Ways to get involved

Climate Fresk

You can join a 3-hour interactive workshop on campus to learn about the fundamentals of climate change and empower you to take action. We offer sessions to students, staff, and anyone in the Bournemouth community. If you're a student, ask your lecturers if this workshop can be integrated into your course! If you are interested in the Climate Fresk workshop please email [email protected]. 

You can find out more about the Climate Fresk by visiting their website. 

Become Carbon Literate

Climate change is widely recognised as one of the greatest, and most urgent, challenges facing humankind. This challenge has been recognised internationally, within the UK, and within Bournemouth. Our free Carbon Literacy course will give you an overview of the basic science of climate change as well as an understanding of the actions required by governments, businesses, universities and individuals in order to avoid the worst impacts of climate change and set us on a path towards a more sustainable future.

In 2024, Bournemouth University accredited as a Carbon Literate Educator (CLE). This highlights our commitment to embedding climate education and action into our institution, and to facilitating a cultural shift towards a zero-carbon society. Watch this video to hear some examples of meaningful action that has been taken as a result of the Carbon Literacy training at BU!

The course consists of two three-hour sessions and self-study before you become certified Carbon Literate. We run the trainings termly for students and staff, and we accept alumni and local community members. We have also launched the Carbon Literacy for Healthcare toolkit, designed specifically for staff and students entering the healthcare sector. This short course explores the critical link between climate change and healthcare, and how to contribute to shaping a low carbon NHS that delivers exceptional care with safeguarding the health of future generations. Read more about this course.

If you interested in any of these opportunities, please email [email protected] 

At BU, we believe every student should have the opportunity to reach their full potential. As part of this commitment, we actively support student-led sustainability projects through funding where we can. See some example of projects below:

The Ignite Business Start-Up is a five-week programme delivered by Evolve Advisory designed to help students develop their business ideas. In 2025/26, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) council provided five free workshops and up to £250 for BU students and recent graduates looking to register their business in the BCP area. Watch this video to hear about the programme from a BU student.

In 2025, BU students Morgan Greenleigh and Anne Ngarachu represented BU at the COP30 Simulation at the British University of Egypt. This event was designed to bring students from around the world together to engage in climate debate and simulate what COP30 is like to participate in. This was funded by BU. Read more about their experiences in this article.

The Turing Scheme supports BU students to undertake international study, work placements, and research opportunities abroad. Students who fulfil the conditions of the programme are eligible for a grant as a contribution towards the costs associated with living abroad. Students have the chance to work on projects that align to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and make a positive impact locally and globally. For example, BU student Shady Elmestekawy gained experience in Italy, developing a deeper understanding of sustainability in business and working effectively in multicultural teams. 

Our Students’ Union also run an annual Student-Owned Business Fair for BU student entrepreneurs looking to showcase their businesses, learn new skills, and network. Students can win up to £300 to support the start-up of their business.

Did you know that BU is the only 3-star Fairtrade University in the UK? 

This means we are committed to supporting the Fairtrade Foundation on their mission to make trade fairer for producers in developing countries. It is all about working towards social, environmental and economic justice. Read more about our commitment to Fairtrade on our Sustainable Food page and explore the work of the Fairtrade Foundation.

Get involved with Fairtrade at BU

• Join the Fairtrade Steering Group. We need Student Fairtrade Representatives to bring the student voice to our steering group and help us to drive the mission of Fairtrade at BU

• Explore Fairtrade as part of your assignment. There are so many ways to explore the topic of ethical consumption through your course, regardless of what you study. For example, some of our MSc Events management students have previously hosted a ‘Fairtrade around the world’ event which aimed to promote the importance of Fairtrade, how it benefits the growers and also how easy it is to buy Fairtrade products. We also have access to our Fairtrade sales data at BU, which you can use

• Become a Fairtrade Student Auditor. The Fairtrade University re-certification process involves our own students working with the Fairtrade Foundation to audit our submission. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn how to audit an organisation and develop a broad range of skills that will enhance your employability. Register to be a Fairtrade Student Auditor on the SUBU Volunteering page

• Enjoy a nice cup of Fairtrade Tea! Look out for upcoming ‘Tea Thursdays’ events on the SUBU What’s On page. Whether you come alone or bring a friend, you’ll find a warm environment where you can recharge and take a mindful pause in the middle of your week

• Attend Fairtrade themed events. These could include chocolate tasting sessions, films screenings or Social Kitchen sessions where you will learn to cook a meal with Fairtrade ingredients. Stay up to date by keeping an eye on the SUBU What’s On page and the Bournemouth Uni Food Instagram page

• Join BU’s Sustainability Academic Network. Network with academic staff from across BU to share best practice on how to embed Fairtrade, the climate crisis and other sustainability topics into your research and teaching

• Partner with us. If you're a local school, college, or business interested in support from Bournemouth University to explore or achieve Fairtrade accreditation, email: [email protected] 

Read more about how we support Fairtrade at BU in our Fairtrade Report 2024-26 (pdf 2.72mb). You can also read our most recent version of the Fairtrade SMART Action Plan (.xlsx 56kb) and explore the results of our BU Fairtrade Survey 25-26 (.xlsx 18.57kb).

