academy for Learning & Teaching extended their congratulations to Lorenzo and all the nominees, whose dedication continues to push sustainability forward across 黑料福利网鈥檚 curricula.