Hot on the heels of Bedfordshire coming third in the People & Planet University Green League 2023/24, the interactive event featured workshops from a number of academics and exhibitors from local organisations.

Attended by 16 schools at the Bedford campus on 10 January, the conference was organised by Aspire Higher – part of the University of Bedfordshire’s wider Collaborative Projects team – in partnership with the East & North Herts, Essex, Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes Science Learning Partnership.

Dr Diana Pritchard, Head of Evaluation & Enhancement at the University’s Academy of Learning & Teaching Excellence and co-ordinator of the University’s sustainability forum, delivered an interactive session using a climate simulator to test students’ knowledge and understanding of the climate crisis and the best ways to tackle it.

Speaking about this successful summit, Paula Page, Collaborative Outreach Project Manager, said: “The Collaborative Projects Team were excited to be able to run the third Climate Change Conference at the University of Bedfordshire with The East & North Herts, Essex, Beds and MK Science Learning Partnership. It is always inspiring to see how engaged the students are in the workshops and speaking with the organisations in the exhibition space.  We look forward to offering this opportunity to more students next year.”

After the workshops, students were also able to explore a ‘marketplace’ style exhibition, allowing them to chat with sustainability representatives from a number of businesses including Central Bedfordshire Council, and Hybrid Air Vehicles.

One of the students from Manshead CE Academy, who attended the event, added: “It was a really good event. I enjoyed learning about glaciers and really liked the Hybrid Air Vehicle workshop. I am more aware of climate change issues and their impact and what I can do to try and change this.”

This summit is just one of the ways that the University is committed to enhancing student understanding around sustainability. Events like these also build on the University’s existing sustainability work including saving 700 tonnes worth of CO2 in the last financial year and reducing its carbon emissions by 23%.