Every year we host a Climate Action Week during March.

In 2026, we once again the Climate Fresk workshop and the Carbon Literacy training for our students, plus a Climate Fresk workshop for the public. We ran the second online event as part of our ‘My Climate Action’ webinar series for our staff, which focused on the benefits, barriers and solutions to adopting electric bikes and electric vehicles. We also hosted a public film screening of ‘The People Vs Climate Change’ as part of BU’s Sustainability Screenings series. This event brought together our local community, students, and staff to explore what climate action looks like right here in Dorset and hear from our expert guest speakers, including Executive Producer of the film, Steve Smith.

In 2025, we hosted a workshop with Efeca through the Graduate Skills Programme on 'Embedding and Embracing Sustainability at Work', and delivered Climate Fresk workshops to our students and the public. We also provided Carbon Literacy training for students, hosted one of our Big Bike Fairs, and held a public film screening of Chasing the Sun - a film about the power of the bicycle to improve public health, build community, and help save the planet. We also launced our 'My Climate Action' webinar series for BU staff to discuss what they can be doing in their personal lives to take action for climate change.    

In 2024, we ran a Climate Fresk workshop for students enrolled on the 'Leading and Managing Change in Socially Responsible Organisations', a bookmark stamping workshop using seed paper, a 'Student Owned Business Fair', and a vintage clothing fair. We hosted a Climate Assembly on Plastic & Waste to gather staff and student feedback, and hosted an event called 'Exploring Climate Action', which involved an open discussion between the BU Sustainability Team, local environmental groups, and BU academics and students.We also ran a 'Sustainability Day' for 148 year 8 pupils from Ferndown Middle School to showcase our commitment and practices in sustainability across all four faculties at BU. This included guest a campus tour, guest speakers from each faculty, and a panel discussion at the end.

In 2023 we rolled out our first Climate Fresk workshops for staff and students, continued our Carbon Literacy training and held a Climate Assembly focusing on food and waste on campus. 

In 2021, we ran 10 events and engaged with more than 350 staff, students and community members. Topics ranged from conservation to the Feminist Green New Deal and events we hosted included a panel event, climate cafe and an eco-anxiety workshop. We also hosted our bi-annual Climate Assembly's to ensure that staff and student involvement is at the heart of our sustainability and CECAP action.

SUBUs Green Week

In November, we collaborate with SUBU to host a Green Week on campus.

In 2024, we hosted a BU Climate Assembly on Plastic and Waste, attended by BU students, staff and a guest speaker from SUEZ (our waste contract provider). Those who attended had the opportunity to learn about how we manage waste at BU, and tell use how we can improve. We hosted a Climate Fresk, which was attended by students enrolled on the Graduate Skills programme. We also ran the Carbon Literacy on Thursday 14th November to celebrate Carbon Literacy Action Day 2024.

To read about what we got up during Green Week in 2023, read this terrific article written by one of our placement students!

In 2022, we kicked off the week with our 'Bin It to Win It' competition, where students could win a prize for recycling right. On the Tuesday, students had the opportunity to meet local wildlife and conservation charities. On Wednesday, our 'Pot-a-Plant' event helped students to become 'plant-parents' by teaching them how to plant and nurture different herbs and spices. Cooking was the theme for Thursday. Our 'Cook Once, Eat Twice' event involved a useful cooking demonstration full of guidance on student-friendly meal prepping. We wrapped up Green Week with the Beryl Sustainable Travel Challenge, where students could learn about the benefits of active travel and have some fun with the Beryl Bikes!

We want staff and students to help us develop and monitor our approach to carbon management. In our CECAP we committed to offering two Climate Assemblies per year. These are a chance for anyone in our BU community to learn about, feed into and shape our actions. Anyone can attend the Climate Assemblies.

Each one focuses on important topics in the CECAP. In 2025 our Climate Assembly covered the topic of Ethical Banking and Finance. Darren Spivey from BU's Finance Department gave a comprehensive overview of the university's finances, and areas for opportunity with respect to sustainability. Those who attended were asked for feedback on how BU can better invest its money for environmental and social impact. Key recommendations included to look for more local opportunities to invest, placing more focus on ESG rather than returns, and to support the influencing of banks to change.

In 2024, we ran one on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), where we aimed to connect students with academics to share ideas on what students want to be learning at BU with relation to sustainable development, and in what format. Academics also shared the challenges they faced in embedding the UN Sustainable Development Goals into their teaching. Key recommendations from the assembly included the importance of conveying the relevance of sustainability to students future careers, and opportunities for students to enhance their employability. 

We also hosted a climate assembly on Plastic and Waste in 2024, which was attended by students, staff, our catering providers, and our waste contractor SUEZ. The Sustainability Team first covered our targets for waste at BU, our policies, initiatives, progress, and challenges. Attendees of the assembly were then asked to discuss solutions to these challenges. Key recommendations included communicating that water from refill points is safe to drink, to review data from open days to reduce single use plastic produced on these days, and to use social media to boost engagement.

In 2023, we covered Heat Decarbonisation, where we involved students and staff in developing our Heat Decarbonisation Plan. This is our approach to moving away from fossil fuel gas to electrically powered heating, which is lower carbon and can be powered by more renewables. We also focused on food on campus and the links with waste production. In 2022 we explored Biodiversity and nature-based solutions, including a talk by our Professor Rick Stafford. Previous topics have explored Active Travel, Offsetting and Communications. 

If you have ideas of topics, email: [email protected]. 

Our Sustainability Council is a group of students committed to attending our Climate Assemblies and providing a more regular stream of feedback. The council also come together to work on sustainability projects, share ideas, and support each other! We currently have 18 active members, check out what they've been up to on the dedicated BU Student Sustainability Council LinkedIn page.

The volunteer opportunity requires around 2 hours of commitment in terms 1 and 2. If you are interested and would like to meet passionate, like-minded individuals, please sign up via the SUBU Volunteer Hub.

The BU Sustainability Team host a range of student volunteers across the year. All current opportunities can be found on the SUBU Volunteering Portal.

The BU Sustainability Team host a range of student volunteers across the year. Volunteering activities range from beach and forest cleans, planting trees, supporting the Community Garden, to surveying our biodiversity on campus. All current opportunities can be found on the SUBU Volunteering Portal. You can also email [email protected] to find out about the latest opportunities. 

If you would like to get involved check out volunteering opportunities through SUBU. Or email [email protected] for latest opportunities. 

Student-led societies are a great way to explore your interests, develop your skills and find a fantastic new community to become part of. There are many sustainability-focused societies within SUBU, addressing all areas of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. These include:

• The Wildlife Conservation Society is a group of students passionate about conserving our planet and the wildlife inhabiting it. They focus on appreciation of the environment both locally and nationally, through a variety of volunteering, socials and days out.
• The Crafts & Threads Society create the space for students to bond over their creative hobbies and to learn new skills. They host regular litter picks and events that focus on sustainable crafting.
• The Nutrition Society is a student-led nutrition community that connects students from diverse cultural backgrounds who share a passion for food, health, and well-being.

View the full list of clubs and societies.

SPROUT PGR Sustainability Collective

Are you a PGR and passionate about sustainability? Are you interested in integrating sustainability into your research? Join the SPROUT PGR Sustainability Collective!

In collaboration with Newcastle University and Cardiff University, BU has developed a new postgraduate researcher network, which will bring together and support postgraduate researchers (PGRs), those pursuing a Master’s degree, and early career researchers (ECRs) who are interested in integrating sustainability into their research for greater impact. 

By joining this network, you will have the opportunity to meet like-minded and passionate individuals, develop your understanding of sustainability, discover collaboration opportunities with other PGRs, and increase your awareness of sustainability’s contribution to employability and funding opportunities.

If you are interested in joining the SPOUT PGR network, please email [email protected]

Students at BU have on numerous occasions raised issues to the University and created change. 

One particularly great success story is the student campaigning that led to BU divesting entirely from fossil fuels investments. Action by a group of BU students as part of a national People & Planet campaign resulted in the University reviewing our Ethical Investment Policy and choosing to fully divest from all fossil fuels.

During a national campaign, students shared and supported a national petition against Barclays support of the fracking company Third Energy. The campaign gathered wide support within BU and nationwide and led to Barclays withdrawing their financing of the fracking company.

​If you're wanting to campaign, follow these tips:

• Do your research first: don't spend your time campaigning for something we already do! Find out exactly what the current situation is before you look to change it. If you have any questions, the Sustainability Team, SUBU and all other staff members will be happy to help you find out. 
• Join the national movement: People & Planet and NUS are two examples of the organisations that exist to create campaigns for you to join in on, and that provide the resources for you to improve your skills and contacts within and beyond BU.
• Be represented at SUBU: if you're looking at a campaign, see if SUBU know of other students interested, and collaborate with them to make your action more fun and more impactful! 
• Look after your wellbeing: campaigning for change requires a lot of passion and energy. You may face setbacks so make sure to prioritise your wellbeing, celebrate the small wins and remember you're not alone!

