Staff and students win Sustainability Awards
Office and lab staff teams, student residences and groups, individuals and special projects have been recognised in the University’s Sustainability Awards.
Staff and students from across the University were invited to the Playfair Library to receive awards for their achievements in 2016.
Office Awards
Office Awards were made to 17 teams, including to seven new entrants. A further 12 teams carried over their awards from last year as part of the two-year accreditation.
To achieve an Office Award, participants must promote sustainable ways of working and follow resource-efficient practices.
This year’s winners successfully completed criteria across a range of social responsibility and sustainability themes, including energy saving, sustainable travel, responsible purchasing and staff wellbeing.
Lab Awards
Seven lab teams were recognised, including one new team. In addition, five other teams carried over their awards from last year as part of the two-year accreditation.
To achieve a Lab Award, participating teams must demonstrate compliance with a wide range of sustainable lab practices, including efficient use of fume cupboards, management of chemicals and samples, and reducing waste, water and energy consumption.
The full list of Lab and Office Award winners is available here: http://edin.ac/2jUKKCL
Special Awards
The Special Awards celebrate dedicated people, innovative projects and ideas that take the University closer to fulfilling its environmental and ethical objectives.
Awards were presented in five different categories: Energy, Sustainable Labs, Innovation for Sustainability, Sustainability Impact, and Outstanding Contribution.
Energy: QMRI Energy Saving Vented Cupboards
Sustainable labs: IGMM Liquid Nitrogen Sample Storage
Innovation for sustainability: Easter Bush Polystyrene Reduction and Reuse
Sustainability impact: Easter Bush Embedding SRS in Veterinary Medical Education
Outstanding contribution: Rab Calder
Student Awards
The Student Awards were presented to groups and societies that have promoted social responsibility and sustainability in the University community through their learning and extra-curricular activities.
The Business Society (‘EdEco Bottle’ campaign )
HypED (Hyperloop research: technology concept for mass transportation from Elon Musk)
Project Cambodia (development of aquaponics farming with the NGO Community First in Cambodia)
Sustainability in Latin America Conference (event to raise awareness of resource management in Latin America)
Project Elpis (solar powered mobile phone charging units in refugee camps in Greece)
Student Residence Awards
The Student Residence Awards is an accreditation scheme that encourages students to work with the University to establish better practices in halls.
This year, nine teams participated the awards. A total of 78 students actively participated in the teams, promoting sustainability and outreaching to over 3,300 student residents in halls.
Kincaid’s Court (bronze)
Murano (bronze)
Ratcliffe Terrace (bronze)
Riego Street (bronze)
Sciennes and Ascham Court (bronze)
Darroch Court and Morgan Court (silver)
Deaconess and New Arthur Place (silver)
Holyrood (silver)
Shrubhill (silver)
Climate strategy
In November 2016, the University announced its new Climate Strategy, which outlined its commitment to become zero carbon by 2040.
In the Strategy, the University commits to long-term goals to ensure we are leading the way in tackling climate change, across all of our activities and recognising the core strength of the University as a globally connected, socially committed research and learning organisation.
The dedicated efforts of staff, students and partnership working are essential for the University to deliver programmes that will ensure it achieves its new targets.
These awards, and all the hard work of the staff and students who receive them, is really important. It is helping to make a difference that will get us closer to zero carbon by 2040.
Related links
Sustainability Awards ceremony