Students present their research projects at latest sustainability conference in Leeds

On Tuesday 28 March, we attended the annual Student Sustainability Research Conference at the University of Leeds. The day was packed with brilliant research projects presented by 46 speakers from across 11 Yorkshire institutions, all presenting on important topics relating to sustainability. We also enjoyed 60+ academic posters exhibited in Parkinson Court featuring a wide-range of student work.

We were particularly delighted to support a number of presentations and workshops delivered by our own students from University of York. Have a read below at their topics!

Prasad Sandbhor - Games for making sense of climate action among young adults

We heard from Prasad Sandbhor, a 2nd Year PhD student at the University of York, who put together a workshop that demonstrated how games can be used for making sense of climate action amongst young adults. The session was interactive. It explored whether and how the game helps players in learning about and taking informed climate actions.

Ceri Holman and Sarah Foster - Integrating arts-based methods to connect sustainability education and environmental activism

Ceri and Sarah, 1st Year and 2nd Year PhD students at the University of York, led a workshop that explored creative responses in sustainability education to support environmental participation, activism and decision-making. They used a case study of York’s river systems as a cultural ecosystem service and the UN Sustainable Development Goal 13: Climate Action.

Sarah Clayton - Climate Change: teacher conceptions and misconceptions around this

Sarah Clayton, a 1st year PhD student at the University of York, organised a workshop that looked at educating pupils about climate change and how we can develop a comprehensive and shared understanding of what a body of knowledge for climate change education looks like. In particular, her work looks at consensus around threshold concepts for climate change and secondary science, teacher conceptions and misconceptions of these concepts.

Srish Jain - Sustainability and disability: barriers and opportunities

Finally, we supported Srish Jain, a 3rd Year PhD student at the University of York, who provided an insightful presentation on sustainability and disability, in particular looking at the lack of research in this field and the barriers and opportunities for engagement with sustainability amongst disabled people in the UK.

A huge thanks to the Sustainability Team at the University of Leeds for putting on such as well-organised and engaging conference!