Any new students living in halls can also get involved with the wide range of sustainable events and activities delivered by ResLife, including halls-led community gardens, bike rides to local nature reserves and eco-crafting. Check out the ResLifeBU page to find out more. 

All new students at BU will receive information about sustainability on the arrivals page on our website, in their welcome book for their accommodation, and are given a Mighty Big Sustainability Guide (pdf, 1.7mb). Our Sustainability Team and societies also attend Freshers Fair and love to hear from new students on their sustainability ideas. 

Do you have a great idea for how you can improve BU through your assignment? Do you want to use the university as a test-bed for research? Whether you want to design a piece of equipment, analyse our data to test a new idea, support the management of an event or even create a new catering menu, Living Labs is an opportunity for you to apply your assignment to improving our university.

Previous Living Labs projects have included a project to increase abundance and biodiversity of birds on campus. The student committed to filling the bird feeders on campus regularly with different feed types, and recorded the number of birds observed and the species. The outcome was extremely positive, the student said "as well as blue tits, great tits and coal tits, there has been some nuthatches and finches too." The Sustainability Team have since installed additional bird feeders and a bird bath on campus. Another project was a Masters assignment assessing the feasibility of us adopting an electric bus fleet, which was used by the BCP Council. Another student-designed and delivered a vegan range of products for our caterers which has been rolled out across the country. What is your idea? 

Take a look at the project options on our Education for Sustainable Development page to get started.

The Student Union at Bournemouth University (SUBU) define sustainability as a focus on what we can do now for our present students to protect the future for incoming students; ensuring that our actions and events have a positive impact on the environment and the future of our campus, the local community and the global environment.

Read more about SUBU's sustainability commitments.

Sustainability Screenings is a BU initiative designed to bring our community together to progress the UN SDGs by using film as a tool to educate, reflect, and inspire meaningful action. Following the film, we host a panel discussion with experts and run an exhibition of BU research and local organisations that are contributing to the topic addressed in the film. So far, we have screened the following films:

Six Inches of Soil. This inspiring film explored the potential of regenerative agriculture, and tells the story of three new British farmers standing up against the industrial food system and transforming the way we produce food. The panel was comprised of Claire Mackenzie, Producer of the film Six Inches of Soil, Michael French, Founder of the Grounded Community charity in Boscombe, Clyde Jones, Advisor at the Soil Association, and George Holmes, Director or Arla.

Chasing the Sun. This film showcases the power of the bicycle to improve public health, build community, and help save the planet. The panel was comprised of Phillipe Webb, Producer of Chasing the Sun, Professor Tom Wainwright, BU Professor of Orthopaedics, and Deputy Head of the Orthopaedics Research Institute (ORI), Joseph McMullen, BU Lecturer in Law, specialising in air quality management and environmental law, and Amanda Shorey, Travel Planning Officer at BCP Council, Bikeability instructor and Chasing the Sun film contributor.

The Grand Swim. This film tells the tale of a man who embarked on the monumental challenge of 30 hours of continuous swimming around the Cayman Islands, all in the name of raising awareness for plastic pollution. Our panel of speakers for this event included Oly Rush, local swimmer, ocean activist, and star of 'The Grand Swim', Professor Rick Stafford, BU Professor of Marine Biology and Conservation, Emma Teasdale, Litter Free Dorset Coordinator, and Dr Malika Felton, BU Senior Lecturer in Health and Exercise Physiology.

The People Vs Climate Change. Originally aired on the BBC, this films follows the UK’s first-ever Citizens’ Assembly on climate change, where 108 everyday Brits were asked to help decide how the UK should tackle climate change in a fair way, and reach net zero by 2050. We used the theme of this film to bring together our local community to explore what climate action looks like right here in Dorset. The film was also produced in line with BAFTA Albert sustainability standards. The panel of experts included Steve Smith, Executive Producer of ‘The People Vs Climate Change’, Councillor Andy Hadley, Cabinet Member for Climate Response, Environment and Energy at BCP Council, Dr Annie East, Principal Academic in the Media School at Bournemouth University, Stuart Lane, Sustainability and Carbon Manager at University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust, Artie Herbert, MSc Green Economy student at BU.

Look out for future Sustainability Screenings events.

Look out for future Sustainability Screenings events on the BU Events page.

Do you know of a BU student who has been working hard on sustainability at BU? Nominate them for the SUNRISE Student Sustainability Champion Award!

The SUNRISE Student Sustainability Champion Awards have been created to recognise and celebrate students' contributions to sustainability while studying at BU.

