Sustainability week
17–21 October 2011
In 2011, UWE's annual Sustainability Week inspired staff and students to do something more for the environment.
From initiatives like the Litter and Lights drive, the Green Office challenge and Smart Travel day, through to the Great Bottled Water challenge, the Green Gardeners’ stall at the Farmers Market, and Sustainability Question-time, the week was geared towards making everyone more aware of the issues and reminding us to do things which make a difference to our future.
Recycling
Hundreds of staff and students took part across our Bristol campuses, working to bring the issues alive. Actors from the Natural Theatre Company joined in dressed as 1950s housewives, going round campus raising awareness of the importance of recycling. They even managed to get Vice Chancellor Steve West, SU President Colin Offler and the new AVC for Environment and Sustainability James Longhurst, to take part in sorting through our litter bins in search of recyclables.
Travel challenge
Thursday saw the arrival of Smart Travel Day - dressed as “smart travellers” the actors, along with their cycling panda, tackled sustainable travel issues with students and revealed the surprising results of the day’s travel challenge. The travel challenge involved four competitors each setting off from the heart of student-ville, Bishopston, at 8:15 to see whether running, cycling, driving or taking the bus is the fastest and most satisfying way to travel to work.
Taking just seventeen minutes, the cyclist made it to UWE in the quickest time, followed by the runner who took twenty-eight minutes. The bus journey took thirty-nine minutes and unexpectedly, the car took almost an hour with fifty-three minutes! Check out the travel challenge press release for more information.
Take a look at the gallery of images from Sustainability Week 2011.
Title: Natural Theatre Company at UWE sustainability week
Title: Natural Theatre Company recycling with UWE
Title: Sustainability week travel panda
Title: Vice-Chancellor, Professor Steve West recycling
Title: Natural Theatre Company gearing up for the travel challenge
Title: We CAN do it
Title: Recycling for a greener future
Title: UWE has bags of recycling
Title: Sustainability education
Title: Sustainable vegetables
For a recap of the week have a look at the programme listed below.
All Week
Frenchay
| Event | Information |
|---|---|
| Litter and lights drive | In lecture theatres and seminar rooms in all faculties – asking students to put litter in the recycling and landfill bins, and staff to switch off lights at the end of lectures. |
| Greener offices | Want help? Green goddesses from RBI/Facilities can visit your office. For further information e-mail sustainability@uwe.ac.uk or use our checklist. |
| Bolland Library litter challenge (will begin on Monday and continue all week) | ‘An average day of library litter’ display in the Library
foyer.
Put litter in the recycling and landfill bins, cut plastic bottle use and buy reusable steel water bottles at the main desk for just £4.00. |
| Natural Theatre
Company Monday, Tuesday and Thursday morning break and lunchtime. |
Watch out for them in busy campus areas such as Onezone, Escape bar, Core 24, large lecture theatres and the Library (4th floor). |
| Cafes, Traders and OneZone | For planet friendly food - try delicious local seasonal and organic options. |
| Fruit and veg stall | Bargain bag of seasonal veg for £1 with free recipe cards, plus Autumn’s best British apples on sale. |
| Blackwells | For the latest books on all things sustainable. |
| UWESU shop | FairTrade display of current stock including chocolate, hoodies, womens’ shorts, cosmetics plus 10% discount on FairTrade goods |
Bower Ashton
| Event | Information |
|---|---|
| The Big Swap (clothes/books/materials), 10:00–16:00 | SU bar/office |
| Bristol Wood Recycling project display. Sustainable artists' materials | Outside reception |
Monday 17 October
Frenchay
| Event | Information |
|---|---|
| Bristol City Sustainable Travel team, 11:00 - 15:00 | The team will be located on the patio outside Core 24 and out and about on Frenchay Campus to provide advice and info. |
| What’s in a bin?
