{"id":913,"date":"2026-03-20T12:37:10","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T12:37:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.atm.helsinki.fi\/unavex\/?p=913"},"modified":"2026-03-20T12:37:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T12:37:10","slug":"unavex-day-3-virtual-exchange-session-of-the-3rd-iteration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.atm.helsinki.fi\/unavex\/?p=913","title":{"rendered":"UnaVEx: Day 3 Virtual Exchange Session of the 3rd Iteration"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Day 3 virtual exchange session of the third UnaVEx iteration for students was held on 19 March 2025, bringing together a total of 167 participants in an engaging online exchange.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The session featured a guest lecture titled \u201cCatalysing Change Across Continents: How Global Sustainability Advocates Drive an Ecological Circular Economy\u201d<\/em> by Solomon Derese, Professor of Organic Chemistry at University of Nairobi. Prof. Derese also serves as Executive Secretary of the Pan African Chemistry Network and previously worked as Program Officer for the Natural Products Research Network for Eastern and Central Africa from 2009 to 2014. His research focuses on organic synthesis for pharmaceutical applications\u2014particularly targeting tropical diseases such as malaria\u2014as well as natural products research. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his keynote address, Prof. Derese highlighted the importance of green chemistry and the principles of a circular economy. He also emphasized how students can continue to promote sustainable practices as Global Sustainability Advocates beyond the UnaVEx virtual exchange.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The session concluded with a lively discussion facilitated by Justus Munyoki.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prof. Derese closed his talk with an inspiring story originally shared by Wangari Maathai, emphasizing that every individual contribution counts in building a more sustainable world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watch the video: \u201cI Will Be a Hummingbird\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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