Get involved with Green Week
Monday, 12 November 2012
This week is Green Week! The University is almost halfway to achieving its 35% carbon reduction target just two years into the Carbon Management Plan: so far we have reduced our carbon emissions by 16.5%, which has resulted in cumulative savings of £3.9 million and 11,137 tonnes of CO2e to date.
In the last academic year 53.7% of the University's waste was diverted away from landfill (which exceeds the ambitious target of 50% set in 2011/12), and significant savings have been made thanks to the installation of solar panels, draught proofing and the efforts of students and staff across our campuses.
There are lots of events going on throughout the week, and a Skip Cinema, created by students in the Department of Art showing student made ‘green' videos, will be located on a different campus each day so be sure to pay it a visit!
Alongside the cinema will be EEST Team's sustainability road show, giving you a chance to sign up as an environmental champion, have your bicycle serviced free by Dr. Bike, security labelling for your bike, receive free travel advice from Reading Council, and if you can persuade the team you didn't bring the car to work, we have a limited number of ‘Low Carb-on' snack tokens to give away.
Monday
Battle of the Bins, Palmer foyer, 1pm
Vice-Chancellor Sir David Bell and President of the Students' Union, James Fletcher will be taking part in a ‘Battle of the Bins'! Come to the Palmer building foyer at 1pm to cheer them on (along with the RUSU Cheerleaders!) as they battle to separate and recycle the most waste. Student TV RU:ON will be streaming the event live and there will be light refreshments available.
Community Open Event, Agriculture building, 6.30pm
This is a great opportunity for staff, students and members of the local community to join together for an evening of interactive debate and discussion on the topic of environment and sustainability in our region. Dr Marina Della Giusta, an expert in behavioural and social economics, will talk about her research into the ‘nudge theory', local resident Peter Seoul will discuss whether the hugely successful Earley Adopt-A-Street Initiative could work in other communities and a number of ‘green' questions will be addressed, including ‘how can small and medium sized businesses cut energy consumption?' and ‘what is sustainable travel and how can we get people to consider alternative forms of transport?'.
Tuesday
Skip Cinema - London Road campus
Lunch time concert in the dark, Palmer G10, 1.10pm-1.50pm
As part of the Music@Reading lunchtime concert series, Ikuko Inoguchi will be playing the piano in the dark to highlight energy saving initiatives at the University.
‘Even the Rain' at Reading Film Theatre, Palmer G10, 8pm
Come and watch ‘Even the Rain' (15), with a pre-film seminar given by Dr Emily Boyd, from the Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, whose research is concerned with the human dimensions of environmental change.
Wednesday
Skip Cinema - Greenlands campus
Low Carbon Challenge - please note that this event has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances
Green Debate, Café Mondial, Students' Union, 5pm
Join representatives from NUS and RUSU to debate the contentious issue of shale fracking.
Public Lecture, Palmer G10, 8pm
Professor Janet Barlow, Department of Meteorology, and Director of the Centre for Technologies for Sustainable Built Environments (TSBE) gives her public lecture entitled ‘Hot in the city: Urban Heat Islands explained'. You can also follow the lecture on Twitter @UniofReading / #UoRLectures.
Thursday
Skip Cinema - Whiteknights campus, outside the Minghella building
Lunch time lecture, Palmer 105, 12.30pm-1.30pm
‘Promoting positive environmental behaviours, theory to practice' - a joint lecture, presented by Dr Rachel McCloy from the Department of Psychology and Sophia Perkins from Green Impact.
Environmental Exhibition, Palmer foyer, 11am-2.30pm
Come and find out what the University's green groups and suppliers are doing, enter competitions and see what freebies are on offer.
RUSU Pub Quiz, Mojo's bar, 8pm
Test your knowledge in this traditional pub quiz with ‘green' themed guest round.
Friday
Skip Cinema - Whiteknights campus, Earley Gate
Green Walk, Outside RUSU shop, 11.30pm-12.30pm
Take a walk on the wild side with the University Grounds Team.
Green Week Awards, Bulmershe Theatre, Minghella building, 1pm-2pm
A chance to celebrate a year of environmental success. Green Impact, Champion of Champions, photo challenge and Best Green Video awards will be presented by Colin Robbins, Director of Estates and Facilities.