INTERNATIONAL SUMMER SCHOOL 2026: CLIMATE-RESILIENT CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
International students explored innovative approaches to protecting critical infrastructure against the impacts of climate change.
The International Summer School on Climate-Resilient Critical Infrastructure took place at the Faculty of Safety Engineering, VSB – Technical University of Ostrava, bringing together students from Poland and Slovakia. Organised within the Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme (BIP), the school focused on strengthening the resilience of critical infrastructure to climate change and extreme natural events.
The programme combined expert lectures with practical activities covering risk assessment, system dynamics and nature-based solutions. Students explored innovative approaches to infrastructure protection and learned how nature-based solutions can help reduce the impacts of climate-related hazards.
The Summer School was closely linked to the European Horizon Europe projects NATURE DEMO and CESAR, which focus on developing innovative solutions to protect critical infrastructure and enhance its resilience. As part of the programme, participants visited the Centre of Simulation Technologies (CESIT), where they experienced virtual and augmented reality simulations of crisis situations.
Field visits provided further opportunities to connect theoretical knowledge with real-world applications. Students visited dry polders in Bolatice and the Integrated Security Centre of the Moravian-Silesian Region, where they learned about the operational security of emergency services and the principles of crisis management.
The Summer School offered an opportunity to exchange international experience, explore innovative research approaches and develop practical competencies in critical infrastructure protection and climate resilience.Alongside the academic programme, participants had the opportunity to discover Ostrava, share experiences and build international connections. The event fostered intercultural exchange, teamwork and new friendships among students from participating countries.