By Tristan, BA(Hons) Filmmaking student.
Our student, Tristan, shares how his course gave him the opportunity to create a documentary film based on his passion for sustainability. He tells us how this experience enabled him to showcase his documentary at renowned film festivals and become an award-winning filmmaker. Keep reading to find out more about Tristan’s story.
Continue reading “How Tristan’s passion for sustainability and filmmaking enabled him to create an award-winning documentary.”By Paul, UWE Bristol’s Head of Environment and Sustainability.
Head of Environment and Sustainability, Paul, tells us how he’s turned his passion for sustainability and tackling the climate crisis into a career. He shares how UWE Bristol is supporting sustainability on campus and how students can get involved in creating a more sustainable future. Keep reading to learn more.
Continue reading “How Paul and his team’s work is making our university more sustainable.”By Briony and Clare, UWE Bristol Senior Lecturers in Events Management.
Events Management academics, Briony and Clare, discuss the environmental impact of events and how climate change is causing events to be cancelled. They reveal how their teaching and research is ensuring sustainability is at the forefront of people’s minds when they plan or attend events. Keep reading to learn more about Briony and Clare’s work.
Continue reading “How Briony and Clare’s research is making festivals more sustainable”By Ian, UWE Bristol Senior Lecturer and PhD student.
Senior Lecturer in Sustainable IT, Ian, decided to make the considerable transition from a management consultancy career to a PhD in designing sustainable IT systems. Guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals, he now teaches UWE Bristol students about the importance of sustainable tech and business when striving for a greener future. Read more about Ian’s work.
Continue reading “How Ian’s work is inspiring the next generation to use sustainable IT.”By Laura, MSc Science Communication student
MSc Science Communication student, Laura, shares what she loves about living in Bristol.
“During my six years studying in Bristol, I’ve got to know the area well and I’d love to tell you about some of my favourite parts of the city.
Firstly, Bristol has loads of green spaces. My top three are Stoke Park, Blaise Castle Estate, and Ashton Court Estate. Stoke Park is full of woodlands and green fields. I regularly go foraging in the woodlands for plants such as wild garlic as it’s a great topping for nachos (top tip: when foraging only take what you need).
In the summer, Stoke Park is a beautiful place for a picnic where you can enjoy wonderful views while soaking up the sun. Plus, there’s an area in the park where goats roam, and if you’re lucky they’ll come and say hello so you can get your animal fix.
Blaise Castle Estate is a little further than Stoke Park from Frenchay Campus, but it’s worth the journey. The castle sits in the gardens on top of a hill surrounded by woodland, and my favourite spot – an out crop that overlooks a valley – is near here. I’ve spent many evenings watching the sky change from blue to red as the sun sets. It’s a very calming place to go whenever you need some time out.
Ashton Court is in the south of Bristol, and I love visiting during spring to watch the deer as they shed their antlers. There’s also a lovely café there selling cakes and sandwiches, which always go down nicely after a walk.
As well as having plenty of green spaces, Bristol also has lots of cycle lanes and paths so it’s easy to get around in a cheap and environmentally friendly way. The Strawberry line is one of my favourite cycle paths. It’s an old railway line that runs for 9 miles. I cycled along it with a friend, on our way to Cheddar Gorge, and it felt like we were cycling through another world as we passed lots of flowers, birds, and butterflies on both sides of the track.
About a 30-minute drive from Bristol city centre is Clevedon tidal pool, which is a free outdoor swimming pool overlooking the sea. One cold February day, I even plucked up the courage to have a plunge in the tidal pool with a friend. It was freezing cold, so we were only in the water for a few minutes, but it was such good fun – and it was amazing to look out into the sea as we were swimming.
Finally, Gloucester Road is one of my favourite roads ever. You could go for ten days out on Gloucester Road and each of them would be different. It’s known for being one of the biggest independent high streets in Europe – it’s full of quirky cafés, pubs, charity shops and many other independent businesses.
My favourite Gloucester Road day out is a charity shop crawl. For this, I need to keep a whole day free as there are at least fifteen charity shops. The shops all have different vibes too so there are loads of different treasures to be found. There’s everything from high-end charity shops which are great for brands, to budget shops where you’ll find plenty of bargains.
This blog only really scratches the surface of the adventures you can have in Bristol, but I hope that I’ve given you a good idea of what it’s like to be a student in such a unique city.”
By Verity, UWE Bristol Associate Professor.
Associate Professor, Verity, is proving bugs are one possible solution to the sustainability issues faced by the food production industry. She’s working to get edible insects introduced to lunch menus in schools as an alternative protein source. Keep reading to learn more about Verity’s work.
How I found my passion for sustainable food production
My name’s Verity, and I’m an Associate Professor at UWE Bristol. Through my research, I’m finding ways to reduce food waste and the negative effect our food choices have on our planet. Food production demands huge resources, which has a massive impact on the environment.
We’ve all seen shocking images of food waste pouring out of rubbish trucks. It feels uncomfortable seeing such large quantities of food being thrown away in a world where famine is very much a reality. I knew more needed to be done.
