NVS has two new environmental and sustainability representatives
We welcome our new environmental and sustainability representatives : Emma Swärdh and Sumonto Mitra! They each had to answer a few questions, and this is how it turned out:
”We all as an individual can collectively contribute to make a bigger impact on the environmental and sustainability aspects”
What made you apply for the assignment as an environmental and sustainability representative?
”In this assignment, I saw a great opportunity to help contribute to the ongoing sustainable development goals (SDG's), which were set-up by the United Nations (UN) and designed for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. We all as an individual can collectively contribute to make a bigger impact on the environmental and sustainability aspects for future generations to come.”
What's the most important thing for you to grab onto now that you're stepping on this mission?
”NVS is coordinating with central KI, in formulating steppingstones to comply with the SDGs 2030, and has done a great job in the past few years to identify core areas where we can implement sustainable development. We are looking forward to continuing these efforts and implement the thoughts in action.”
How do you generally think KI works with environmental and sustainability issues and how is NVS doing in relation to it?
”KI strives to be one of the leaders in implementing SDGs nationally and internationally, and NVS is following KI's vision very closely.”
”Both we as employees and our students can become change agents for sustainable development ”
What made you apply for the assignment as an environmental and sustainability representative?
For over a decade, I have personally adopted an active sustainability mindset, which only in the past year spilled over into my work regarding teaching and research in physiotherapy. I have followed the work on sustainable development at KI with interest, based on UKÄ's investigation, the climate framework and KI Strategy 2030. I also teach about the global goals within the KI Study Programme in Physiotherapy. I see this assignment as a fantastic opportunity to work for NVS with its heavy educational responsibility at KI, to guide employees and students to contribute to become a more sustainable department at the forefront in working to achieve the global goals.”
What's the most important thing for you to grab onto now that you're stepping on this mission?
For me, working for sustainable development is about working with behavior, knowledge and learning, among employees as well as students. A first step can therefore be to inventory and then work towards changed attitudes, norms, and values around sustainable development. Sustainable development is often about complex issues, and I want to work to ensure that we at NVS find concrete solutions to some of the challenges, and take advantage of the resources, areas and interests that exist, to highlight our work towards creating a sustainable future healthcare. Today's teachers at NVS also face completely new pedagogical challenges when it comes to preparing future healthcare professionals and researchers for a job in an ecologically uncertain future anthropocene world. I therefore want to contribute to create new arenas for dialogue and educational development at NVS. Both we as employees and our students can become change agents for sustainable development by changing old norms or establishing new habits and reaching out with the message that NVS has a clear direction to contribute positively to human and planetary health.”
How do you generally think KI works with environmental and sustainability issues and how is NVS doing in relation to it?
”KI has done a fantastic job of producing digital material on the website about sustainable development. For those who are interested, there is the opportunity to immerse themselves for several hours and deepen their knowledge. KI's Action Plan for Environment and Climate 2021–2024 is also ambitious and clear. Now, however, it is a matter for NVS to break down these goals at the departmental level to anchor this with our different areas of activity. NVS needs to create dialogue with employees and student and show the way for how all divisions can get involved based on their particular subject area, and in what way each individual has the opportunity to contribute.”
December 2022