Past Events

SHOW YOUR STRIPES 21 JUNE 2024

Show Your Stripes took place on Friday 21 June 2024. There was a staff celebration and sustainable action event on Whiteknights campus, which attracted in the region of 500 staff. The day featured the Sustainability team, fairground stalls, ice cream, a rounders tournament and food stalls. We had a great day, having many inspiring conversations and the day culminated with Professor Ed Hawkins giving a talk at Reading Town Hall. The Climate Stripes were projected onto many landmarks around the world, highlighting the need to speed up climate action around the globe.

Sustainable Travel Day
11:00-14:00, 6 March 2024 in Palmer Quad

There will be lots of exciting opportunities to explore sustainable modes of transport which reduce local air pollution and the benefits to your health of having cleaner air.

Meditative nature walk - explore our beautiful campus - sign up here 11:30-12:30
Campus cycle ride - ride around our stunning campus - sign up here 13:30-14:00
Dr Bike - get free bike maintenance 11:00-14:00
Reading Bike Kitchen - get advice on bike maintenance 11:00-14:00
Security Services and Thames Valley Police - get free security advice 11:00-14:00
Reading Cycle Campaign and Sustrans 11:00-14:00
Reading Buses - win free travel 11:00-14:00
Recycle Your Cycle - big second hand bike sale 11:00-14:00
Co Wheels - local car club 11:00-14:00
UPP - student step competition 11:00-14:00

SUSTAINABILITY LISTENS AT UOR

On the first Wednesday of each month during term time the Sustainability team run engagement events in the library foyer. Recent events included:

- 1 May 24 Biodiversity quiz to celebrate and raise awareness

- 7 Feb 24 promotion of Doing UoR Bit platform, newsletter and social media.

- 6 Dec 23 people could meet the Sustainability Service elves for tips on how to save energy over the winter break and ways to make festive celebrations a bit more sustainable.

- 8 Nov 23 Sustainability Services promoted our upcoming Green Festival, which was held later that month.

- 4 Oct 23 Reading Buses joined us to play 'The Destination Game' with staff and students to promote their services and raise awareness of our free Park and Ride service. Prizes included 2 free trips and the chance to win a termly bus pass.

- 3 May 2023 the Sustainability team hosted a mastermind challenge event in the Library from 11-13:30. Entrants had to answer 3 questions correctly in a minute to win a prize. A fantastic way to engage different audiences.

Green Festival is our annual sustainability celebration where we engage with our University community to promote, educate and celebrate sustainable actions.

Green Festival Timetable 2023

Tue 14 November

Combat Fast Fashion
Consumerism and the Amazon
Buy Fairtrade produce
Climate Justice: The Big Discussion
Sustainable Fashion Show
Poetry and sustainability
Community litter pick

Wed 15 November

Play the 'Destination Game'
Day of Cycling
Hedgehog Society litter pick
Upcycling craft activity
Sustainable food systems

Thur 16 November 2023

Save energy and money
Renewable energy on campus
Waste and recycling at UoR
Green Careers
Meditative nature tour

                                
All staff and students can earn extra Green Points and Prizes for every Green Festival event you attend!
Sign up at: www.doinguorbit.co.uk

TUESDAY 14 NOVEMBER

 

Event SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals)
11:00-15:00 TAKE ACTION @3Sixty
FOR ALL STAFF AND STUDENTS
Clothes Swap:
Combat Fast Fashion
Get involved with sustainability
- RED Award, Future Learn, Sustainability Team, Water Aid, Hedgehog Society, Reading Environmental Crisis Community, Green Volunteers
For Dom, Bruno and the Amazon exhibition
- explore the impact of consumerism on the Amazon rainforest
   
11:00-15:00 RISC Fairtrade Stall, Library foyer
FOR ALL STAFF AND STUDENTS
Buy Fairtrade produce
 
