Seven ways to celebrate Sustainability Week at Griffith Uni
With a proud history of valuing the environment, Sustainability Week (3-9 September 2019) is celebrated at each of Griffith Uni’s campuses. With events and activities like native plant giveaways and reusable bag making, there are loads of ways to celebrate Sustainability Week at Griffith Uni – here are seven:
#1 Gold Coast Sustainability Fair
Sustainability is our responsibility but it can sound intimidating, which is why celebrating Sustainability Week is a great way to expose yourself to practical tips and ideas.
Gold Coast campus Sustainability Fair is a great place to start. An awesome opportunity to learn how to reduce your environmental footprint as well as a chance to grab a bunch of freebies. From free pedal powered smoothies to free Australian native plants, this Fair is bound to expand your view on how you can be sustainable in your own life.
#2 Logan Arboretum Walk
Speaking of ways to stimulate your creativity, a nice walk through the Logan campus Arboretum is a great way to stand back and admire a little bit of our planet. Not only will it be the ultimate study break, but will definitely get you thinking about conservation.
#3 South Bank Enviro Event
The Queensland College of Arts (QCA) never fails to deliver on creativity and this week, Enviro Events are promising excitement. Encourage our fellow student’s creativity through purchase of hand-crafted jewellery from sustainable materials and participate in fun activities such as using upcycled materials to decorate your own canvas bag.
Ever think about what we can do to reduce our use of paper? Come along to South Bank campus’ Enviro Events and learn how postgraduate student Grace Cuell makes paper from recycled jeans. Not only are these events a great way to show your support, they will also inspire you to creatively implement sustainable practices in your life and study.
#4 Nathan Enviro Event
Join the Nathan Enviro Event on 5 September 2019 for wildlife encounters, free mini golf and various other opportunities to celebrate sustainability.
This week’s market is also a great opportunity to engage yourself in a sustainability project, such as the closet cleanout, where you can sign up to give your old books, clothes and shoes a new home (or come for the bargain and give loved items a new home). This is one way to promote sustainable spending through reducing waste and repurposing unwanted items.
#5 Library Lightning Talk – tackling the UN’s 17 sustainable development goals
Celebrating sustainability can be fun and all these events are bound to get you excited. That is why Griffith is also offering a number of workshops and presentations this week to increase your knowledge on sustainability. Library Lighting Talks this week will cover how we seek to achieve the UN’s 17 sustainable development goals. A great opportunity to hear how strategies are being applied to end poverty, improve health and education, reduce inequality and spur economic growth.
#6 EcoCentre community forum – changing climates
You can also attend the EcoCentre community forum to learn about listening to changing climates. Dr Leah Barclay will present how she has combined technology and science to build systems that preserve waterways through the power of sounds. These incredibly interesting presentations will help you harvest the possibilities of progress in the area of sustainability.
#7 Bimblebox 153 Birds Exhibition
Another great event to attend is QCA’s Bimblebox 153 Birds Exhibition. Bimblebox 153 Birds is an art exhibition including poetry, prose, artists’ prints and musicians’ birdcalls. It is a creative response to coal-mining expansion to express why Bimblebox nature refuge needs protection. The exhibition will run from the 3-14 September, with an official opening on Friday 6 September. Come along and support our students’ work and learn about why conservation is so important.
There are so many events, presentations and showcases on sustainability at Griffith this week. But do not feel left out, as students we can continue to celebrate sustainability beyond this week by upholding to university policies and initiatives. Sustainability is our responsibility and is about continued progress. Remember to bring your reusable cups, responsibly recycle your trash, respect wildlife and follow road guidelines. Lastly, continue to learn and encourage others to also take action, small practices can make a big difference.
By Cinthia Dos Santos