| Energy and Environment at heart of Science City Programme
Newcastle University, Institute for Research on Environment and Sustainability (IRES)
As one of the UK’s leading universities, Newcastle University’s
reputation rests on the quality of its teaching, outstanding research
and the work undertaken with the local community and industry.
There is a strong focus on developing global solutions to a
sustainable way of life and the Institute for Research on Environment
and Sustainability (IRES) has been established by Newcastle
University to drive this forward. Newcastle itself was designated a
Science City in 2004 with a core objective of leading the economic,
social and cultural development of the northeast of England. Energy
and Environment is one of its four key themes.
The three long-term members within Science City are Newcastle City
Council, Newcastle University and One NorthEast (regional economic
development agency). The Programme aims to have regional impact and
partners from throughout the region engage in specific projects.
Newcastle City Council and the Energy Systems Analysis Group
(ESAG) within IRES have joined forces to create and foster projects
related to energy and environment. The projects combine the
knowledge accumulated at Newcastle City Council with University
research for the benefit of Newcastle residents and the northeast
region. The project team comprises of Council officers at the
Sustainability Unit and Children Services and researchers at ESAG.
Since October 2006 the team undertook sustainability projects
across three work streams:
- Citywide Energy Solutions
- Building Schools for the Future
- Retrofit Solutions
- New Build Solution
- Education Support Solutions
- Enviro-Schools
- Community Engagement
- External Support Solutions
- Business Sponsoring & Partnering
- Public Sector Funding & Partnering
- Sustainable Education
The education projects have delivered innovative approaches to
sustainable education through collaboration with the Enviro-schools
programme and a network of partners.
Sustainable Education Delivery
The Enviro-Schools programme is a high performance project,
delivering the national and local agenda for sustainability, for
educational achievement, for curriculum enrichment and
environmental management. The outcomes of the programme are
specifically relevant to the National ‘Every Child’s Future Matters’
framework and to the Sustainable Schools action plan.
Working at a school and community level, the programme’s unique
role is recognised regionally, nationally and globally. It is considered a
leading-edge model for other local authorities, for partnership
development and for creating and sustaining a wide network
involving all sectors – public, business, community and voluntary sectors – to the mutual benefit of participants.
The programme directly impacts on schoolchildren, parents, relatives,
governors and teachers. It encourages schools to participate in
environmental activities with community groups. There are currently
over 100 registered Enviro-Schools in Newcastle, of which 45 are
also registered Eco-schools.
Enviro-Schools supports sustainability by raising environmental
awareness enabling people and children to recognise both the local
and the global impact of their actions. People can also feed back their
views on environmental issues. It is supported by a number of
partners, enabling schools to access a flexible programme of
environmental “resources” and support. The environmental
awareness and participation can also be tailored to reflect closer
local environmental issues within neighbourhoods.
International Links - WaterAid Project
One of the initial objectives of the partnership was to enable the
then rapidly developing Building Schools for the Future Public
Finance Initiative project within the City to be supported with a
sustainable capital build and an added value complimentary education
development agenda. In addition to this opportunity, the project team
has developed a number of action-oriented projects building upon
the Sustainability Units Enviro-schools programme across 90 city
schools. In order to maximise the impact of the initial activities,
direct focused activities have been developed with three pilot
schools and are to be rolled out across the region.
Sustainable Education Delivery Framework
Example activities include:
- Waste and Enterprise: This demonstration project builds on work
with the pilot schools and Eldon Square, which proposes to
introduce reverse vending facilities within commercial and public
sector locations city-wide.
- Eco-footprinting: This brings added value to the publicly funded
eco-footprinting activities to create an eco-footprinting resource
relevant for schools.
- Renewable Energy Teaching: Development of core and
supplementary curriculum materials on renewable energy
technologies and the environment are being brought together. The
Students into Schools initiative enables undergraduates to get
involved in science teaching.
- Renewable Energy Installations: In order to support community,
public and private sector focus on schools, there are opportunities
to install equipment on school premises.
- Imagineering Clubs: The national Imagineering initiative organises
after-schools clubs, with volunteer engineers from industry, to
encourage young people to become skilled engineers and scientists
- World Environment Day: Seven schools visited IRES to share
project knowledge and develop international links.
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