APPLIED CLIMATE EDUCATION AT MOLDOVA STATE UNIVERSITY THROUGH THE CLIMATE FRESK METHOD
Faculty of Biology and Geosciences & Faculty of Law
At Moldova State University (MSU), educational activities aimed at raising awareness of climate change experienced remarkable development in the spring of 2025 through the implementation of the interactive Climate Fresk method. The initiative was successfully carried out within two faculties — the Faculty of Biology and Geosciences and the Faculty of Law.
On April 9, 2025, third-year students (specializations in Biology, Molecular Biology, and Ecology) and first-year students (Geography) from the Faculty of Biology and Geosciences participated in two Climate Fresk workshops facilitated by Daniela Elenciuc and Steliana Clapco. Integrated into the European project “Development of Climate Justice and Human Rights Education at the Moldova State University,” the activity provided students with the opportunity to explore the interlinkages between climate processes, ecosystems, and societal impacts. By analyzing the causes and effects of climate change, participants were encouraged to formulate solutions and critically reflect on their own roles in facing the ecological crisis.
The Faculty of Law organized two Climate Fresk sessions on May 7 and 16, 2025, engaging third-year students from Romanian-, English-, and French-speaking groups as part of their practical Environmental Law classes. The workshops were facilitated by a team composed of Rodica-Iordanca Iordanov, Irina Punga, and Doina Cuciurca. Each session provided an intensive and collaborative educational experience designed to deepen understanding of the legal and social dimensions of climate change. The activities were structured around the Climate Fresk pedagogical model, which is based on the scientific findings of the IPCC Report and adapted to the university setting.
Students worked in teams, exploring systemic connections between natural phenomena, human behavior, and legal-social effects — from forced migration and environmental degradation to challenges in upholding fundamental rights. Participants appreciated the practical nature of the method and its impact on fostering interdisciplinary, solution-oriented thinking. The workshops also promoted civic responsibility and encouraged interest in contributing to the development of environmental public policies.
Both initiatives were carried out under the same European project, implemented in partnership with the Global Campus of Human Rights, directly contributing to the strategic objective of advancing education in climate justice and human rights at MSU.
By promoting the Climate Fresk method across various faculties, Moldova State University reaffirms its commitment to a modern, participatory, and sustainability-oriented education — one capable of preparing a new generation of professionals — whether jurists, ecologists, or geographers — who are aware of global challenges and equipped to respond with responsibility and competence.
