Earth Week 2023
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22 April is Earth Day! Celebrated annually, 22 April 2023 marks the 53rd anniversary of this event, reminding us of the importance of helping our environment and acting on climate change. That message feels even more relevant now, which is why so many of us want to celebrate Earth Day, raise awareness, and make a difference. Every year there’s a new theme for Earth Day that focuses our attention on a specific environmental issue. The theme for Earth Day 2023 is ‘Invest in our Planet’.
Earth Week: enjoy our entertaining (and eco-friendly) events!
Saturday 22 April is Earth Day, and to celebrate, the Sustainability team have put on a series of events spanning the week from 17-21 April.
The purpose of Earth Day is to remind us of the importance of helping our environment and taking action on climate change.
Join our events
The upcoming week would be a chance for you to throw yourself into the eco vibe and explore your green side—planting sessions, movie night, tote bag decoration, paint and plant, sustainability seminars and more!
Full schedule
|
Day 1 |
Activity |
Time |
Location |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Monday 17 April |
Sustainability Stall |
11am-1pm |
East Building Atrium |
|
*Movie Night: David Attenborough Documentary |
4:30pm-6pm |
EB.G.10, East Building, Docklands |
|
|
Day 2 |
Activity |
Time |
Location |
|
Tuesday 18 April |
Planting Session: Can you dig it? |
12pm-1pm |
Community Garden, Docklands Campus |
|
Sustainable cooking - Dine with Dave: Using Seasonal Ingredients |
4pm-5pm |
The Munch Café Kitchen, Sports Dock |
|
|
Day 3 |
Activity |
Time |
Location |
|
Wednesday 19 April |
Recycling Game with Library |
12pm-2pm |
Docklands Library |
|
Meet and Greet the Sustainability Campaign Group |
12pm-2pm |
East Building Corridor, Docklands |
|
|
Lunch and Learn with SRI - Climate change, Biodiversity and Air Pollution |
1pm-2pm |
ED402, Educom Building,Stratford Campus |
|
|
Halls Exclusive: Paint a Pot |
2pm-3pm |
Longbridge Common Room, Longbridge Student House |
|
|
Plant, Grow and Harvest your very own Herbs. |
4pm-5pm |
Pump House, Docklands Campus |
|
|
Day 4 |
Activity |
Time |
Location |
|
Thursday 20 April |
Panel Discussion: How will UEL become Net Zero by 2030? |
11:30am-12:30 pm |
East Building 1.01 (EB 1.01) |
|
Crafternoon: Decorate your own Sustainable Tote Bag |
3pm-4pm |
The Foyer, USS |
|
|
Movie Night: The Martian |
7pm-9pm |
West Building (WB G.02) |
|
|
Day 5 |
Activity |
Time |
Location |
|
Friday 21 April |
Halls Exclusive: Plant a Pot |
1:30pm-3pm |
Longbridge Common Room, Longbridge Student House |
|
Finding Balance: Yoga/Meditation Session |
3pm-4pm |
Sports Dock Yoga studio |
|
|
National Tea Day: Sustainability afternoon tea talks social |
4pm-5pm |
The Green, Stratford |
Monday 17 April
Sustainability Stall, 11am-1pm
An introductory stall to introduce Earth Week. Here we will talk about all things sustainability, what we do, how we do it and how people can engage themselves more in sustainability in general.
|
Time |
11am-1pm |
|---|---|
|
Venue/Location |
East Building, Docklands Campus |
|
Who can attend |
UEL Staff/Students/Alumni |
|
Type of event |
Walk in stall |
|
Website link/Sign up |
Not required |
|
Contact |
sustainability@uel.ac.uk |
|
Insert calendar invite |
Yes |
Movie Night: David Attenborough Documentary, 4:30pm-6pm
Sir David Attenborough is a legendary naturalist, writer, and broadcaster who has inspired millions with his documentaries on the wonders of life on Earth.
From celebrating the natural world to outlining the effects of human-caused climate change. We will delve into the complexity of natural ecosystems and marvel at our planet’ miraculous life forms.
