Sustainable Campus

Sustainability Week

Sustainability Week 2023

Increasing awareness of sustainability at Newcastle University.

Snowy hedgetop

Monday 6th March to Friday 10th March, 2023

Join us for a week of awareness-raising action, culminating in a Sustainability Festival.

Sustainability Week has a mix of in-person and virtual events, inviting the University community to learn more about the climate action Newcastle University takes, and what they can do to get involved.

The week is brought to you by multiple departments across the University, and promotes external events in the local community.

Monday

Monday 6th March

Meet the Sustainability Team

12:00-14:00, Philip Robinson Library

For staff and students

Organised by the Sustainability Team

The Sustainability Team will be bringing their pop-up stall to the Robinson Library! Students and staff are welcome to come and meet members of the team and find out more about the University's Sustainability initiatives and how you can get involved. 

UNSDG Logos, SDGs 4, 12 and 13

Tuesday

Tuesday 7th March

SustainaWHAT?!

14:00-16:00, 6.19 Henry Daysh Building

For postgraduate students

Organised by PGR Research and Education for Sustainable Development Team

This SustainaWHAT?! event is the first in a series of events in 2023. These have been co-created by the PGR Research and Education for Sustainable Development Team – a multidisciplinary group of PGRs and staff from across Newcastle University (and School X) in collaboration with PGR/staff teams at Cardiff and Bournemouth universities.

All postgraduate students are wlecome to particpate in these events to develop their awareness of the SDGs. They will have an opportunity to explore their research through the sustainability lens, share ideas and skills with a sustainability-minded community, and hear from interdisciplinary speakers, and extend their network.

UNSDG Wheel Logo

Sustainability in Fast Fashion; What is the role of the consumer?

15:00-16:30, Online Panel

For staff and students

Organised by the Business School PG Sustainability Forum

This event will be a panel discussion exploring the impact the fast fashion industry has on our environment, the alternatives available and the role we play as consumers, in limiting those impacts. The panel will be chaired by Professor Tracy Scurry (Professor of Work & Employment) and will include Professor Diana Gregory- Smith (Professor of Marketing and Sustainability at Newcastle University Business School), Professor Natascha Radclyffe-Thomas (Professor of Marketing and Sustainable Business at the British School of Fashion, GCU London), Ms Jo Lineham (Sustainability columnist with The Sunday Times and former Fashion Editor & Stylist) and Mukilan Deivarajan Suresh (NUSU Environment & Ethics Rep).

UNSDG Logos, SDGs 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14

Wednesday

Wednesday 8th March

Tour of the National Green Infrastructure Facility

15:00-16:00, Urban Sciences Building, Newcastle Helix (formerly Science Central)

For staff and students

Organised by the Sustainability Team

A guided tour of the National Green Infrastructure Facility at Newcastle Helix into sustainable drainage systems (SuDS). Learn about the different types of planting and green roof that are being used by researchers at the University to better understand how to reduce the risk of flooding while increasing biodiversity.

Please meet in the foyer of the Urban Sciences Building, around the large, green National Green Infrastructure Facility flags.

UNSDG Logos, SDGs 9, 11, 13 and 15

Thursday

Thursday 9th March

Climate Connections - A Climate Anxiety Workshop

10:30-12:00, 1.69 King George VI Building

For staff and students

Organised by the Student Health and Wellbeing Service

Many adults in the UK report feeling overwhelmed and worried about climate change. This rise in eco-anxiety is the result of personal experience, constant media coverage and an increasing pressure to minimise our environmental impact. The Climate Connections workshop will demonstrate how we can all take small, affordable, everyday steps to reduce our environmental footprint and provide a boost to our mental health and wellbeing.

UNSDG Logos, SDG3, 4 and 5

Conservation for Wellbeing at Gibside

10:00-12:00, Gibside

For students

Organised by the Student Health and Wellbeing Service

Helping others and making a difference to our social and environmental landscape not only improves our natural world, it can help our own sense of wellbeing. Come with to Gibside to assist in a conservation task in the beautiful Spring countryside and see for yourself how helping our planet helps us out too. (Travel included)

UNSDG Logos, SDGs 3, 14 and 15

Forest Walk and Talk at Gibside

10:00-12:00, Gibside

For students

Organised by the Student Health and Wellbeing Service

Join us for Forest Bathing at Gibside! This Japanese practice is a process of relaxation; known in Japan as shinrin yoku. The simple method of being calm and quiet amongst the trees, observing nature around you whilst breathing deeply can help de-stress and boost health and wellbeing in a natural way. (Travel included)

UNSDG Logos, SDGs 3, 14 and 15

Fossil Free Careers Campaign Workshop

13:00-14:00, G.10 Percy Building

For staff and students

Organised by students 

This workshop is run by students to provide an overview of People and Planet's Fossil Free Careers campaign. They will explain why the campaign was started at the University, what's been done so far and what's happening next.

UNSDG Logos, SDGs 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15

End/Future Festival: Human Impact on the Planet: Manufactured Landscapes

19:00, Tyneside Cinema

External event

External event. The Human Impact on the Planet: Manufactured Landscapes is a documentary film exploring the work of Ed Burtynsky. Burtynsky is a renowned photographer who explores landscapes that have undergone irreversible change due to industrialisation and globalisation. The film is followed by a discussion presented in partnership with the Anthropocene Research Group

This film is part of Tyneside Cinema's End/Future Festival, an event exploring the future of civilisation including the impacts of the Climate Crisis.

UNSDG Logos, SDGs 9, 12, 13 and 15

Friday

Friday 10th March

Sustainability Festival

10:00-14:00, Lindisfarne Room, Hadrian Building

For staff and students

Organised by the Sustainability Team

An in-person Sustainability Festival showcasing the work the University is doing on sustainability as well external partners we work with. There will be a variety of stalls/talks/activities sharing information and advertising opportunities staff/students can get involved in.

At the festival you'll find:

UNSDG Logos, SDGs 4, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15

End/Future Festival: Climate Change & the North East: Finite: The Climate of Change

19:00, Tyneside Cinema

External event

Finite: The Climate of Change is a documentary film which brings the climate crisis home to the North East. The film highlights the struggle of community groups in the fight against climate change. The film will be followed by a panel discussion with the film's director and local environmental campaigners.

This film is part of Tyneside Cinema's End/Future Festival, an event exploring the future of civilisation including the impacts of the Climate Crisis.

UNSDG Logos, SDGs 12, 13 and 15

Photo Competition

Deadline Thursday 9th March

We are hosting a photo competition for all staff and students at Newcastle University to participate in as part of our Sustainability Week!

We would like you to submit a photo that you have taken that you feel represents one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. We have chosen this theme as the photo competition coincides with Sustainable Development Goals Action and Awareness Week.

Please submit your response by 10:00 on the 9th March 2023.

The winner will be announced at our Sustainability Festival on the 10th March 2023 in addition to receiving an email.

P.S. There is a prize for the winner!

Ts&Cs

  • Please send your responses to sustainable-campus@newcastle.ac.uk with the subject line: Photo competition submission.
  • Please attach your photo submission to the email alongside a few lines outlining which Sustainable Development Goal you have chosen to represent and outline how you feel the photo represents your selected goal.
  • Please email your submission using your staff/student email account.
  • Newcastle University staff and students only
  • Staff and students from our international campuses can submit but will not be able to receive the prize unfortunately.

Good luck!

Solar PV on Henry Daysh building