Staff and students come together for York St John University’s Green Week

York St John University held its second annual Green Week from 21 to 25 March 2022. Delivered alongside York St John University Students' Union, the Week brought together a range of events to engage staff and students with sustainability issues.  

The week offered opportunities to learn about ongoing work to make York St John’s campuses greener. Attendees could also get their hands dirty with biodiversity activities like wildflower planting and bat box making. Students’ Union led events included an eco-market to promote local sustainable businesses and a clothes swap shop. There was also a special talk by the team behind the University’s Living Lab project, which is working with City of York Council to examine air pollution outside the University. 

Sarah Williams, Energy & Environmental Projects Officer at York St John University, said: 

“We’ve made great progress over the last 5 years towards making our campus and organisation greener. Our Green Week events helped to raise awareness around sustainability and biodiversity, and the benefits they can bring to health, wellbeing, industry and the environment.”  

In addition to the University’s workshops and Students’ Union initiatives, students and staff involved in the University’s first ever Living Lab gave a special talk about the project’s collaboration with City of York Council to investigate air quality at the junction outside York St John University. The Living Lab is an interdisciplinary network which allows students to collaborate with lecturers and external organisations to find innovative solutions to real-life problems.  

Catherine Heinemeyer, Coordinator of the Living Lab, said: 

“For the Living Lab project 2022, we are focusing on air pollution and how it impacts us physically, socially and emotionally. Working with City of York Council, our research will help inform the council’s next Air Quality Action Plan. Being able to share this exciting and impactful research during Green Week is important - it’s an opportunity for students to connect with each other and share their different areas of expertise on the problem.” 

York St John University is increasingly being recognised for its sustainability work. The University recently won a sustainability award for a decarbonisation project on campus, and was a finalist in two categories at this year’s Green Gown Awards.