Abi Whitefield studied Environmental Protection and Management when she decided to not participate in her compulsory course field trip to Morocco due to its carbon emissions. We find out more about her decision.
Continue reading Why I refused to go on my course field trip
“Yes, basic literacy and numeracy skills are vitally important. Yes, we need to get children ready for the world of work. However, they’re going to need a world to work in.”
Blair Minchin graduated from The University of Edinburgh’s Moray House of Education and now works as a Primary School teacher. He tells us more about his inventive methods of embedding awareness about sustainability in his teaching.
Continue reading Never too early: the Primary Teacher embedding the environment
inthe curriculum
Medicine has a considerable environmental impact, with 100 million tonnes of solid waste generated each year in the UK, 85% of which generally ends up in landfill sites across England and Wales.
We hear from the students trying to tackle this by directing medical surplusses to countries in need of medical supplies.
Continue reading MedAid: the students working to improve planetary and human health
Our Festival Sustainability and Plastics Assistant, James Conway, gives his top tips for making your Fringe sustainable.
In this blog, we hear from the members of staff that have recently undertaken our Be Sustainable Advanced course, a professional development course that aims to inspire and educate staff members to live more sustainably.
The course has been developed in partnership with Learning for Sustainability Scotland incorporating expertise and resources from across the University of Edinburgh.
The University of Edinburgh has just launched its Adaptation Framework based on a whole institution approach as part of commitments in our Climate Change Strategy, Zero by 2040. Liz Vander Meer, Climate Policy Manager, talks through the Framework.
Continue reading Adaptation Framework for the University of Edinburgh
Projects Coordinator for Energy, Aisling O’Reilly, discusses the necessity of transitioning to renewables and the societal changes required to become zero carbon.
Continue reading Time for change: transitioning to a zero carbon economy
In our first blog for #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek, we hear from Neeki Armani who is currently a Science Teacher in London and soon-to-be MSc Outdoor Environmental and Sustainability Education student at the University of Edinburgh.
She discusses the realities of being responsible for educating children about climate change and the toll that takes on both her and their mental health.
Anton Puzorjov is a PhD student at the University of Edinburgh, the Founder of the University of Edinburgh Entrepreneurs Society and someone who’s on a mission to fight fast fashion. He founded One Cherry just 1 and a half years ago with the aim of making it easier for charity shops to sell their clothing online.
This #FashionRevolutionWeek, we hear what motivated him to create the start-up and his journey in social entrepreneurship.
Continue reading One Cherry: the student start-up changing second hand shopping
We hear from Morven MacEwen, a Global Environment, Politics and Society MSc student on why she believes the action of school students striking to be so necessary.
Continue reading Student voice: Why I support the school strikes
We hear from Catharine Horn, Business Manager at Scottish Student Sport on the benefits of active travel on our health and the planet.
Continue reading Catharine Horn: why sustainability and physical activity go hand in
hand
School children striking over inaction on climate change originated in Sweden, with 15 year old Greta Thunberg protesting outside her Government’s buildings. Today, similar demonstrations are being held in 60 towns and cities across the UK as students express their concerns over the worsening impacts of climate change.
We hear from University of Edinburgh academics that recently signed an open letter of support for the British climate change school strikes about their motivations for signing.
Continue reading The Edinburgh academics supporting the Youth Strikes for Climate
Laura is an Environmental Protection and Management MSc student at the University of Edinburgh with a passion for living sustainably. She strives to live a lifestyle that creates as little waste as possible, known as the zero waste lifestyle. In this blog, she discusses the ways students and staff can reduce their plastic waste and the array of shops dedicated to zero waste in Edinburgh.
Dave Gorman, Director of Social Responsibility and Sustainability, reflects on the University’s progress in 2018 and what lies ahead in 2019 and beyond.
Continue reading Sustainability at Edinburgh: 2018 highlights, 2019 objectives
Meg McGrath, Communications Coordinator, provides ideas for New Year’s Resolutions that make a difference. Continue reading 28 ways to make 2019 your most sustainable year yet
Kerry Cheek, Festival Sustainability Assistant, reflects on learnings from the Circular Economy Hotspot Scotland.
