SOWING SEEDS OF CHANGE The third annual Eco Week explored sustainable living, explain Francesca Boycott and Georgia Mackie
D uring Eco Week in November, students and staff came together as a united community to explore the impact of small lifestyle changes on our collective carbon footprint. The overarching message of the week resonated clearly: change is within our hands, and each individual has a role to play in fostering a sustainable future. The week featured an array of society talks, workshops and activities aimed at inspiring active participation and awareness. One of the standout initiatives was the inaugural Meat-Free Day on Wednesday, highlighting the accessibility of a plant-based diet. The Bike Workshop witnessed a triumphant return, servicing over 100 bikes, and signalling a growing interest in carbon-free commut- ing within the College community. A successful Sustaina- bility Networking Event facilitated insightful discussions, featuring guest speakers from diverse industries discuss- ing eco-conscious initiatives within the corporate sphere. Inside the classroom, Year 9 mathematicians delved into wind turbine mathematics, while Lower School students calculated the carbon footprints of their pets. Year 8 Drama students creatively devised movement pieces using plastic waste. Notably, Dr Smriti Safaya, a specialist in biodiversity, worked with Year 12 geographers, sharing her expertise in biodiversity monitoring techniques in newly rewilded areas on campus. In the Junior School, activities such as ‘Mindfulness in Nature’, recycling relays and nature walks engaged students in connecting with the environment. Year 8 students from DC and JAGs came together to synthesise polymers from potatoes, followed by a compelling talk by sustainability documentary filmmaker Tobias Nash OA. The circular economy theme pervaded society talks, with OAs Kavi Gilani and Ed Norris providing insights into decarbonisation strategies in infrastructure. The week underscored the power students possess in driving change: Politics Society analysed tactics employed by environmental activists, while Dismantling Soc, War Hammer Soc and the ‘Make Do and Mend’ staff social highlighted the myriad opportunities in reclaiming and repurposing materials. DUCKS students, led by the Year
2 Sustainability Leadership Group, embraced alternatives to driving, as well as exploring recycling and reducing resource usage, further reinforcing their bond with nature through practical projects. Aspiring architects from SSLP schools were reminded of their responsibility to put sustainability at the heart of every design project. Tristan Wigfall OA from Alma-nac architects gave a tour of the new Lower School building, which is designed to be net zero for both embodied and operational carbon. Creative expressions throughout the College echoed a collective call to reassess our connection with the natural world. Rhydian Evans (Year 12) created a poignant video featuring members of the College community speaking about our duty of stewardship. Year 7 students worked collaboratively with JAGs to create complex similes con- nected with nature, and to craft colourful mosaic designs of the natural world. Our first collaborative art exhibition with JAGs, ‘The Nature of Things’, showcased fantastic creative synergy between the two schools, and the post- card artworks by students from DUCKS to Y13 empha- sised the pressing need to safeguard our environment. In a thoughtful conclusion to the week, the South Cloisters hosted a ceramics workshop where students and staff crafted miniature porcelain bee cups to collect rainwater for pollinators, symbolising a commitment to nurturing insect populations across the College campus. Eco Week proved that we as individuals, and as a united community, hold the transformative power to cultivate a future where every action nurtures the health of our plan- et and the wellbeing of generations to come. ◉
174
THE ALLEYNIAN 712
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker