Environmental awareness strategies in university environments

Abstract

The work presents strategies used to raise environmental awareness in a university community belonging to the University of São Paulo (USP), based on principles that seek to develop actions to conserve the University's natural resources; promoting a healthy environment and environmental security; promote the rational use of resources and; educate aiming at sustainability. In this sense, the Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, USP campus Ribeirão Preto, instituted the Environmental Management Commission, subdivided into working groups (GT-PGRSS; GT-Water; GT-Energy and GT-Communication), which act in a integrated, participatory and shared, understanding the importance of the existence of a network of responsibilities. Within the scope of Environmental Education, a Continuing Education Program was created, offering the Health Services Waste Management Plan Course. As an awareness-raising action, a participatory diagnosis and a playful assessment were carried out, which contributed to the continuity of the training process. Reflections, educational interventions and integrated actions have promoted, together with the USP community, the development of good practices in the work environment, provoking the view of university administration, in addition to the expansion of projects covering the environmental issue in its complexity and the training of people in the area of ​​Environmental Education and Sustainability.