Students can be nominated by other BU students, BU staff, or SUBU staff. This award encompasses curricular and non-curricular activity, which could include (but is not limited to) addressing sustainability through an assignment, setting up an environmental society, campaigning or raising awareness of a sustainability-related issue, planning or helping with a sustainability-themed event, or taking action to support biodiversity on campus. 

All nominees will receive a certificate for their contribution to sustainability. Nominate a student now!

We really encourage student participation on our Steering Groups. We have student representatives on the following committees, but we are always looking for more!

• Fairtrade Steering Group
• Biodiversity Group
• Sustainability Committee
• Travel Plan Implementation Group
• CECAP Group
• Sustainable IT Group

If you want to share the student voice, develop your skills and networks and influence decisions of the university, contact us at [email protected]  

Did you know that we have pledged be a Nature Positive University?

This means we have pledged to prevent harm, protect and restore species and ecosystems that are affected by BU and its activities, and we want to further develop our actions and work together with other institutions to promote nature on our campuses, in our supply chains and within our local community.

Find out more how you can get involved with supporting nature here.

Climate change is widely recognised as one of the greatest, and most urgent, challenges facing humankind. This challenge has been recognised internationally, within the UK, and Bournemouth. Our Carbon Literacy course is free for staff and students will give you an overview of the basic science of climate change as well as an understanding of the actions required by governments, businesses, universities and individuals in order to avoid the worst impacts of climate change and set us on a path towards a more sustainable future.

In 2024, Bournemouth University accredited as a Carbon Literate Educator (CLE). This highlights our commitment to embedding climate education and action into our institution, and to facilitating a cultural shift towards a zero-carbon society. Watch this video to hear some examples of meaningful action that has been taken as a result of the Carbon Literacy training at BU!

The course consists of two three-hour sessions and self-study before you become certified Carbon Literate. We run the trainings termly; however we are strongly encouraging staff at BU to integrate the Carbon Literacy training into their course content. We have also launched the Carbon Literacy for Healthcare Toolkit, designed specifically for staff and students entering the healthcare sector. This short course explores the critical link between climate change and healthcare, and how to contribute to shaping a low carbon NHS that delivers exceptional care with safeguarding the health of future generations.  If you are interested in the Carbon Literacy training, please email [email protected]

In 2023 we introduced a new workshop style course called Climate Fresk. This is a fun, collaborative way to learn about the causes and consequences of climate change and is science based. If you would like to offer this to your students please get in touch with the Sustainability Team and we can support you to deliver this workshop and explore becoming a Climate Fresk facilitator.

Our Sustainability Academic Network is a space open to all academics to share best practice and learn about introducing and embedding ESD into their teaching. The network is comprised of more than 80 members who meet on a termly basis. Members of the network also have access to a range of resources to help them to embed ESD, developed by academics and the BU Sustainability Team.

This network is led by the Sustainability Academic Network faculty leads, with representation from each faculty. The faculty leads report directly to the Sustainability Committee and lead on embedding sustainable development in our education and research across BU. We also have Sustainability Academic Network school representatives to ensure full institutional coverage.

If you are interested in joining the Sustainability Academic, as a member, a school representative, or a faculty lead, please email [email protected] 

We can all take action for sustainability, but sometimes we need a little support. If you have knowledge, passion or just want to see more happening, become a Sustainability Champion in your team, department or Faculty. If you want some support or resources, get in touch with our team at [email protected]. 

The Spot the Drop campaign aims to minimise our water wastage by spotting and stopping leaking toilets, urinals and taps across our two campuses. If you find a leak around our sites, email the Estates Helpdesk about what is leaking and where it is in as much detail as possible so they can arrange for it to be fixed. 

All new staff at BU attend an induction event which the Sustainability Team attends to explain about the importance of sustainability both at BU and in the wider community, what we do at BU to improve our environmental performance and, most importantly, how you can get involved! More information can be found on the staff induction checklist and our Mighty Big Sustainability Guide (pdf, 1.7mb), but please come and say hello and meet the team!

In 2021, we launched our first 'Inspired by Nature' art competition. Open to staff, students and their families, we received fantastic entries that showed and encouraged a connection to nature. Our winner, Natalie Dear, took inspiration from a safari trip and her feelings around poaching. You can see all the amazing entries from 2021 in this virtual gallery.

In 2024, we displayed the submissions from the nature art competition in one of our galleries on campus. The winner for 2024, Zoe Deacon, produced a beautiful painting of a bee on a flower, titled 'Bee Kind to the Environment'.

