The initiator of the international Circular Economy Week & Conference at Trier University of Applied Sciences is Prof. Peter Heck, Director and Founder of the Institute for Applied Material Flow Management (IfaS). The distinguished expert in the field of energy transition and sustainable development visited Bialystok University of Technology in October 2025.
The conference was devoted to circular economy issues and included study visits as well as participation in plenary sessions and seminars.
Representatives of Bialystok University of Technology took part in three study visits to facilities:
- waste management facilities in Kirchberg (Rhein-Hunsrück Entsorgung),
- a wastewater treatment plant in Saarburg (Verbandsgemeindewerke Saarburg-Kell)
- and a water treatment plant in Trier (Stadtwerke Trier SWT).
They had the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the technologies, management, and material and energy flows in these facilities. Particular attention was paid to the process of biogas production from biowaste and woody biomass and its use for the generation of electricity and heat.
During the visit to Trier, our researchers also became thoroughly familiar with the infrastructure of the Environmental Campus Birkenfeld. They observed the local heating systems, PV panels, mechanical ventilation, heat recovery systems, and green-blue infrastructure. They also learned about innovative changes introduced on the campus aimed at reducing energy demand and water consumption (urinals, innovative pilot sewer pipes designed to recover the solid fraction and use it for fertiliser production).
The proceedings of the 16th International Circular Economy Conference took place on 5 November 2025. They consisted of lectures and presentations by researchers from all over the world on innovative wastewater treatment technologies, water treatment, renewable energy systems, energy-efficient buildings, and methods of teaching sustainable development.
On 6–7 November 2025, expert seminars on sustainable development were held, including discussions on the role of internationalisation of higher education institutions, IoT, AI, and the digitalisation of education in higher education in the context of meeting the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
The visit to Trier University of Applied Sciences also enabled numerous discussions with representatives of IfaS, including Prof. Peter Heck, Ranahansa Dasanayake (IMAT programme coordinator, IfaS), Julia Schmid and Jackeline Martínez Gómez (international project management at IfaS), during which further activities of Bialystok University of Technology and IfaS in support of the green transformation of universities were discussed, as well as opportunities to apply for funding for joint research and teaching projects.
Author: Anna Werner-Juszczuk, PhD, Eng., Department of Sustainable Construction and Building Services, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences
Photos: Anna Werner-Juszczuk, PhD, Eng.