11:30-12:30 Our Green Artists, curator led tours of the MERL Galleries, Museum of English Rual Life
FOR ALL STAFF AND STUDENTS
This special ‘Our Green Artists’ tour will take a deep dive into landscapes, nature studies, and different forms of work on environmental themes in the MERL.
Our Green Stories Tours: Our Green Artists - The MERL (reading.ac.uk)
11:30-11:50 Why should the Amazon Rainforest matter here in the UK?, 3Sixty
FOR ALL STAFF AND STUDENTS
A talk by Dominque Davies
12:00-13:00 Climate Justice: The Big Discussion, 3Sixty
FOR ALL STAFF AND STUDENTS
From melting ice to rising seas, who really is to blame for the climate crisis?
Express your interest here: https://forms.office.com/e/5s29HEDSwL
13:00-14:30 Community Litter Pick, main entrance to Reading SU
FOR ALL STAFF AND STUDENTS
Counts towards the RED Sustainable Action award
Sign up here: https://forms.office.com/e/2EWq9Brh06
13:15-14:15 Sustainable Fashion Show, 3Sixty
FOR ALL STAFF AND STUDENTS
Show off your sustainable fashion! Express your interest here: https://forms.office.com/e/5s29HEDSwL
14:15-15:00 What can poetry contribute to sustainability? 3Sixty
FOR ALL STAFF AND STUDENTS
Counts towards the RED Sustainable Action award Sign up here: https://forms.office.com/e/pSwLe5cRWZ

 

WEDNESDAY 15 NOVEMBER

Event SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals)
07:30-08:30 and 14:00-15:30 Estates All Staff talk - water source heat pump
Monterey - Reading SU FOR ESTATES STAFF
11:00-15:00 Play the 'Destination Game' with Reading Buses, Library foyer
FOR ALL STAFF AND STUDENTS
Win free travel and find out about how to save money with our sustainable travel offers
11:30-13:00 Meet the RED Team, Library foyer
FOR ALL STUDENTS
Find out more about the RED Sustainable Action Award (and any other RED Awards!)
12:00-14:00 Day of Cycling, Palmer Quad
FOR ALL STAFF AND STUDENTS
Dr Bike, Reading Bicycle Kitchen, Reading Cycle Campaign,
Thames Valley Police, Security Services,
low cost bike hire, free cycle training.
13:30-14:00 Learn to ride taster session, Palmer Quad
FOR ALL STAFF AND STUDENTS
Come and try out one of our bikes with experienced instructor.
Sign up here: https://forms.office.com/e/EcEpmK9pHv
Please wear suitable clothing for the weather conditions on the day.
14:00-14:30 Leisure ride around Whiteknights, Palmer Quad
FOR ALL STAFF AND STUDENTS
Sign up to enjoy a scenic leisure ride: https://forms.office.com/e/EcEpmK9pHv.
Please bring your bike and wear suitable clothing for the weather conditions on the day.
15:30-17:00 Explore Reading cycle routes with commuting skills ride, Palmer Quad
FOR ALL STAFF AND STUDENTS
Sign up to explore Reading's cycle routes: https://forms.office.com/e/EcEpmK9pHv.
Please bring your bike and wear suitable clothing for the weather conditions on the day.
14:00-15:30 UoR Hedgehog Society Litter Pick, main entrance to Reading Students Union
FOR ALL STAFF AND STUDENTS
Take action to help our environment and help our spiky friends. Counts towards RED Sustainable Action Award. Sign up here: https://forms.office.com/e/7f6N7J4Z5w
16:00-17:00 Grow your own vegetables - an upcycling craft activity, Palmer Quad
FOR ALL STAFF AND STUDENTS
Hosted by the UoR Hedgehog Society, sign up here: https://forms.office.com/e/qkm0eLkuG0
17:30 Eating locally and seasonally: good or evil? Palmer 103
FOR ALL STAFF AND STUDENTS
Join RECC for a talk and discussion with Carol Wagstaff on sustainable food systems and the role they play in tackling climate change
20:00-22:30 Tye Dye and Upcycling Night, Park Lounge FOR STUDENTS IN HALLS
Join UPP Halls at Home for a fun sustainable evening
22:00-02:00 Wednesday Union: S*** Shirt Social, 3Sixty FOR ALL STUDENTS
Pre loved clothing Wednesday Union night.
More Details here: Events | Reading Students' Union (readingsu.co.uk)

