Staff and students from across the University gathered to celebrate the remarkable achievements and initiatives in Environmental Sustainability (ES) at the 2025 ES Showcase. Hosted by the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health (FBMH), the event featured a variety of speakers, stalls, and activities dedicated to promoting sustainability. 

The event kicked off with a series of short presentations from ES colleagues, who gave updates on various sustainability activities at the University and beyond. The speakers were: 

• Steph Greenwood Davies, who is a member of the SHS Environmental Sustainability Champions Network and offered insight into Planetary Health at the University. 

• Medicine student Yasmin Tyrrell, who shared findings from the most recent Planetary Health Report Card, a student-led initiative that assesses how well medical schools integrate sustainability into their teaching, research, and operations. 

• IT Sustainability Manager John Vass-de-Zomba, who shared eye-opening insights into the environmental impact of AI. 

• ES Leads Julia Dirkin and Lucy Millard, who celebrated the progress made with the University’s milestone solar energy agreement. 

• Lucy Latham, who leads on external engagement for the University’s Sustainable Futures platform.  

Led by Dr Maggy Fostier, FBMH Associate Dean for Environmental Sustainability, the lectures also highlighted the fantastic awards and achievements of the past year, including the University’s soon-to-be-launched travel app and ES project successes at the recent Making a Difference Awards. 

Following the talks, attendees gathered in the atrium to explore a range of stalls and activities organised by staff and student volunteers. On one of the hottest days of the year, the Michael Smith Building’s Quad Garden was a perfect setting for attendees to enjoy outdoor activities and games. 

Stalls and activities on offer covered topics including the University’s Sustainable Futures platform, Green NHS initiatives, and a fun carbon footprint banana game. Many of the stalls were created and hosted by undergraduate students in FBMH, developed as part of their final-year projects.  

With so much brilliant sustainability work going on in FBMH and across the wider University, the Showcase was a chance to both acknowledge and build on the progress made over the past year.  

If you were unable to attend the Showcase, you can watch the speaker recording on our YouTube channel.  

Many of our speakers and stall leaders have also written about their areas of expertise for our SR blogsite: 

• Advocating for Planetary Health 

• Promoting plant-based milk on campus 

• Microbiology Labs making an impact with green SOPs 

• The environmental impact of artificial grass 

• Building a Nature Positive Campus 

• LEAF: The Molecular Cellular Function division is chilling up… 

• