Past Sustainability Events
Reach '24 Arts and Sustainability Festival
Queen's University Belfast, in collaboration with Bryson Recycling and Belfast City Council, hosted its first Arts and Sustainability festival called Reach '24.
The festival began on 18 April with the opening of an art exhibition in the Naughton Gallery called 'Full of Wonder or Full of Plastic? You Decide.' created by Prof. Ingrid Hess from University of Massachusetts Lowell. The exhibition explores the impacts of plastic waste on our oceans.
The festival also hosted inspiring presentations from individuals leading the way in the arts and sustainability sectors, including a keynote presentation from Alison Tickell, Director of Julie's Bicycle, Tania Benotti, Director of Creative Ireland, and others.
In addition, Queen's Film Theatre hosted a special screening of two environmental documentaries about rising sea levels, followed by a panel discussion.
You can read more about the festival here.
SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION CONFERENCE
Queen’s University Belfast held its first Sustainable Construction Conference – a half-day event designed to deepen knowledge of reducing carbon in buildings.
Organised in partnership with South West College, Belfast City Council, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios and HOK, the conference, which was open to all those involved in the design, construction and operation of the built environment, took place in the University’s historic Riddel Hall.
The conference entitled ‘‘Carbon Reduction in Buildings - a ‘how to’ for designers, owners & users’, brings together industry experts who have real / tangible knowledge of driving innovation & policy change to assist in the challenge of reducing carbon in buildings.
Speakers included:
- Debbie Caldwell, Climate Commissioner, Belfast City Council
- Dr Joe Jack Williams, Partner, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
- Una Barrett, KTP Associate, Queen’s
- Gary Clark, Principle Lead for Science and Technology, HOK
For further information on the event please click here. A recording of the speakers and panel event is located below.
Student Summit
Queen's University's Sustainability Team hosted a Student Summit in January 2024.
Queen’s University annual Student Sustainability Summit took place on Tuesday 30 January.
This was a great opportunity to discuss key sustainability concerns that students have around education, travel, food and banking with Queen’s University staff, and other guest speakers responding to their queries.
Annual Sustainability Lecture: Sir Jonathon Porritt
Queen's Annual Sustainability Lecture took place on Thursday 19 October with Sir Jonathon Porritt.
The lecture was titled ‘The Climate Crisis : Why we need to dig deeper’.
COP28 at Queen's University: 30 November to 12 December
Connecting Belfast: Transforming Travel
6 December 2023
As part of a series of COP28 events, the Sustainability Team hosted a panel discussion in December 2023 within the Crescent Arts Centre with a number of expert panellists discussing the topic 'Connecting Belfast: Transforming Travel'.
Panel members include representatives from the Alliance Party, Federation of Small Businesses, Queen's University Belfast, Sustrans, Translink and Department for Infrastructure.