ACROSS Summer School in Girona: Exploring Rivers, Cities and Borders Under Global Change

From 29 June to 3 July, 2026, mgr Aniela Staszewska from the Foreign Language Center and six bachelor students from the WBiNoŚ faculty and WI faculty participated in the ACROSS Summer School,“Rivers, Cities and Borders under Global Change,” hosted by the University of Girona. The event brought together students, researchers, and experts from across Europe to explore one of the most pressing challenges of our time: how to manage river systems in the face of climate change, environmental pressures, and evolving governance frameworks.

Over five intensive days, participants engaged in a unique interdisciplinary programme combining ecology, technology, governance, law, and territorial planning. Hosted at the Universitat de Girona’s Montilivi Campus, the event featured contributions from leading academics and practitioners representing institutions from Spain, Italy, Poland, Georgia, Sweden, and beyond.

A particular strength of the summer school was its emphasis on connecting theory with practice. Participants joined field visits across Girona and the Muga River Basin, examining topics such as urban water management, flood and drought governance, biodiversity conservation, water reuse, agricultural demands, and the challenges of balancing environmental flows with economic development. These on-site experiences provided valuable insights into how water governance is implemented in real-world contexts.

Mgr Aniela Staszewska presented on the State of the Baltic Sea, from her experiences connected with the Baltic University Programme (https://pb.edu.pl/sjo/en/projects/baltic-university-programme-bup/) , which Bialystok University of Technology is a member, while the students delivered a series of engaging scientific poster presentations focusing on Major Rivers of the Baltic Sea Catchment Basin and the Environmental State of the Baltic Sea: Transboundary Governance and Marine Implications.

The presentations highlighted the crucial role that rivers play in shaping the ecological condition of the Baltic Sea. Students investigated five major rivers—the Oder, Vistula, Kemi, Neva, and Göta rivers—examining their environmental characteristics, the challenges they face, and their influence on the health of the Baltic Sea ecosystem.

Through their poster research, the students explored key environmental pressures affecting river systems, including nutrient pollution, industrial and agricultural runoff, habitat degradation, biodiversity loss, and the impacts of climate change. Students also considered how these issues extend beyond national borders, emphasizing the importance of transboundary governance and international cooperation in protecting shared water resources.

The programme concluded with the ACROSS Integrated River Governance Lab, where international teams worked collaboratively to develop governance proposals for the Girona and Muga Basin case studies. Participants identified key ecological challenges, governance tensions, infrastructure dependencies, and legal constraints before designing integrated strategies that incorporated resilience, climate adaptation, and environmental justice principles.

Beyond the academic programme, the ACROSS Summer School offered a valuable platform for intercultural exchange, collaborative learning, and professional development. By combining lectures, fieldwork, interactive workshops, and group projects, the event equipped participants with new tools and perspectives to address complex water and environmental challenges in an increasingly interconnected world.

The Girona experience demonstrated the importance of interdisciplinary and international cooperation in tackling global environmental change. As rivers continue to shape cities, regions, and borders, initiatives such as the ACROSS Summer School play a crucial role in preparing the next generation of researchers, policymakers, and professionals to build more resilient and sustainable futures.

The full programme is available here: https://esdeveniments.udg.edu/149715/programme/rivers-cities-and-borders-under-global-change.html

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