On Wednesday, September 7th, Mektory held the opening event of the free studies course "Green Deal Collider: Sustainable Futures". Various research groups presented the challenges/projects related to the green transition and sustainability offered within the course and opportunities for promoting start-up and science-based entrepreneurship at the university.
The launch event was attended by nearly 25 students and additional students from the Open University, representatives of research groups and other influential advocates of the field at the university.
The launch event can be rewatched on YouTube.
Ergo Pikas, assistant professor in charge of the course, said: "In order to integrate co-creation, innovation and science in the best way, we invited research groups to get involved as important cooperation partners of the course, i.e., project/challenge owners and mentors".
For example, Jeffrey Tuhtan (Centre for Environmental Intelligence and Sensing), Heigo Mõlder (Autonomous robot ship, MindChip), Veiko Karu (Division of Mining and Mineral Technology), Otto Mättas (AI & Robotics Estonia Centre AIRE), Alar Kuusik (Communication System Research Group) and Ergo Pikas (Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture) introduced their projects, where students have the opportunity to contribute.
In addition to the research groups, Helen Sooväli-Sepping, vice-rector for green transition, Kaisa Hansen, start-up manager, Sven Illing, vice-rector for entrepreneurship, and Ragmar Saksing, head of Ternopol's GreenTech cluster manager, also spoke.
Sven Illing, vice-rector for entrepreneurship at TalTech, said: “Students – you are in a great place both in terms of location and all the examples available, both in the context of our own university and EuroTeQ. Our ecosystem is small but super cool because you're only a contact or two away from literally anyone in the tech world. What Ergo is doing here is exactly what aligns with my vision – we need to have more challenge-based learning. It is important for students as well as it gives results. So, thank you very much again!”.
And finally, quoting the vice-rector for green transition: "Sign up for the course, this is the best course in town." The first on-site study session will take place already on September 17, i.e., now is the last chance to join. *
Additional information: Karl-Erik Karu, karl-erik.karu@taltech.ee and Ethel Praks, ethel.praks@taltech.ee
*To register, send your information (first name, last name and study programme/open study) to ethel.praks@taltech.ee no later than 15.09