Continue reading Closing the loop: moving from single-use to circular
Dr Elizabeth Vander Meer shares University progress in relation to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) special report “Global Warming of 1.5° C”.
Continue reading Aligned with 1.5 degrees: The University of Edinburgh and Climate
Change
Projects Coordinator, Aisling O’Reilly, shares her knowledge of heat networks in Scotland, stories from the Vital Energi Conference as well as some examples of where the industry is headed from at home and abroad.
Continue reading A zero carbon future: the role of district heating in Scotland
Dr Elizabeth Vander Meer, Climate Policy Manager for the Department for Social Responsibility and Sustainability, tells us about the Building Futures project.
SRS Projects Coordinator Aisling O’Reilly discusses her time at this year’s All Energy Conference, which was held on the 2nd and 3rd of May in Glasgow.
We recently said farewell to Caro Overy, Engagement Manager for the Department for Social Responsibility & Sustainability. We asked her to share some thoughts on what she’s learnt over the last seven years.
Sonja Peacock reflects on her work placement with the Department for Social Responsibility and Sustainability over the Summer.
Carolina Macedo investigates why most gyms are not investing in energy harvesting exercise equipment as part of her MSc Sustainable Resource Management dissertation.
Continue reading Pros and cons of energy harvesting exercise equipment
Claudia Cox, a fourth-year Classics student at the University of Edinburgh, shares her insights into Sustainable Backpacking through Central America.
Programme Manager Matthew Lawson reflects on the recent Universitas 21 Undergraduate Research Conference hosted by the University of Edinburgh.
Continue reading Opportunities for universities to act socially responsibly…
Dave Gorman reflects on his first four years as Director of the Department for Social Responsibility & Sustainability.
Continue reading Dave Gorman: reflections on my first 4 years
Andrew Arnott, Lab Sustainability Coordinator, reflects on the recent HEaTED event at Easter Bush. Will this year be a turning point for technical staff?
Continue reading Valuing technical staff at the University of Edinburgh and across the UK
Liz Cooper, Research & Policy Manager, reflects on recent sustainability symposium at Manchester Metropolitan University.
To mark ECO Week 2017, which aims to promote the wide range of careers related to the environment and sustainability, we are profiling a range of professionals who are leading the way within the sustainability sector. We’re calling them our ‘Sustainability Heroes’!
Throughout the week we will publish a series of short, snappy interviews that give us insight into their day to day life at work, what motivates them, and how they got to where they are.
Our fourth Sustainability Hero for ECO Week 2017 is Jo Green, Chief Officer – Performance & Innovation for Scottish Environment Protection Agency.
To mark ECO Week 2017, which aims to promote the wide range of careers related to the environment and sustainability, we are profiling a range of professionals who are leading the way within the sustainability sector. We’re calling them our ‘Sustainability Heroes’!
Throughout the week we will publish a series of short, snappy interviews that give us insight into their day to day life at work, what motivates them, and how they got to where they are.
Our third Sustainability Hero for ECO Week 2017 is Jonathan Hughes, Chief Executive for Scottish Wildlife Trust.
To mark ECO Week 2017, which aims to promote the wide range of careers related to the environment and sustainability, we are profiling a range of professionals who are leading the way within the sustainability sector. We’re calling them our ‘Sustainability Heroes’!
Throughout the week we will publish a series of short, snappy interviews that give us insight into their day to day life at work, what motivates them, and how they got to where they are.
Our second Sustainability Hero for ECO Week 2017 is Cat Hirst, Head of Learning & Innovation for UK Green Building Council.
To mark ECO Week 2017, which aims to promote the wide range of careers related to the environment and sustainability, we are profiling a range of professionals who are leading the way within the sustainability sector. We’re calling them our ‘Sustainability Heroes’!
Throughout the week we will publish a series of short, snappy interviews that give us insight into their day to day life at work, what motivates them, and how they got to where they are.
Our first Sustainability Hero for ECOweek 2017 is Andrew Pendleton, Head of Campaigns for Friends of the Earth.
Public lecture review by Joshua Stein, 4th year student in German and History Continue reading Enlightenment Lecture: Scientists change the world: why can’t they change their image?
