INSECTOPIA

Insectopia: utopias for insects in all EU GREEN campuses.
Insectopia is an innovative initiative under the EU Green Alliance, designed to create and implement “insect utopias” as inspiring examples and educational tools for biodiversity, ecosystem restoration, and raising awareness about insects’ importance and environmental sustainability on university campuses.
 
Through a series of activities such as expert webinars, participatory workshops, and a call for proposals, Insectopia aims to actively engage students, staff, and local communities in the creation of sustainable habitats, ecological projects (such as insect hotels and pollinator gardens), and other creative initiatives. These efforts are in line with broader environmental goals focused on restoring ecosystems and emphasizing the vital role of insects in maintaining ecological balance.
 
Key Milestones and Activities
Insectopia will unfold over several key phases, with the first phase dedicated to knowledge exchange through a series of expert-led webinars. These webinars, taking place in early 2025, will offer participants the chance to explore innovative ideas and encourage interdisciplinary collaboration. They will also serve as a foundation for the future design and submission of project proposals, while helping to build a resource repository filled with relevant content and webinars, all produced within the framework of this EU GREEN activity.

UPCOMING WEBINARS

  • 31st of January: Pollinators in Rural Areas (Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Poland)
  • 10th February: From Artificial Nests to AI Trail Cameras: New Technology for Studying and Monitoring Insect Biodiversity (University of Parma, Italy)
  • 25th February: Rewarding Farmland Pollinator/Insect Diversity Through Results-Based Agri-Environment Schemes (Atlantic Technical University, Ireland)
  • 28th February: How Citizen Science Can Help the Study of Pollinators (University of Parma, Italy)

Please note that all Webinars will be held at 11.00 CET and links will be shared after registration.

REGISTRATION FOR WEBINARS

WEBINARS 

  • Pollinators: Diversity, Importance, and Causes of Their Decline

    • Prof. Francisco Javier Valtueña Director of the University Environmental Office

    • (University of Extremadura, Spain)

Watch this webinar
  • Architectural Spaces for Insects and People
    • Lecturer arch. Silviu Medeșan & PhD candidate arch. George Tamaș
    • (University of Oradea, Romania) Collab. with Otto von Güericke Magdeburg University
Watch this webinar
  • Why Do We Need Pollinators? Role, Threats, and Protection of This Insect Group

    • Prof. Cupșa Diana , Department of Biology

    • (University of Oradea, Romania)
Watch this webinar
  • LANDART for Creative and Participatory Ecosystem Restoration
    • Antonio Román Casas
    • (University of Extremadura, Spain)
Watch this webinar
 
Call for Proposals and Project Development
Following the webinars, Insectopia will launch a call for proposals, inviting teams of up to three members to submit project ideas that align with the initiative’s goals. The call for proposals will be open during February and March 2025. Selected projects will be celebrated on World Bee Day (May 20, 2025), with the winning teams invited to participate in a retreat and hackathon in Jarandilla de la Vera, Spain, during the first week of June.
 
More info coming soon…
 
EU GREEN: Committed to Lasting Impact
By fostering sustainable practices and promoting biodiversity awareness, Insectopia aims to transform university campuses into thriving hubs of ecological education and innovation. The initiative also seeks to build a lasting repository of educational resources, including recorded webinars and supporting materials, to encourage continued learning and long-term impact.
 
Insectopia will continue to evolve with additional webinars and activities based on a long-term engagement approach to ensure Insectopia’s sustainability and further establish it as a dynamic platform for innovation, knowledge sharing, and ecological action.
As a flagship project of the EU Green Alliance, Insectopia stands as a symbol of shared commitment to ecological restoration, environmental stewardship, and the promotion of biodiversity on campuses and beyond.