Each month, the Environmental Sustainability team will be sharing the latest events, engagement opportunities and campaigns to get involved with in the faculty and beyond.  

For March, we’re focussing on the theme of ‘Think Big, Innovate Green’. Here’s a look at what’s happening throughout the month. 

ES News from The University of Manchester 

The University has reaffirmed its commitment to environmental sustainability by signing the Concordat for the Environmental Sustainability of Research and Innovation Practice.  

The aim of the Concordat is to ensure research and innovation continues to play a critical part in understanding how our planet is changing, while helping the sector to act responsibly to protect and promote our environment.  

Read more about the Concordat and the University’s ongoing commitment to sustainability on the Staffnet website. 

World Wildlife Day, Monday 3rd March 

March 3rd marked World Wildlife Day, a global initiative from the United Nations celebrating wild plants and animals. 

• Join the UoM community on the iNaturalist app, where you can log any wildlife sightings you see on campus and elsewhere.  

• Revisit our 2024 Irene Manton lecture, hosted in collaboration with the Linnean Society of London and Manchester Museum. We heard from Amanda Bamford, Emeritus Professor of Plant Sciences, who took us on a journey from her childhood roots in industrial Essex to her conservation work with tropical frogs in the rainforests of Central America. Watch the lecture on our YouTube page. 

• Getting to grips with iNaturalist will be useful ahead of next month’s City Nature Challenge, taking place from 25-28 April. Across the globe, wildlife lovers will take part in the annual challenge by photographing animal and plant life, uploading images to iNaturalist, and supporting global conservation efforts. 

• Visit the free Wild exhibition at Manchester Museum, which explores our relationship with the natural world and looks at how people are creating, rebuilding and repairing connections with nature. Book your ticket via the museum website. 

British Science Week, 7-16 March 

British Science Week is a celebration of all things science. Events and activities will be taking place across the country. 

• Manchester Museum is hosting a British Science Week festival from 9-10th March, including stalls celebrating the sustainable initiatives taking place around the University. Read our blogpost from the 2023 event here. 

• The Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health is hosting our annual International Women’s Day event on Thursday 13th March. Keynote speaker Dr Claire Malone will explore alternatives to the exclusionary ‘culture of speed’ within scientific research – a theme that links to the growing importance of sustainable practices in research laboratories. Secure your free ticket via Eventbrite. 

Global Recycling Day, Tuesday 18th March & International Day of Zero Waste, Sunday 30th March 

Towards the end of the month, Global Recycling Day and International Day of Zero Waste present a perfect opportunity to be reminded of the everyday sustainability initiatives available on campus.  

• Filled with useful resources, information and practical advice, the Easy Eco For All booklet is your one-stop shop to help you live more sustainably on campus and at home. Download the free guide here.  

• Visit the University’s Furniture4Reuse store, located in the basement of the Simon Building. Read more about the initiative from Furniture Store Supervisor Peter Liddell on our blogsite, or visit the Furniture4Reuse website for more details. 

• Look out for food waste collection caddies, now found in every staff kitchen on Main Campus. To find out more, check out our blogpost by UoM Waste Manager Simon Atkinson. 

To find out more about Environmental Sustainability in FBMH, visit the Faculty’s intranet page, website or contact srbmh@manchester.ac.uk.  

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