2 November 2009
Sustainability to the fore at conference
Students will have the chance to learn more about sustainability, discover new job opportunities and debate matters of environmental importance with politicians at a conference to be held later this month.
The Dundee Student Sustainability Showcase & Conference, entitled 'Carbon Crushers', takes place at Dundee University Students’ Association (DUSA) on November 13th. It has been jointly organised by DUSA and the Enterprise Gym, a pioneering University project that encourages students to develop the skills, confidence and self-reliance for entrepreneurialism.
A series of student presentations will look at areas relevant to their courses, including food and water, energy and transport, the built environment, and other subjects that impinge upon sustainable development.
Workshops featuring representatives of the public and private sector will further examine these areas, and a number of keynote speeches looking at topics such as climate change and green entrepreneurialism will be made.
The afternoon will see a debate on climate change, sustainable society and green industry take place. Representatives of the SNP, Labour, Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Scottish Greens will take their place on the panel.
DUSA President Andrew Smith urged students to get involved in what he said promised to be a 'fun, interactive and informative day'.
'This is a good time of year to be promoting environmentalism and entrepreneurialism amongst students, as they will begin to feel the effects of winter heating bills,' he said. 'When they are thinking about renewable energy, it is the ideal opportunity to make clear the environmental and economic benefits.'
'With so much student involvement, it’s also an opportunity to showcase the work they are doing in this area and bring it to the attention of a large audience. The quality of work across the University is very high, and this is a platform to demonstrate that.'
'There are a number of great speakers and excellent sessions and there is a lot for students to be getting involved with. This engaging and interactive day is a great way to involve students in the issues that are affecting our world.'
'The event sees us working with colleagues from Dundee College and Abertay University, and this sort of event is a great way to bring Dundee’s academic community together informally.'
The speakers lined up for the event include:
- Michael Marra - Policy & Public Affairs Manager, Oxfam.
- Tanya Ewing - Managing Director, EWGECO, Female Inventor of the Year, 2008.
- David Cameron - Chief Technical Officer, Scottish Renewables.
New employment and entrepreneurial opportunities created by sustainable development are a key feature of the conference, and attendees will also have the opportunity to do the 'Carbon Walk'.
The winners of the Sustainable Business Ideas competitions run by The Enterprise Gym will receive their prizes from John Rowan, Director of the Centre for Environmental Change & Human Resilience at the University of Dundee.
Ken Edward, Enterprise Facilitator at the University of Dundee, said that helping young people to understand the scope, scale and immediacy of response required to meet the challenges of climate change was of crucial importance.
'Together with the Students' Association we have planned this event which allows serious learning about sustainability but in a fun and interactive way,' he said.
'Helping students to understand how they personally may need to change their behaviours to reduce their carbon footprint is vitally important as is providing general guidance on what skills will be required in a sustainable society.'
'The types of professions and jobs where demand may lie in the future can be spotted now. DS3C allows us to engage with the global citizens and employees of the future on these issues.'
More information is available by visiting www.ds3c.co.uk/.
For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277 |
