Green Steps to a sustainable future
A group of Warwick students completed a week’s training in sustainability during June and are now putting their new skills to use across campus.
They have been learning about how to become change agents and about sustainability both on and off campus. They have been challenged to perform audits on waste, energy and water, and learnt how to communicate their findings and create change.
What's next
The 13 students are now each taking part in a three week on-campus project with Estates, looking at energy, water, waste and communication. At the end of their projects they will produce a report for the Energy and Sustainability team, sharing information and recommendations to improve our carbon footprint and inform further changes to the campus.
Students will also build a reflective online portfolio to capture their learning and development, as part of the Tell Your Story initiative.
Those who remain at the University for the autumn term will then have the option to undertake a part-time, off-campus sustainability project within the local community, further developing and practicing their new skills alongside their studies.
About Green Steps
Green Steps is an opportunity to make real-life, lasting changes, as participants produce research and resources that are used to create a more sustainable campus.
In previous years, students have investigated landscape improvements, waste streams and sustainable transport options which have fed into University-wide initiatives. Outcomes have also included energy data on the big screen, new vending machines, and discussions with Conferences and IT Services on changes to products and services.
Green Steps is in its fourth year at Warwick, growing out of the University’s strategic relationship with Monash University, where Green Steps was created.
Training is provided by Student Careers and Skills and the Estates Office’s Energy and Sustainability team, alongside a trainer from Monash University and guest speakers. Students receive a bursary to support their participation in Green Steps.
The students chosen to join the programme come from across the Faculties of Science, Social Sciences and Arts, representing both undergraduate and postgraduate students from departments including; Economics, Engineering, History, Law, Mathematics, PAIS, Physics, School of Life Sciences and WMG.
