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The Healing Power of Greenery: Enhancing Health and Rehabilitation at Ochojec Hospital
At Ochojec Hospital, patients recently had the unique opportunity to discover the profound impact of nature on health and recovery. A special lecture, organized as part of the Katowice Place Lab, focused on the social and therapeutic benefits of nature-based solutions (NbS). The event was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the Instytut Ekologii…
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Success of the Private Raingardens Call in Budapest
Budapest’s private raingardens initiative has reached a major milestone: all 22 available opportunities, announced on September 1, 2024, have been filled within just nine months. A total of 25 applicants stepped forward, eager to welcome these innovative green solutions into their own gardens. This call, launched under the UPSURGE project, aimed to raise awareness and…
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A Day of Nature and Discovery at the UPSURGE Nature Workshop in Belfast
We had a brilliant day at the UPSURGE Nature Workshop with schoolchildren from St Anne’s Primary School at the Lower Botanic site! Held at the Friends of Field community garden, the workshop gave students the chance to connect with nature through fun and educational activities. Students took part in a Bioblitz treasure hunt, where they…
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Indoor & outdoor activities with primary school students in Katowice
Green roof, clean air and water in urban space? It’s possible! On May 22, 2025 during the International Day of Biodiversity, Instytut Ekologii Terenów Uprzemysłowionych organised a meeting with the amazing students from Nasza Dobra Szkoła as part of the Katowice PlaceLab activities under UPSURGE project. Special thanks to Prof. Edyta Sierka from the University…
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Urban Regenerative Index as a tool for self-assessment of the city’s regeneration status and use of its regeneration potential
by Tadej Žurman POR Consult, d.o.o. With the excessive use of Earth’s resources and rising pollution levels, human activity has begun to disrupt the natural balance to such an extent that nature can no longer regenerate itself in real time. This anthropogenic degradation of the environment must therefore be addressed through equally anthropogenic regenerative actions.…
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UPSURGE Project Group Meeting in Budapest
The UPSURGE project has entered its final project year and is continuously progressing its work towards a new development model for cities centered on Nature-based Solutions (NBS) for renaturing urban space. Through the EU Regenerative Urban Lighthouse it will offer guided support on how to solve the multitude of problems faced by cities. On April…
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Research Milestone: New publication!
In-depth analysis of ongoing research about urban residents’ preferences for NBS has been published with the title “Leveraging nature for just cities: Planning nature-based solutions in Greece” in Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. The research discusses important aspect of social justice in cities when it comes to residents’ access to NbS and green spaces. Initial…
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UPSURGE on the Radio Katowice in “Topic for Discussion”
As part of the regular Radio Katowice programme titled “Topic for Discussion,” Anna Starzewska-Sikorska from IETU and Magdalena Biela from the Municipal Greenery Department were invited to participate in a broadcast to discuss nature-based solutions. The conversation particularly focused on the role of these solutions (known as NbS) in urban spaces, public awareness of them,…
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UPSUGE bi-annual project group meeting
Queen’s University Belfast and Belfast City Council hosted a bi-annual project group meeting for the UPSURGE in September 2024. The following video, that was commissioned by Queen’s University Belfast, captures perspectives on the impact of UPSURGE, highlighting progress in implementing nature-based solutions (NBS) in Belfast. It was jointly funded by Belfast City Council and the…
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Katowice CG Meeting
The Katowice Competence Group met in IETU on 11th December 2024. We discussed the monitoring verification, updates of the Operational Plan and activities of the experts. We appreciate the great commitment of our experts and the other people involved in the ambitious plans of the Katowice Place Lab. Great atmosphere, fruitful discussion and huge work…