Emma Dixon and Fanni Barocsi joined the department on work-based placements from the MSc Science Communication and Public Engagement course. Find out about the work they carried out on “Conflict Minerals”. Continue reading Work-based placements: Emma and Fanni investigate conflict minerals
Matthew Lawson, Programme Manager, reflects on attending the first meeting of a collaborative European-wide project looking to produce an open educational resource to promote social responsibility in universities.
Sustainable Energy Engineering student Desen Kirli contacted us in May to ask about getting some work experience with the department as an Energy Efficiency Assistant. Find out how she got on.
Programme Manager Matthew Lawson reflects on the efforts by colleges and universities in Northern and Southern Ireland to group together to persue common environmental goals. Continue reading Promising progress at the EAUC Ireland regional group meeting
Monday 29th February – Sunday 13th March is Fairtrade Fortnight; Research and Policy Manager Liz Cooper reflects on what this means for The University of Edinburgh and how staff and students can get involved.
Continue reading An update on the University’s fair trade journey
Over two days in December 2015, sixty-odd people gathered as part of a Social Responsibility and Sustainability Special Project Grant to discuss research around off-grid solar. This post reviews those discussions.
Continue reading On black boxes, unknowns and achieving aims
After travelling with the University’s delegation to the Paris Climate Summit, the EUSA’s Vice President Services, Urte Macikene gives her own personal thoughts on the experience.
Our Changing World lecture by Dr Meriwether Wilson on 10th November 2015; summary by Marlena Segar, 1st year student in Social and Economic History with Environmental Studies
Continue reading Our Changing World: Ocean Futures: Balancing Blue Growth with Conservation
Continue reading Reflections from the 4th Annual Nourish Conference
Our Changing World lecture by Prof. Brian Walker on 13th October 2015; summary by Marlena Segar, 1st year student in Social and Economic History with Environmental Studies
We throw away 7 million tonnes of food in the UK every year. Half is perfectly edible, and the other half has been left to decay as result of poor management and a broken economic, political and social system. More than 800 million people in the world go to sleep hungry, even though the waste produced by Europe alone would be sufficient to feed them.
By Liz Cooper, Research and Policy Manager
Ethics, social responsibility and sustainability are attracting more and more attention in the world of finance and investment, following financial crisis and recessions, and in the context of climate change. This month, Edinburgh hosted the first Global Ethical Finance Forum, organised by Middle East Global Advisors.
Master of Architecture alumnus Alex Kuklinski explains how she is using her graphic design skills to update our “Switch” energy campaign.
by Allison Palenske
Whole-systems thinking, closed loop and cradle-to-cradle design are common terms used within the discourse of the sustainability sector––within a theoretical framework these concepts seem viable and ideal in solving many issues arising from our current way of living. But on a much more tangible level, how can the process of creating a sustainable food-growing space reflect systems-thinking practicalities in design, build and maintenance?
Continue reading Upcycling materials at the City Croft community garden
Javier Ureña Palencia, MSc International Business and Emerging Markets and Lauren Opstad, MSc Environment and Development, give an overview of their placements in Malawi looking at fair trade supply chains.
Continue reading MSc student placements: Fair trade research in Malawi
By Eilidh Morrison
As is the case for most university students, April is often one of the busier and more stressful months of the year. Essay deadlines are looming, exams are fast approaching and master’s students are frantically planning their dissertation research. I am on the Environment and Development MSc, which means I belong to the School of Geosciences. Many of my colleagues are abroad doing field research, whilst some others have decided to complete desk-based research in Edinburgh. I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to complete a Work Based Placement in the Department for Social Responsibility and Sustainability within the University of Edinburgh looking into garment supply chains. Upon completion of the placement, I will write a report for the Department, the findings of which I can then use towards my MSc Dissertation.
Continue reading Work-based placement: garment supply chains
Our summer Student Assistant, Tara Richards has been working with the Department to make sense of the University’s current commitment to biodiversity and green infrastructure. Here’s a look at the progress she’s made so far.
Continue reading Reviewing the University’s commitment to biodiversity & green infrastructure
