The Association of Dental Education in Europe (ADEE), the European Dental Students’ Association (EDSA) and Henry Schein have awarded dental schools and societies for their efforts in implementing a more sustainable ethos in dental education and clinical practice.
At the ADEE’s annual meeting, which took place between September 7 and 10, 2024, in Leuven, Belgium, the association, EDSA and Henry Schein announced the winners of the 2024 Oral Health Professional Educators’ ‘Practice Green’ awards.
Brian O'Connell, ADEE president, said, “After the success of 2023, ADEE is honored to again recognise the remarkable submissions for the 2024 Practice Green awards. The initiatives presented by our faculties showcase an impressive dedication to sustainability and environmental awareness in dental education. These projects are a testament to our collective efforts to cultivate green practices within the oral health care curriculum.”
The awards promote sustainability principles in oral health practitioners' education and professional environments. In 2024, the application focused on campus-wide initiatives that enable sustainable behaviours and practices in faculty and student populations.
Ezgi Yeşiltan, EDSA president, said, “The 2024 Practice Green Awards highlight the impressive role students play in advancing sustainability within health care education. It is wonderful to see how deeply these green principles are being embedded into the undergraduate curriculum, shaping a new generation of environmentally conscious professionals.”
Nicola Loynes, vice president of Henry Schein’s EMEA Special Markets, said “We commend this year’s awardees for the exceptional work in promoting sustainable dental practices. The winners’ contributions are vital in shaping a healthier future for all.
“On behalf of team Schein, we extend our gratitude to all participating faculties for their innovative approaches and for reinforcing the significant role university dental schools play in the sustainability movement within dentistry.”
The winners of the 2024 awards are:
Faculty campus initiative: the Faculty of Dentistry, Ankara University, Turkey
For the sustainability group at Ankara University, Faculty of Dentistry, led by Kaan Orhan, the passion for sustainability centres very clearly on the need to reduce the impact of our profession on the planet. This is enabled by embracing the use of technologies throughout the dental care continuum to eliminate paper and waste, and to encourage ownership of the problem by the profession, from student to practitioner. The Faculty of Dentistry, Ankara University sustainability group has created an impressive range of initiatives. From the installation of solar panels, free bike-hire options for students, and training and support on a variety of sustainability-related initiatives.
Faculty curriculum initiative: the Faculty of Dentistry, Semmelweis University, Hungary
Established in 2021, the sustainability dentistry group is led by Tamás Demeter. Since its formation, the group has led an internal drive to reduce waste, specifically, single-use plastics and a faculty greening initiative. The focus on single-use plastics has seen the faculty change many of its processes and gain value through the reduction of waste.
The group provides training and support to staff and students, while developing comprehensive communication support that ranges from encouraging team members and students to bring their own mug to the cafeteria, to presentations on the importance of sustainability at external conferences.