Trade Union representatives are members on our committees overseeing sustainability and are mentioned on the terms of reference for these groups. This includes:

• Sustainability Committee
• Biodiversity Committee
• Travel Plan Group

We would like to thank all our trade union members for their valued input into our committee meetings. If other members would like to find out more and how to get involved please email: [email protected]. We have opportunities to join other groups including the Sustainable IT group, Fairtrade group and the CECAP group. 

BU Green Teams is a certification which starts with you and your team at BU making a collective commitment to reduce your environmental impact. This is followed by the completion of up to 35 activities, achieving up to 100 points, and becoming either a Bronze, Silver, or Gold certified team.

The activities are categorised into the following themes to align with our Climate & Ecological Crisis Action Plan (CECAP), and to help you take action across key emissions areas and to support structured departmental action and fun events. 

• Lead: inspired by our CECAP's 'Lead by Example' theme, these activities create structures for your team to effectively reduce emissions and inspire action.
• Energy: activities that help you to save energy.
• Travel: activities that help you to save emissions from business travel and commuting.
• Stuff: activities that help you to save emissions from everything you buy, use, and dispose of.
• Food: activities that help you to save emissions from food.
• Connect: inspired by our CECAP's 'Community Action' theme, these activities encourage you to collaborate and have fun!

Join the BU Green Teams certification to support BU in achieving its sustainability objectives, and if you have any questions please email [email protected]

Sustainability Screenings is a BU initiative designed to bring our community together to progress the UN SDGs by using film as a tool to educate, reflect, and inspire meaningful action. Following the film, we host a panel discussion with experts and run an exhibition of BU research and local organisations that are contributing to the topic addressed in the film. So far, we have screened the following films:

Six Inches of Soil. This inspiring film explored the potential of regenerative agriculture, and tells the story of three new British farmers standing up against the industrial food system and transforming the way we produce food. The panel was comprised of Claire Mackenzie, Producer of the film Six Inches of Soil, Michael French, Founder of the Grounded Community charity in Boscombe, Clyde Jones, Advisor at the Soil Association, and George Holmes, Director or Arla.

Chasing the Sun. This film showcases the power of the bicycle to improve public health, build community, and help save the planet. The panel was comprised of Phillipe Webb, Producer of Chasing the Sun, Professor Tom Wainwright, BU Professor of Orthopaedics, and Deputy Head of the Orthopaedics Research Institute (ORI), Joseph McMullen, BU Lecturer in Law, specialising in air quality management and environmental law, and Amanda Shorey, Travel Planning Officer at BCP Council, Bikeability instructor and Chasing the Sun film contributor.

The Grand Swim. This film tells the tale of a man who embarked on the monumental challenge of 30 hours of continuous swimming around the Cayman Islands, all in the name of raising awareness for plastic pollution. Our panel of speakers for this event included Oly Rush, local swimmer, ocean activist, and star of 'The Grand Swim', Professor Rick Stafford, BU Professor of Marine Biology and Conservation, Emma Teasdale, Litter Free Dorset Coordinator, and Dr Malika Felton, BU Senior Lecturer in Health and Exercise Physiology.

The People Vs Climate Change. Originally aired on the BBC, this films follows the UK’s first-ever Citizens’ Assembly on climate change, where 108 everyday Brits were asked to help decide how the UK should tackle climate change in a fair way, and reach net zero by 2050. We used the theme of this film to bring together our local community to explore what climate action looks like right here in Dorset. The film was also produced in line with BAFTA Albert sustainability standards. The panel of experts included Steve Smith, Executive Producer of ‘The People Vs Climate Change’, Councillor Andy Hadley, Cabinet Member for Climate Response, Environment and Energy at BCP Council, Dr Annie East, Principal Academic in the Media School at Bournemouth University, Stuart Lane, Sustainability and Carbon Manager at University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust, Artie Herbert, MSc Green Economy student at BU.

Look out for future Sustainability Screenings events on the BU Events page.

Do you know of a BU student who has been working hard on sustainability at BU? Nominate them for the SUNRISE Student Sustainability Champion Award!

The SUNRISE Student Sustainability Champion Awards have been created to recognise and celebrate students' contributions to sustainability while studying at BU.

Students can be nominated by BU staff, students, or SUBU staff. This award encompasses curricular and non-curricular activity, which could include (but is not limited to) addressing sustainability through an assignment, setting up an environmental society, campaigning or raising awareness of a sustainability-related issue, planning or helping with a sustainability-themed event, or taking action to support biodiversity on campus. 

All nominees will receive a certificate for their contribution to sustainability. Nominate a student now!

Climate Ambassadors provide volunteer support to local educational settings to develop and deliver their Climate Action Plans. We're encouraging BU colleagues to register to volunteer as a Climate Ambassador to support local schools in the Dorset and BCP (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) areas.

What is the Climate Ambassador Programme?

