If you're a new-start this semseter, welcome to Heriot-Watt! If you're a returning student, welcome back!
In this blog, I am going to give a run-down on what sustainability means to Heriot-Watt University Student Union and what we are doing to tackle the issues surrounding it.
Sustainability at Heriot-Watt!
If you're a new-start this semester, welcome to Heriot-Watt! If you're a returning student, welcome back!
In this blog, I am going to give a run-down on what sustainability means to Heriot-Watt University Student Union and what we are doing to tackle the issues surrounding it.
So, who am I? I’m Colin the current VP Community and I took a new interest in sustainable living over the last few years because I was overwhelmed when my friends were talking about it all one day realising, I knew very little about what it means to be sustainable and why it was so important. So, I did what any GenZ does when they learn about something new - watch about 20 videos on YouTube about what we can do to help slow down the climate crisis, plastic pollution, geoengineering, meat consumption - the list goes on and on! It was at this point I stopped and thought to myself why was I never taught any of this? So, my main concern became why are we not taught about this and how can I help change this for students at Heriot-Watt. Through my projects and plans, I hope to leave the University and Union looking to the future and help make Heriot-Watt students future-ready and give them the tools needed to tackle the issues surrounding sustainability!
Here at Heriot-Watt University Student Union, we know it is important that we all do what we can and make an effort to be more sustainable in the face of the Climate Crisis. The Union believes we must take a positive approach and encourage students and the University to help and support environmental practices such as reducing waste, recycling, and good ethical practices.
Back in November, we held our first-ever Sustainability week where we ran multiple events like the Enhancement lectures on Fast fashion and Plastics which you can check out here. The aim of the week was to get students engaged and educated on how they can make a change while studying at Heriot-Watt.
So, what can you do to get involved now? You can join one of our amazing societies that are crazy about sustainability. Eco Society for everyone interested in sustainable and environmentally friendly living, VegSoc who aim to help make your choice in food delicious and sustainable, Solar Decathlon who are in the middle of their project of competing in the Annual Solar Decathlon competition!
If you are looking for more change at what the university or union is doing you should join my Sustainability working group where we will be challenging behaviours of the University and Union. We will also use this place to discuss ideas for future events such as sustainability week and what national campaigns we could be teaming up on!
If you don’t feel like joining any of these groups but just want to have a chat about sustainability feel free to email me at union.vpcommunity@hw.ac.uk and I will be happy to answer any of your questions!
Colin Shaun Aitken