Accompanied by footage of enduring natural life, the film delivers a hope for finding effective solutions to restore the planet’s biodiversity.
|
Time |
4:30pm-6pm |
|---|---|
|
Venue/Location |
EB.G.10, East Building, Docklands |
|
Who can attend |
Students only |
|
Type of event |
Movie screening |
|
Website link/Sign up |
Not Required |
|
Contact |
Reagan Brill - r.brill@uel.ac.uk |
|
Insert calendar invite |
Yes |
Tuesday 18 April
Planting session: Can you dig it?, 12-1pm
If you are a green-fingered enthusiast, join the Volunteering and Sustainability team for our gardening so we can all do our bit for Earth Day.
We need volunteers that can give up an hour of their time to get involved with some de-weeding, putting out compost and maintaining our community garden which is located in our Docklands Campus so we can all enjoy the green space and do our bit for the planet we call home.
This is a great way to care for the planet, join peers, build on your team working skills, and meet new people in the process!
If you are familiar with the UEL Garden you can meet us there for 12pm or alternatively, for those who do not know their way, we will have a meeting point outside of the Pump House at 11.45am (please arrive at the correct time as we will be leaving at 12pm sharp).
So if you're interested, just register by clicking the link- get your gardening gloves at the ready!
|
Time |
12-1pm |
|---|---|
|
Venue/Location |
UEL Community Garden, Docklands Campus |
|
Who can attend |
Staff and Students |
|
Type of event |
Gardening session |
|
Website link/Sign up |
|
|
Contact |
Shazma Khatun - s.khatun@uel.ac.uk |
|
Insert calendar invite |
Yes |
Sustainable cooking - Dine with Dave: Using Seasonal Ingredients, 4-5pm
Join Chef Dave and Aramark for a Sustainable Cooking workshop presented by the Students' Union. Learn how to cook with seasonal and sustainable ingredients and reduce food waste while enjoying the delicious chickpea burgers Chef Dave will be making. Only 10 spots are available, so make sure you arrive on time to secure your spot.
Celebrate World Earth Day with our Climate-Friendly Spiced Chickpea Burgers. Dave, a Chef with extensive experience, joined Aramark with a goal of providing accessible health information and choices to customers. Aramark's Wellbeing In Focus program aims to deliver healthier outcomes for everyone by providing accessible health information and practical, achievable choices.
We will meet at the Pump House at 3:45pm and walk over together to the Sports Dock Kitchen.
|
Time |
4pm-5pm |
|---|---|
|
Venue/Location |
The Munch Café kitchen, Sports Dock |
|
Who can attend |
Staff and students |
|
Type of event |
Walk in |
|
Website link/Sign up |
Limited seats available; students will be enrolled on first come first serve basis |
|
Contact |
l.rajendran@uel.ac.uk |
|
Insert calendar invite |
Yes |
Wednesday 19 April
Recycling Game, 12-2pm
Play our award-winning Recycling game with the Library Team to win exciting awards and prizes. You will surely be surprised when you learn what can and cannot be recycled at the University.
|
Time |
12-2pm |
|---|---|
|
Venue/Location |
Docklands Library |
|
Who can attend |
Staff and students |
|
Type of event |
Walk in stall |
|
Website link/Sign up |
None |
|
Contact |
sustainability@uel.ac.uk |
|
Insert calendar invite |
Yes |
Meet and Greet the Sustainability Campaign Group, 12-2pm
Meet and Greet the Sustainability Campaign Group and join us in taking a stand for a sustainable future! We invite you to sign a petition calling for UK universities to divest from fossil fuel companies that contribute to climate change. We believe that if it's wrong to wreck the climate, it's wrong to profit from that destruction. Just as no reputable university would accept funding from tobacco companies in light of their research on cancer, no university should invest in fossil fuels. With 60% of UK universities already committed to divestment, it's time for the rest of the sector to follow suit. Come to our petition stall, meet our group and learn more about UEL's investment policy. Sign the petition and join us in creating a more sustainable world for future generations.