The Climate Ambassador Programme recruit volunteers who work across the private, public, charity and university sectors to put their sustainability expertise to work supporting nurseries, schools and colleges develop and deliver impactful climate action plans.

The programme is funded by the Department for Education as part of its Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy, which states that by 2025 all education settings in England are expected to have a designated sustainability lead and a climate action plan addressing four pillars: Decarbonisation, Adaptation and Resilience, Biodiversity and Climate Education and Green Careers. Please read the Climate Ambassadors Handbook to find out more.

As a Climate Ambassador, you can assist schools in two key ways: 1) at a strategic level in developing climate action plans, and 2) by supporting the implementation of climate action plans through curriculum themes and projects. 

Why Volunteer as a Climate Ambassador?

You will have the opportunity to:

• Develop sustainability and climate leadership skills
• Use your knowledge and skills to address real-world challenges
• Make a genuine difference to young people and your community
• Inspire future generations
• See your ideas and advice put into practice 

If you're interested in becoming a Climate Ambassador, please email [email protected].

We encourage our community to use the circle of control model to keep track of how your actions can make a difference. Focus on what you control – such as what you buy, what you eat, how you choose to travel and local groups you can be part of. Then focus on who and what you can influence - your circle of friends, family, petitions to sign – simply by raising your voice.

With sustainability, it can be easy to fall into the trap of the circle of concern – which includes the things we worry about, such as the climate and ecological crisis, but that are too big, and often overwhelming, for us to solve single-handedly.

When you think about how to act, remember that you have two tools: your choice and your voice. It’s also important to remember that we are all in this together and you are supported: you can contact the Sustainability Team at [email protected] to talk about what we can do together, or if your concern is impacting your health and wellbeing, find information on support offered by BU. 

We seek to listen to the views of all members of the BU community to ensure that our action in this global challenge is collaborative, catering for and supporting everyone. At the same time, we will continue to collaborate with both internal and external stakeholders, in particular with BCP and Dorset Councils who have declared Climate Emergencies. We will also seek opportunities to work in partnership with other groups, such as the EAUC, AUDE, Dorset LEP, Aldersgate Group and COP26 Universities group. 

Within our Climate and Ecological Crisis Action Plan, we have the following recommendations to guide our engagement work: 

• Implement an annual CECAP communication plan 
• Reward staff and students for taking positive action for the environment 
• Engage with suppliers on their net-zero aspirations 
• Continue to use technology to support new ways of working remotely 
• Introduce staff and student development programmes, such as carbon literacy and climate resilience 
• Continue staff and student engagement programmes 

Our engagement targets include:

• Training a proportion of the BU community to become Carbon Literate
• Hosting at least one event per month to support and empower students and staff to take climate action
• Running a student volunteer scheme to champion sustainability

The Designs For Your Future Challenge is giving secondary school students the opportunity to solve real-world problems with their ideas. Our Challenge combines sustainability with design to create a product that will have a lasting positive impact on our planet and people.

As a university, we are fortunate to have a lot of resources and expertise, so we hope to support and collaborate with local organisations as much as possible to share best practice and good work.

Some of the collaborations we're currently working on include:

• Working closely with the sustainability team at University Hospitals Dorset
• Meeting regularly with BCP Council
• Supporting Bournemouth & Poole College's sustainability strategy and action
• Establishing a Local Climate Partnership to support our region to reach net zero
• Research collaborations with business through our research centres

In March 2024, we hosted a Sustainability Day for 148 Year 8 pupils from a local school. The day began with a tour of our campus lead by the Sustainability Team to show the students our on-site low-carbon technologies, our bus hub, and the biodome. This was followed by four engaging mini-lectures on different sustainability topics, including a talk on sustainable fashion (given by the Business School), sustainable food (given by the Faculty of Health and Social Science), sustainability and computing (given by the Faculty of Science and Technology) and sustainable media production (given by the Faculty of Media and Communications). We rounded off the day with a panel discussion involving all four faculties, the sustainability team, and the student sustainability council. Feedback from the pupils and their teachers suggests the day proved to be a highly educational and inspiring event! 

If you would like to offer a 'Sustainability Day' for your school, please email [email protected] 

Our Sustainability Team and School Liaison Team work together across the year to engage young people with the topic of sustainability, and to raise awareness of the opportunities and benefits of coming to university. 

For example, as part of the Festival of Design and Engineering, our School Liaisons team host the Designs For Your Future Challenge, which combines sustainability with design to create a product that will have a lasting positive impact on our planet and people. This gives secondary school students the opportunity to solve real-world problems with their ideas. 

