This year’s final of the XL Olympiad of Ecological Knowledge in Małopolska Region

The Ecological Knowledge Olympiad is the most popular interdisciplinary Olympiad among those registered with the Ministry of Education. Its topics include: classical ecology, waters and their protection, soils and their protection, agricultural and forestry management, food and health, nature protection, air protection, waste management, noise, reclamation, legal norms in the field of environmental protection and current issues in ecology and environmental protection in Poland and worldwide.

Over 39 years, more than 1.9 million secondary school pupils have taken part in the Olympiad, and among them there have been many finalists, laureates and most, as many as 7, from Małopolska region. The central finals were held in various places in Poland, and this year the Central Committee of the Olympiad of Ecological Knowledge turned to the proposal to hold the XL final in Małopolska region.

13 secondary school students from all over Poland, who had won in their regions, competed for the title of specialist in ecological knowledge. Finalists and winners of the Olympiad often choose Małopolska higher education institutions as their place of study. Many of them later stay in our region for a longer period of time and pursue their careers here. I am proud to see the young generation, who are so committed to environmental protection and ecology,” says Deputy Marshal Ryszard Pagacz.

Currently, the senates of 64 public universities have passed resolutions guaranteeing finalists and laureates admission without a qualifying procedure to natural sciences as well as environmental protection and environmental engineering and medical faculties.

The aim of the Ecological Knowledge Olympiad is to raise the level of knowledge and responsibility of the young generation for the state and protection of the environment. The event’s objective coincides with the goals of the LIFE EKOMAŁOPOLSKA and LIFE Małopolska project, which, among other things, carry out activities to raise environmental and climate awareness among the population. This year’s edition of the Environmental Knowledge Olympiad has already attracted almost 18,000 students from all over Poland. Around 170 people took part in the final. The event was funded by the LIFE EKOMAŁOPOLSKA and LIFE Małopolska projects and partly by the Ministry of National Education.