Green Week 2014 Summary
Between 10 – 14th February, the University of Reading and the Reading University Students’ Union ran the fifth Go Green Week. This was aligned for the first time with the People & Planet Go Green Week. The week saw at least 21 individual events take place across all three campuses, reaching an audience throughout the University. Some highlights of the week included the Battle of the Bins, Environmental Career workshop, the Frugal Fayre and a screening of ‘Project Wild Thing’.
The Battle of the Bins took place on Tuesday. The event saw the VC, Sir David Bell race the RUSU President, Mark Kelleher race to find out who was the champion recycler. After a well fought battle, David took the victory and retained the coveted ‘golden bin’. A good time was had by all and we look forward to the rematch next year!
Two of the main events took place on Wednesday 12th: the Environmental Career Workshop and the Frugal Fayre. The Career Workshop was attended by 27 students from a diverse range of subjects, including Meteorology, Biological Sciences and Construction Management. The students were given the opportunity to meet recent graduates from a range of companies and some postgraduate students. The aim of the event was to promote opportunities in the Environmental Sector for Reading graduates. The Frugal Fayre saw a variety of promotional stalls showing students how to make money go further. Highlights included the Reading University Real Ale and Cider Society and Fashionably Skint demonstrating how to save money through clothes swap.
In an event that was open to both the local community and University staff and Students, Reading Film Theatre presented Project Wild Thing. The film aims to ‘sell’ nature to children. This was kindly introduced by Helen Bilton, Associate Professor in Education at IOE. It provided a thought provoking promotion of ways to encourage children to play outdoors.
Go Green Week closed with a Whiteknights Campus litter pick. Although the weather dampened this somewhat, a few hardy souls braved the elements to help prepare the campus for the weekend open days. The Sustainability Team is already looking forward to the 2015 Go Green Week and hopes to be able to work closely with the newly elected Environment and Ethics Officer! For more information, please visit the website: www.rdg.ac.uk/cleanandgreen.