Sustainability issues in food production
Half of the habitable land on the planet is used for farming and agriculture, but we simply don’t have enough cropland to feed a growing population. And although there’s significant interest in plant-based diets in the UK, meat is still the most popular source of protein across the globe.
In fact, there’s a continued growth in demand for beef and chicken. To meet this demand, more land is being cleared to make way for more livestock, which threatens local habitats and their wealth of biodiversity.
An alarming statistic is that meat consumption is set to increase by 76% by 2050. Since meat production is responsible for significant greenhouse gas emissions and food-related deforestation, we can’t ignore the impact this will have on our planet.
Getting alternative protein sources on the menu
The good news is there are possible solutions. We may have already thought about shifting to plant-based proteins, but have you considered trying insects? In other parts of the world, insects have been a staple source of protein for thousands of years. They’re high in protein, vitamins and minerals and they emit fewer greenhouse gases.
Insects need less space and less water to grow, so in theory, they could provide a more sustainable option. While some people may not fancy a bug burger, young people in Wales have said they’d like the choice.
Through my research with the ‘Bug Farm Foods in Pembrokeshire’, and in response to pupil feedback, I’m working to see how edible insects can get on the lunch menu in schools. We’ve been collaborating with Pembrokeshire County Council to make this happen. We’re hoping to see insect protein as part of the menus soon, offering young people a greater choice.
We’re showing that an open approach to what we eat can be valuable to people and the planet. The feedback from young people has been incredibly positive. They want tasty, healthy and filling food and are keen to have more sustainable options. Insects may look unpleasant to many, but luckily they can be added to foods as powders for a sustainable protein boost that’s good for you and the planet.
“I’m proving that insects are a sustainable alternative to more traditional proteins like red meat.”
How the food production industry is changing
Progress is being made in many areas of food production and we have a lot to feel optimistic about. New technology and innovation mean that there are great opportunities to reduce food waste during the production cycle.
Strawberries are a great example of this. By growing strawberries on a tabletop rather than on the ground, farmers are producing less damaged fruit. Plus, they’re able to use land that’s closer to their storage, packing and distribution facilities. With 10,000 tonnes of strawberries thrown away each year, these small changes are having a big impact on reducing food waste.
Three ways we can all make our food more sustainable
It doesn’t have to be anything radical. If we all make small changes to our food choices, it can make a massive difference to the planet. My top tips are:
Find out more on UWE Bristol’s Change the world with us webpage.
By Verity, UWE Bristol Associate Professor.
Associate Professor, Verity, tells us how her research is tackling the environmental issues and social injustice caused by fast fashion. She’s working to educate people on the positive changes they can make by supporting sustainable fashion. Keep reading to learn more about Verity’s work.
How I found my passion for sustainable fashion
My name’s Verity, and I’m an Associate Professor at UWE Bristol, where my work involves researching sustainable solutions for the fashion industry. Fast fashion is a buzz word we’re all hearing more frequently, whether it’s in the news, on our social feeds or in TV advertising. For example, through advertising on the much famed ‘Love Island’, eBay boosted sales of pre-loved clothing. But what exactly does the term “fast fashion” mean?
In a nutshell, fast fashion is inexpensive clothing that’s quickly mass produced by retailers in response to the latest trends. This means that consumers can snap up affordable styles soon after they’ve seen them on celebrities and catwalks. The problem is they don’t get worn for long before they’re discarded in favour of the next trend.
Why fast fashion is a sustainability issue
The UK is an epicentre of fast fashion in Europe – buying and discarding far more than any of our European neighbouring countries. This is fuelling a cycle of overproduction and overconsumption that’s having a direct impact on the environment.
The fashion industry is responsible for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions and consumes more energy than the aviation and shipping industries combined. Its production techniques also demand vast quantities of water, which end up back in our waterways, polluted by dyes and chemicals.
“There are some shocking statistics revealing the impact the industry is having on the environment. In the UK alone, 13 million items of clothing end up in landfill every year.”
How my research is making a difference
The work I’m doing at UWE Bristol aims to help transform the fashion industry. Through my research, I’m tackling the environmental issues and social injustice caused by fast fashion. This means looking at the impact our actions have on people and the planet and exploring what we can do to change things for the better.
For example, I deliver a free online course called ‘Who Made My Clothes?’, which has attracted over 70,000 learners to date. This shows that people are interested in the issues around fast fashion and want to learn more about how they can make positive changes.
I’m also passionate about educating children to protect the environment for future generations. Eco anxiety is a huge problem for young people. In fact, 50% of children seen by counsellors and psychologists disclose it as a concern. To tackle this issue head on, we’ve worked with Friends of the Earth to develop supportive resources that parents can access from their website.
“The statistics are alarming, but we need to also look for the good news stories and focus on the things we can feel positive and optimistic about.”
Three ways we can make our fashion more sustainable
My top 3 tips for supporting sustainable fashion are:
Find out more on UWE Bristol’s Change the world with us webpage.
