The greenest auditorium on the greenest campus

A temporary “herb garden” first opened in 2022 in the old auditorium of the main building of the University of Miskolc. The highly successful exhibition has now been revamped under the motto “The Voice of Nature,” and its highlights include terrariums set up in retro soda bottles, flasks, and 50-liter demijohns—mini ecosystems that can survive for years without any care.

The “Earth Day Garden,” representing the wonders of living nature, is a symbol of the University of Miskolc’s commitment to sustainability,

– stated Rector Prof. Dr. Zita Horváth at the garden’s official opening. “We have been striving to live up to this for a long time: we use renewable energy in our campus buildings, ranging from geothermal energy to solar panels, and the development of a solar park is also underway. We are continuously greening the nearly 90-hectare campus, and for every tree that is cut down, we plant two or three new ones. “A dedicated working group is implementing our university’s sustainability strategy to ensure that a green mindset becomes an integral part of our daily lives in practice,” he said.

Cardboard Furniture Competition

In 2009, the United Nations designated April 22 as “International Mother Earth Day,” which draws attention worldwide to the importance of environmental protection, sustainability, and the responsible use of resources. In connection with this initiative, the University of Miskolc announced an eco-conscious furniture design competition for its students. The goal of the competition was for students to apply their creativity and professional knowledge in practice by designing and creating functional furniture from recyclable cardboard, noted the creator of the garden and the competition, Prof. Dr. Árpád Palotás, Dean of the Faculty of Materials and Chemical Engineering, at the awards ceremony held in conjunction with the opening of the “Earth Day Garden.” He noted that a total of 12 entries were submitted by students.

Based on the decision of the professional jury, which evaluated entries on functionality, design, creativity, and quality of execution, first place went to B Dávid Búzás, a student majoring in industrial product and design engineering, who created a complete furniture collection. Second place went to Dániel Morvai, also a student majoring in industrial product and design engineering, for his design of a coffee table. Third place, along with the audience award, was awarded to Mariann Éva Hegedűs, a student at the Faculty of Materials and Chemical Engineering, for her hexagonal design bench. The winners received special scholarships.

The “Voice of Nature” garden was appropriately accompanied by a musical performance: the Palota Trombone Quartet from the Béla Bartók Faculty of Music provided a fitting backdrop for the event with their performance of classical works.