To achieve the University’s ambitious sustainability goals, student participation and contribution are essential, yet their impact is often overlooked. In this blog, we shine a spotlight on two Eco Champion Coordinators who are making a real difference on campus by designing monthly themed campaigns, hosting events, and inspiring staff and students through sustainability activities. 

What are Eco Champions? 

Sara Shaqiri (4th year MSci Genetics student) and Yixuan Dong (3rd year BSc Biology student) are Eco Champion Coordinators working with Dr Maggy Fostier, FBMH Associate Dean for Environmental Sustainability, to lead a group of Eco Champion volunteers. Together, they run various activities across campus to advance the University’s Sustainability Strategy.  

At the beginning of the academic year, Sara and Yixuan developed project plans and monthly campaigns, each with a distinct theme to broaden staff and student engagement in sustainability initiatives. 

Here is a snapshot of their work so far: 

Poster showcasing several tabletop games available for loan at Stopford Reception.

September: Active and Healthy Living 

Students were encouraged to explore the link between sustainability and wellbeing through outdoor activities. Over 20 board games and picnic blankets were made available for loan at Stopford Reception, helping students enjoy screen-free breaks in the Stopford Quad green space. 

October: Green Halloween/Mindful Consumption 

Halloween and Black Friday are associated with significant levels of waste and overconsumption. Sara and Eco Champions tackled this by hosting a Halloween Costume Swap, DIY decoration workshop and sewing workshops, where staff and students were encouraged to reuse or repair costumes instead of buying new ones. They also ran a stall to share pumpkin recipes from various cultures, reducing pumpkin waste while engaging people from diverse backgrounds. 

Pumpkin painting activity at the Halloween DIY Decoration workshop. (Photo credit: Sara Shaqiri)

November: Face-to-Face Sustainability Campaigns 

Together with Eco Champions and final-year Environmental Sustainability Project students, Yixuan ran three themed campaign stalls at the Stopford Foyer: Plastics and Recycling, Carbon Footprint and Nature. Staff and students engaged in a 6R Recycling quiz, a carbon footprint game inspired by How Bad Are Bananas, and biodiversity discussions. Self-grown desk plants and seed packs were awarded as prizes to encourage greener living. Sara also hosted a sustainability pub quiz to raise awareness in a fun, interactive way. 

December: EcoCrafting for a Sustainable Festive Season 

Before the winter break, Sara and Yixuan co-hosted two eco-crafting events with the Social Responsibility Team and academics. Participants repurposed old cards into gift tags, transformed lab coats into stockings, and used natural materials for wreath-making. A Christmas choir sing-a-long, alongside homemade mulled cider and apple juice, created a welcoming atmosphere that supported wellbeing during the festive season. 

What’s next? 

Sara and Yixuan’s work goes beyond standalone projects. They often collaborate with groups such as Off the Record and student societies, amplifying their reach. They also build on existing University initiatives, such as the lab coat reuse protocol that started a few years ago. 

Although both students will be graduating this summer, they already have several initiatives lined up for Semester 2, including more DIY decoration workshops for Easter.  

Next time you find yourself on campus, keep an eye out for posters, promotions and campaign stalls and consider joining one of their many sustainable events. 

Additional Information 

• Read more about one of the December EcoCraft events: A Festive Winter Warm-Up in the MS 
• Sign up to become an Eco Champion volunteer (University students only) 
• Join in the students’ efforts and start building sustainable habits using the University’s sustainability platform No Time to Waste (for staff and students). 

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