In June 2021, our Sustainability Team ran a Speakers for Schools virtual Careers Insight Day for over 35 students from local schools. During the day, students heard from and asked questions to sustainability staff from across BU and SUBU, and learnt about a range of environmental topics including energy, water, biodiversity and campaigning. They then identified their skillset for a sustainability career through a workshop delivered by the BU Careers Team. During the afternoon, the students worked in teams to identify an opportunity for their schools to become more environmentally-sustainable. Ideas ranged from installing rainwater harvesting systems to creating a vegetable patch and were presented to BU staff who were thoroughly impressed with the student’s teamwork, innovation and presentation skills.

If you are interested in engaging your school with sustainability, please email [email protected] 

The Climate Ambassador programme recruit volunteers who work across the private, public, charity and university sectors to put their sustainability expertise to work supporting nurseries, schools and colleges develop and deliver impactful climate action plans. 

The programme is funded by the Department for Education as part of its Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy, which states that by 2025 all education settings in England are expected to have a designated sustainability lead and a climate action plan addressing four pillars: Decarbonisation, Adaptation and Resilience, Biodiversity, and Climate Education and Green Careers.

At BU, we have begun recruiting staff to volunteer as Climate Ambassadors to support to local educational settings in the Dorset and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) area to develop and deliver their Climate Action Plans.

If your school is interested in engaging with one of our Climate Ambassadors, please email [email protected] 

In 2023 we introduced a new workshop style course called Climate Fresk. 

This is a fun, collaborative 3-hour interactive workshop that will teach you the fundamentals of climate change and empower you to take action. We offer these workshops to the public as well as our staff and students. After completing the workshop, you can go on to become a facilitator and spread the Climate Fresk across your community!

If you are interested in attending one of our Climate Fresk workshops, please register your interest by emailing [email protected]. 

Each year, Dorset's own community led 'conference of the parties' brings together local MPs, councillors, businesses, community groups and charities, and residents from across the county to work on a local action plan to tackle the climate and ecological crises at a regional level. 

In 2024, BU hosted the Dorset COP. A series of collaborative workshops took place focusing on sustainable transport, community energy projects, fashion, supporting local food, behaviour-change, and good business practice, led by local leaders, organisations and BU staff. Read more about the Dorset COP event at BU.

Visit the Dorset COP website to find out about future events and how you can get involved with supporting your community to take climate action.

Sustainability Screenings is a BU initiative designed aims to bring our community together to progress the UN SDGs by using film as a tool to educate, reflect, and inspire meaningful action. Following the film, we host a panel discussion with experts and run an exhibition of BU research and local organisations that are contributing to the topic addressed in the film. So far, we have screened the following films:

Six Inches of Soil. This inspiring film explored the potential of regenerative agriculture, and tells the story of three new British farmers standing up against the industrial food system and transforming the way they produce food. The panel was comprised of Claire Mackenzie, Producer of the film Six Inches of Soil, Michael French, Founder of the Grounded Community charity in Boscombe, Clyde Jones, Advisor at the Soil Association, and George Holmes, Director of Arla.

Chasing the Sun. This film showcases the power of the bicycle to improve public health, build community, and help save the planet. The panel was comprised of Phillipe Webb, Producer of Chasing the Sun, Professor Tom Wainwright, BU Professor Of Orthopaedics, and Deputy Head Of the Orthopaedics Research Institute (ORI), Joesph McMullen, BU Lecturer in Law, specialising in air quality management and environmental law, and Amanda Shorey, Travel Planning Officer at BCP Council, Bikeability instructor and Chasing the Sun film contributor.

The Grand Swim. This film tells the tale of a man who embarked on the monumental challenge of 30 hours of continuous swimming around the Cayman Islands, all in the name of raising awareness for plastic pollution. Our panel of speakers for this event included Oly Rush, local swimmer, ocean activist, and star of 'The Grand Swim', Professor Rick Stafford, BU Professor of Marine Biology and Conservation, Emma Teasdale, Litter Free Dorset Coordinator, and Dr Malika Felton, BU Senior Lecturer in Health and Exercise Physiology.

The People Vs Climate Change. Originally aired on the BBC, this films follows the UK’s first-ever Citizens’ Assembly on climate change, where 108 everyday Brits were asked to help decide how the UK should tackle climate change in a fair way, and reach net zero by 2050. We used the theme of this film to bring together our local community to explore what climate action looks like right here in Dorset. The film was also produced in line with BAFTA Albert sustainability standards. The panel of experts included Steve Smith, Executive Producer of ‘The People Vs Climate Change’, Councillor Andy Hadley, Cabinet Member for Climate Response, Environment and Energy at BCP Council, Dr Annie East, Principal Academic in the Media School at Bournemouth University, Stuart Lane, Sustainability and Carbon Manager at University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust, Artie Herbert, MSc Green Economy student at BU.

Look out for future Sustainability Screenings events on the BU Events page.