Sustainability Awards success for School staff and students
Run annually by the University’s Department for Social Responsibility and Sustainability, the awards invite staff and students to work together on wide-ranging initiatives to help improve social responsibility and environmental sustainability across the University.
Student Residence Silver Award for Zihao Li
Institute of Energy Systems PhD student Zihao Li won Silver in the Student Residence category in recognition of his work to establish more environmentally conscious practices at University halls in Buccleuch Place and Buccleuch Place Lane.
Zihao raised awareness of the importance of sustainability among fellow students, and helped them to engage by identifying a checklist of practical actions to take across a range of areas, from reducing energy use to making green travel choices.
Zihao explained: “There are many ways to conserve energy that take little individual effort but can have widespread collective impact. Our activities are aiming to tell our residents we are a community that care about energy saving and every individual in our community should also contribute to energy saving.”
Chemical Engineering Teaching Lab wins Bronze
The Chemical Engineering Teaching Lab based in the Sanderson Building won a Bronze Sustainability Award in the Labs category in recognition of their efforts to reduce energy and water use, and waste generation. Led by Dr Enzo Mangano, Dr Rupert Myers and Mr Gordon Paterson, the team met 15 improvement criteria ranging from lighting, to chemicals and gases, and awareness and training.
Reacting to the award, Dr Mangano said “we are very pleased to receive this award as it recognises the effort we have put in the past few years in modernising the lab, keeping an eye to innovative and environmentally low-impact solutions.
“We also need to thank the Department for Social Responsibility and Sustainability for their support in this process and, with their help, we are already working to meet the requirements for the Silver Award.”
Get involved
The 2019 Sustainability Awards will open shortly, and staff and students across the University are encouraged to register their interest to receive more information.
The University's Department for Social Responsibility and Sustainability also offers many further ways for staff and students to make a positive difference to social responsibility and sustainability across the University, from professional development courses to funding opportunities.
Find out more below.