|
Time |
12-2pm |
|---|---|
|
Venue/Location |
East Building Corridor, Docklands |
|
Who can attend |
All UEL students, staff and alumni |
|
Type of event |
Walk in stall |
|
Website link/Sign up |
None |
|
Contact |
l.rajendran@uel.ac.uk |
|
Insert calendar invite |
Yes |
Lunch and Learn with Sustainability Research Institute, 1-2:30pm
Join us for this Lunch and Learn Seminar/Webinar that aims to advance the knowledge about Climate change, Biodiversity and Urban Air Pollution and how they impact our daily lives. It will cover the current scientific research on climate change-related issues and what we need to do to mitigate its impacts with our small actions. These talks will be delivered by 3 expert researchers from UEL Sustainability Research Institute.
The duration of the event is expected to be about 1 hour. This session ends with Q&A, so please feel free to engage with the presenters.
This event will also run in-person at the University of East London, Stratford Campus in ED402 – Wed 19th April from 1pm-2pm (Educom Building). Feel free to pop in. No prior registration required.
|
Time |
1-2:30pm |
|---|---|
|
Venue/Location |
ED402 – Wed 19 April from 1pm-2pm |
|
Who can attend |
Staff / Students/Alumni |
|
Type of event |
Seminar + Webinar ( Both in person and online) |
|
Website link/Sign up |
|
|
Contact |
sustainability@uel.ac.uk |
|
Insert calendar invite |
Yes |
Halls Exclusive: Paint a pot, 2-3pm
Care to brush up your artistic skills. Paint a plant pot with us at student residences. Students will be provided with plant pots and painting supplies. They can either take their pot home afterwards or leave it in the common room to pot a plant in it at the following event.
|
Time |
2-3pm |
|---|---|
|
Venue/Location |
Longbridge Common Room, Longbridge Student House |
|
Who can attend |
Residential students only |
|
Type of event |
Walk in |
|
Website link/Sign up |
None |
|
Contact |
Reagan Brill - r.brill@uel.ac.uk |
|
Insert calendar invite |
Yes |
Plant, Grow and Harvest your very own Herbs, 4-5pm
Get your hands dirty and learn the secrets of herb gardening in our upcoming workshop, 'Plant, Grow, and Harvest Your Own Basil Plant'. Our workshop will guide you through the entire process, from planting your basil seed to harvesting your fresh herbs. You'll discover the best techniques for starting your basil seedlings using a mini propagator and learn tips for keeping your plants healthy and productive. Take away your plantings home.
|
Time |
4pm – 5pm |
|---|---|
|
Venue/Location |
Pump House, Docklands Campus |
|
Who can attend |
Staff and students |
|
Type of event |
Walk-in |
|
Website link/Sign up |
Not required |
|
Contact |
l.rajendran@uel.ac.uk |
|
Insert calendar invite |
Yes |
Thursday 20 April
Net Zero Carbon Q&A – UEL’s Net Zero target and strategy, 11:30-12:30pm
Join our expert panel discussion on achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2030 at the University of East London and discover practical ways to reduce your carbon footprint. Our keynote speaker, Professor Hassan Abdalla, is an international authority in sustainability, smart/future cities, engineering design, Artificial Intelligence, and factories of the future.
He has over 20 years of experience in both academia and industry and is currently the Dean of the School of Architecture, Computing, and Engineering at UEL. Don't miss this opportunity to gain insights on the challenges and opportunities involved in reaching our sustainability goals and connect with like-minded individuals who share your commitment to a sustainable future.
|
Time |
11:30am-12:30 pm |
|---|---|
|
Venue/Location |
East Building 1.01 (EB 1.01) |
|
Who can attend |
Staff and students |
|
Type of event |
Walk in |
|
Website link/Sign up |
Not required |
|
Contact |
l.rajendran@uel.ac.uk |
|
Insert calendar invite |
Yes |
Crafternoon: Decorate your own Sustainable Tote Bag, 3-4pm
Join us for a fun crafting workshop and learn how to decorate your very own sustainable tote bag! Using eco-friendly materials like fabric markers and patches, you'll discover how to create a unique and stylish design that reflects your personal style. All materials will be provided, so just bring your enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. Don't miss this chance to create a practical and fashionable accessory that's good for the planet.