 

THURSDAY 16 NOVEMBER

Event Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
11:00-15:00 How to save energy, money and be more sustainable, Library foyer
FOR ALL STAFF AND STUDENTS

Get advice from Reading Students Union experts, Citizens Advice and the Sustainability Team
11:30-12:15 Energy tour, meet outside the main entrance to the library
FOR ALL STAFF AND STUDENTS
Find out more about low carbon energy on campus. Counts towards RED Sustainable Action Award. Sign up here: https://forms.office.com/e/xje3Jk0YKd
12:00-12:45 Everything you ever wanted to know about waste and recycling at UoR webinar FOR ALL STAFF AND STUDENTS
Answers to all your recycling and waste questions with the Sustainability Team. Counts towards RED Sustainable Action Award. Sign up here: https://forms.office.com/e/ucsQdKXU20
13:00-14:00 Explore Green Careers panel event, Palmer 108
Sign up here after 2/11/23:
https://reading.targetconnect.net/leap/event.html?id=14344&service=Careers%20Service
14:00-15:00 Explore Green Careers networking event, Palmer 108
Sign up here after 2/11/23:
https://reading.targetconnect.net/leap/event.html?id=14346&service=Careers%20Service
FOR ALL STAFF AND STUDENTS
Panel event counts towards the RED Sustainable Action Award and the RED Award.
14:00-15:00 Meditative nature tour on campus, Chaplaincy Centre
FOR ALL STAFF AND STUDENTS
Explore our beautiful Whiteknights campus. Sign up here: https://forms.office.com/e/nBFrK4pDqm
19:00 Mojo's quiz - sustainability round, Mojo's
FOR ALL STUDENTS
More information here: Events | Reading Students' Union (readingsu.co.uk)

 

SHOW YOUR STRIPES DAY
21 JUNE 2023

Show Your Stripes 2023 took place on 21 June 2023, the last day of Reading Climate Festival. This was a staff celebration and sustainable action event, as well as raising awareness of the work of the University in this critical field. The day attracted over 600 staff, inspiring lots of fantastic conversations and ideas.

Activities included:

Garden Games Dr Bike Cycle ride around campus
Interactive stalls Greening your home lecture - sign up here Tours of the Atmospheric Observatory - sign up here
Flag displaying the Stripes for Berkshire Free ice cream Gaia exhibition

The full programme is now available.

READING CLIMATE FESTIVAL

Reading Climate Festival 2023 ran from the 10 June to 21 June. It incorporated a wide range of different types of in-person and online events, ranging from informative talks on climate action to performances and interactive workshops. The University of Reading was a key partner in the festival, delivering and supporting a number of high profile events - Luke Jerram's Gaia exhibition which attracted over 12,000 visitors, Everyday ways to save our planet with Chancellor Paul Lindley and Fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society Laura Tobin and Empowering young people to tackle the climate challenge with Sir Alok Sharma.  The full programme of events is available.

CLEAN AIR DAY 2023

Clean Air Day is the UK's largest air pollution campaign and we hosted our celebrations on Wednesday 7th June between 12 and 14:00 in Palmer Quad. Supporters included:

Reading Buses

Reading Cycle Campaign

Reading Bike Kitchen

Dr Bike

Reading Borough Council

Air Quality Project - Marta O’Brien

-Wokingham’s Air Quality Project

Come along, become more informed about air pollution and see how you can help by travelling more sustainably.

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