Waste sort from 12:00–14:00 main Frenchay courtyard outside Escape Bar. |
See us sorting litter found in our landfill litter bins and find out how much more could have been recycled - you may be surprised. |
| Natural Theatre
Company |
Watch out for them in busy campus areas such as Onezone, Escape bar, Core 24, large lecture theatres and the Library (4th floor). |
| FairTrade products/fashion stall, 13:00-14:00 Onezone | Find out what FairTrade means to the people who produce our food and clothes. |
Tuesday 18 October
Frenchay
| Event | Information |
|---|---|
| Sustainability fair and farmers market 10:00-15:00 |
|
| Cycle Hub, 09:00-17:00 | Bike repair stall by the bike racks outside P/Q blocks. |
| Great bottled water challenge, 10:00–12:00 Q block foyer | Can you tell the difference between tapwater and bottled? |
| Student Switch-Off Tour, 12:00 - 16:00 |
Taking place across the Student Village, providing advice and freebees. |
| Launch of Sustainable Development teaching resources, 14:00 - 15:00, Room 4E13 | Review materials produced by KESE and ISHE. |
| Film screening, 18:00 - 20:00 SceneIT, room 1B08 | 'Just do it'. Lifting the lid on climate activism – compelling viewing! |
Bower Ashton
| Event | Information |
|---|---|
| Cycle Hub, 09:00-17:00 | Bike repair stall, by the bike racks outside. |
| Scrap Store materials stall, 10:00–16:00 | SU bar/office |
| Natural Theatre Company, 11:00 - 12:00 | SU bar and Traders |
| FairTrade products/fashion stall, 13:00-14:00 Onezone | Traders cafeteria – find out what FairTrade means to the people who produce our food and clothes |
|
‘Just do it’ film screening 18:00 - 20:00, room 0B16 |
'Just do it'. Lifting the lid on climate activism – compelling viewing! |
Glenside
| Event | Information |
|---|---|
| Natural Theatre Company, 13:00 - 14:00 | Out and about and Traders. |
St Matthias
| Event | Information |
|---|---|
| What's in a bin? Waste sort 12:00 - 14:00. | Outside Traders. |
| Natural Theatre Company 15:00 - 16:00. | Student drama closed session. |
Wednesday 19 October
Frenchay
| Event | Information |
|---|---|
| Bulb planting. 12:45–13:45 | Meet outside R2 and the café. Bring own trowel and gloves if you have them – not to worry if you haven’t. Just turn up on the day. Contact telephone number is 07825 008620. |
Bower Ashton
| Event | Information |
|---|---|
| What’s in a bin?
Waste sort from 12:00–14:00 outside by the bike racks. |
See us sorting litter found in our landfill litter bins and find out how much more could have been recycled - you may be surprised. |
St Matthias
| Event | Information |
|---|---|
| FairTrade products/fashion stall 13:00 - 14:00. | Traders cafeteria – find out what FairTrade means to the people who produce our food and clothes. |
Thursday 20 October - Smart Travel Day
Asking all staff and students to change their journey to UWE to have a lighter impact on the environment. Try out car sharing, take the new Wessex Red bus service, try cycling or a new cycle route, walk all or part of your journey. Visit the transport page for further information.
Frenchay
| Event | Information |
|---|---|
| Natural Theatre Company | Don't miss the cycling panda and actors out in busy areas over morning break and lunchtimes eg Onezone, Escape bar, Core 24, outside large lecture theatres and the Library (4th floor). |
| Smart Travel Challenge starts 8:15 - 9:00 | Leaving from the heart of studentland in Bishopston, a cyclist, runner, bus passenger and car driver travel to UWE. Find out who will be the quickest to arrive at Frenchay at R2 café and who has experienced the most pleasant journey! Organised by Centre for Transport and Society. |
| Smart travellers’ breakfast, 8:00–9:00 | R2 Café – a healthy breakfast for Faculty of Environment and Technology staff who come to work using sustainable means. |
| Bristol City Sustainable Travel team, 10:00 - 16:00. |
The team will be located in the courtyard outside the Escape Bar near main reception, and out and about on Frenchay Campus to provide advice and info. |
| Wildlife Walk 12:45–13:30 | Led by Mark Webster, UWE’s sustainability manager. Meet in the undercroft by veg stall, near main reception. Just turn up on the day (will go ahead even in rain!). Contact telephone number is 07825 008620. |
| Sustainability Question Time 16:00–17:00, room 4Q69. | Your chance to ask UWE sustainability researchers about the big environmental challenges of today – organised by the Faculty of Environment and Technology. |
| Food Inc, starting 17:30. | SceneIt cinema room. Food Inc movie. |
St Matthias
| Event | Information |
|---|---|
| Green posters fun day 11:00 - 15:00, SU bar | Come and sketch out your ideas for a greener world - prize for the best. |
Glenside
| Event | Information |
|---|---|
| What’s in a bin?
Waste sort from 12:00–14:00 outside main reception. |
See us sorting litter found in our landfill litter bins and find out how much more could have been recycled - you may be surprised. |
Friday 21 October
Frenchay
| Event | Information |
|---|---|
| ‘Ask the experts!’ 12:45-14:00, Room 1R021 (just off R2 Café) |
Find out what UWE is doing and get tips on how you can live and work sustainably; with Prof James Longhurst – Asst Vice Chancellor Environment and Sustainability, to update you on developments on Education for Sustainable Development in the curricula. |
St Matthias
| Event | Information |
|---|---|
| Film screening 17:00, room A123 | ‘Just do it’, part of Reel World screenings. Lifting the lid on climate activism – compelling viewing! |
Page last updated 28 February 2012