|
Time |
3pm-4pm |
|---|---|
|
Venue/Location |
The Foyer, USS |
|
Who can attend |
Staff and students |
|
Type of event |
Walk in |
|
Website link/Sign up |
Not required |
|
Contact |
l.rajendran@uel.ac.uk |
|
Insert calendar invite |
Yes |
Movie Night – The Martian, 7-9pm
Get ready to embark on a thrilling journey this Earth Week! Join us for a special screening of the movie The Martian, a science-fiction adventure that tells the story of an astronaut stranded on Mars and his struggle to survive. This event is the perfect way to celebrate Earth Week and explore the wonders of space travel while also reflecting on the importance of sustainability and preserving our own planet.
|
Time |
19:00 - 21:00 |
|---|---|
|
Venue/Location |
WB.G.02, Docklands |
|
Who can attend |
Students only |
|
Type of event |
Movie screening |
|
Website link/Sign up |
Not Required |
|
Contact |
l.rajendran@uel.ac.uk |
|
Insert calendar invite |
Yes |
Friday 21 April
Halls Exclusive: Plant a Pot, 1:30-3pm
Pot a Plant event (in the pots that were painted on the 19th); plants, seeds, and soil will be provided along with necessary gardening tools.
|
Time |
1:30-3pm |
|---|---|
|
Venue/Location |
Longbridge Common Room, Longbridge Student House |
|
Who can attend |
Residential students only |
|
Type of event |
Walk in |
|
Website link/Sign up |
None |
|
Contact |
Reagan Brill - r.brill@uel.ac.uk |
|
Insert calendar invite |
Yes |
Finding balance- Yoga/Meditation session, 3-4pm
Yoga allows individuals to recognise the interconnections of thought, energy, and action, and boost connection with their environment. Grab your yoga mat and join this fun yoga session with an experienced trainer. This is open to UEL staff and students. No experience is required. Mats will be provided. The session will last 45 minutes. Wear lose stretchable clothing appropriate for yoga.
|
Time |
3-4pm |
|---|---|
|
Venue/Location |
Yoga Studio,Sports Dock |
|
Who can attend |
UEL staff and students |
|
Type of event |
Yoga/meditation session |
|
Website link/Sign up |
|
|
Contact |
sustainability@uel.ac.uk |
|
Insert calendar invite |
Yes |
National Tea Day: Sustainability afternoon tea talks social, 4-5pm
Celebrate National Tea Day in a sustainable way! Join us for an afternoon of tea, treats, and enlightening conversations about sustainability. Engage in insightful discussions and connect with like-minded individuals with a passion for sustainability. Join us for a fun and informal chat session with Sustainability Team.
|
Time |
4pm – 5pm |
|---|---|
|
Venue/Location |
The Green, Stratford |
|
Who can attend |
Staff and students |
|
Type of event |
Walk in |
|
Website link/Sign up |
None required |
|
Contact |
l.rajendran@uel.ac.uk |
|
Insert calendar invite |
Yes |
Protecting our planet starts with you
Take a look at our Sustainability Checklist which includes some easy tips to help you become more environmentally conscious. Click on the links below to learn more!
What is UEL doing?
Net Zero Carbon 2030
UEL has committed to become net zero by 2030, which refers to the balance between the amount of greenhouse gases produced and the amount removed from the atmosphere.
Learn more about Net Zero Carbon 2030We reach net zero when the amount of carbon emissions we add is no more than the amount taken away.
Achieving net zero will involve reducing our emissions generated across our operations, which include emissions from:
- Gas and fuels
- Electricity
- Construction and refurbishment
- Food and catering
- Daily commute
- Business trips
- Student home travel
- Waste generated onsite
- Water consumption and wastewater treatment
- Lab equipment
- IT equipment
Get in touch
Have any questions or would like to know more? Contact sustainability@uel.ac.uk. We look forward to hearing from you!