The Student Scientific Club “Ecological Club ‘I-Ecohuman’ (https://web.kpi.kharkov.ua/htpe/ychebpro/naukove-tovaristvo/) was established in February 2019 under the leadership of Tetiana S. Tykhomyrova, Associate Professor of the Department of Chemical Engineering and Industrial Ecology. Its purpose is to unite students, postgraduate students, and academic staff for the in-depth study of ecology, conducting scientific research, and the creation and subsequent implementation of start-up projects (Order of NTU “KhPI” No. 113 OD dated February 28, 2019, “On the Approval of Student Scientific and Creative Associations”). The structure of the club includes two focus groups:
- Focus Group “Environmental Education and Popularization of Science among Youth” (Head: prof. O. V. Shestopalov). This group organizes activities for environmental education and youth engagement to foster participants’ awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals.
- Focus Group “Green Business Ideas” (Head: ass. prof. O. M. Filenko). This group coordinates student scientific research and the development of student environmental start-up projects.
During its meetings, the club discusses new “green” technologies, explores pressing local environmental issues and searches for ways to resolve them, invites engaging guest lecturers, fosters informal communication among participants, and implements environmental, educational, and social projects.
Additionally, the club organizes a competition of environmental projects, essays, and comics for school students, which culminates in a large-scale environmental forum for schoolchildren. Environmental education for school students is a core priority for the Scientific Club ‘Ecological Club I-Ecohuman.
To date, the club’s members include 100 students, postgraduate students, and 5 faculty members of the department.
Members of the club actively participate in start-up project competitions aimed at advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- For instance, student M. Derevedmed and post-graduate student Kriuchkova V. were a team member of the start-up project “Eco made in U”. The project aims to address the issue of textile waste accumulation by offering an alternative sustainable practice: transforming discarded textiles into traditional Motanka dolls. This project contributes to the progress of SDGs 8 and 12 (https://web.kpi.kharkov.ua/htpe/start-ap-proekt-eco-made-in-u-rekordsmen-kafedry/).
- Additionally, students R. Pitak and I. Kosenkova with post-graduate student Kriuchkova V were part of the “NovaVoda” start-up team, which won a start-up festival. This project is dedicated to the reagent-free disinfection of drinking water using textile waste. This initiative drives progress towards SDGs 4, 6, and 12 (https://web.kpi.kharkov.ua/htpe/pidkoryuyemo-starapy/).