"University is about more than imparting skills and knowledge. It's also about guiding and supporting students in figuring out who they are and the role they can play in ensuring the future is fair and just" – Dr Alison Greig, Director of EfS and National Teaching Fellow.
Living Labs are small-scale projects that develop our students' leadership abilities, and help create change in our communities. Take a look at the below examples to find out more.
More than two-thirds of teachers feel they lack the necessary knowledge to teach about the climate and ecological crises (YouGov poll, 2019). In support of our local communities, volunteer students from ARU will receive outreach training to enable them to work with local schools who want to learn more about these issues. Please get in touch if you are interested in working with us.
Schools we have supported to date include:
In October 2024, the Education for Sustainability (EfS) and Sustainability team collaborated and delivered an interactive stall at the annual Science Fair.
The festival showcased a range of exhibits, engaging activities, and talks from experts in various fields. College students had the opportunity to participate in exciting experiments, tour the university's facilities, and explore scientific discoveries.
Our goal was to make learning about sustainability fun and engaging, boost students’ knowledge and confidence, inspire them to consider careers in the field and encourage them to reflect on their experiences.
Learn more about our work with these college students.
In February 2019, students from ARU's Sustainability Society worked with pupils from North Cambridge Academy to create the school's first orchard. Students were responsible for leading the work, and developed the following skills as a result:
Watch this short video to find out more about the project, or read this blog post that was featured on the website of national charity, The Orchard Project.
From the food we eat, to the technology we use, procurement is at the heart of many of our university's sustainability concerns. Throughout the 2019/20 academic year, students at ARU will have the opportunity to gain an insight into the operations and decision making processes that shape our campuses. This is of relevance to all our students, and in particular those on the following courses:
Sainji is a village at the foothills of the Himalayas. Each year, a small group of staff and student led by Dr Alison Greig, Director of EfS, spend two weeks in the village. Volunteers are selected on the basis that their degree level skills and knowledge are appropriate to the needs of the people they will be working with.
How can we make our campuses greener, wilder, healthier places for all? In the 2019/20 academic year, we will work with students and staff to rewild our Chelmsford campus. More information to come soon.
Students from ARU will work with local communities to support tree planting initiatives that provide them with a range of technical skills and knowledge.