What is it? What does it mean? How can you get involved?
What could your future in a sustainability career look like? In April and May, the University of Tasmania’s Sustainability and Careers Teams co-hosted two virtual events, the University’s first virtual Sustainability Careers Panel and Expo. On 23 April the Sustainability Careers Panel introduced three UTAS alumni who discussed how sustainability has shaped their careers and the experiences and skills that helped them land their exciting roles. Students had the opportunity to speak with Pratik Vhatkar, a former SIPS student currently working for the Department of State Growth, Jenni Klaus from the CoSE Science Engagement Team and the co-director of March 4 Earth, and UTAS Climate Scientist Tom Remenyi who works in the Climate Futures Research Group. Following the April Panel event, on 7 May the Sustainability Careers Expo was an opportunity for students to virtually network with industry partners and learn about how they apply the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) within their organisation. Industry partners also presented on graduate internship opportunities and volunteer programs for students. Ten organisations presented at the Expo including Hobart Airport, Tasmanian Climate Change Office (Department of Premier and Cabinet), Ombudsman Tasmania, Bicycle Network, Hydro Tasmania, Tasmanian Land Conservancy, TasNetworks, Landcare, Parks and Wildlife Discovery Rangers and Eat Well Tasmania. Thank you to the Panel and Expo presenters, MCs and the attendees who made these events such a success! Students can access recordings of the Sustainability Careers Panel and Expo in Career Connect > My Career Essentials > Resource Library. Staff can access the recordings by contacting the Sustainability Team.
Sustainability Tracking Assessment & Rating System (STARS) in 2010. This rating system has four levels Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum and is currently used by the Sustainability Team at UTAS to assess the progress of sustainable action on campus. AASHE recently released a guide aligning the STARS framework to the SDGs, this document will help universities such as our own, who are signatories for the SDGs, to track and report our contribution towards them. Read more on different institutions sustainability initiatives and their STARS ranking on the STARS portal. Staff and students at UTAS can connect with AASHE through the AASHE bulletin and social media or using your ACTS login to access member-only resources and trainings. Explore United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland higher education sustainability efforts through the Alliance for Sustainability Leadership in Education with the EAUC. EAUC: the Alliance for Sustainability Leadership in Education are a not-for-profit, member-based charity, run by members for members since 1996 based in the UK and Ireland. EAUC helps leaders, academics and other professionals drive sustainability to the heart of their post- 16 education institutions. EAUC were the originators of the Green Gown Awards and lead across the world in sustainability in education, including an impressive resource collection available to ACTS members for free. Connect with fellow Tasmanians through EfS Tas. Education for Sustainability Tasmania (EfS Tas) is a group of local passionate individuals using education as the main tool of engaging with sustainability. This locally based group works with its partner organisations to increase and provide resources for sustainability education projects. EfS Tas is a United Nations-recognised Regional Centre of Expertise in Education for Sustainable Development with UTAS as a core steering group member. If you’re passionate about sustainability education or would like access to resources on sustainability education, become a member of EfS Tas by filling out this form. Members have access to networking events, capacity building workshops and opportunities to promote sustainable events. You can also keep in contact with EfS Tas by signing up to the newsletter or following them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Join ACTS to connect with other sustainability champions in higher education. Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability (ACTS) is a non-profit organisation supporting and encouraging sustainability practise in campuses across the Australasia region. The organisation is based on bringing members together and enabling positive change within the community by providing resources and supporting engagement activities. Green Impact, ACTS conference, Green Gown Awards Australasia are a few of the many programs and initiatives delivered by ACTS. Members of our Sustainability Team are volunteer Board members, with Corey Peterson serving as ACTS President and Carmen Primo Perez the ACTS Treasurer. Staff or students can register as individuals under the UTAS institutional membership with ACTS, using their UTAS email to access heaps of member-only resources for free. Once you have a user account with ACTS, you also get free access to both AASHE (North America) and EAUC (UK and Ireland) resources. Follow ACTS on social media channels through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Linkedin for sustainability campaign updates or sign up to receive the enACT bulletin Promote the globally supported Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) in your community with SDSN. The Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) promotes the 17 SDGs among its global network of members from private and public industry sector, universities and community groups. Members of the SDSN engage in problem solving, policy writing and engagement through education for the SDGs. There are also regular grant opportunities highlighted for projects around the world. Use your UTAS email address to become a member of SDSN Global for free by submitting this registration form and identifying your specific areas of interest. You can also follow SDSN Global on Twitter, Facebook or Linkedin to stay updated on global SDG news.
Learn more about what other institutions are doing in the world of sustainability as part of AASHE. The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) made its debut in December 2005 and launched the
Tom Remenyi (top left) Varunjani Jayaseelan (panel host – top right) Jenni Klaus (bottom left) and Pratik Vhatkar (bottom right) at the virtual Sustainability Careers Panel
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Sustainability Bulletin • Issue 14 May/June 2020
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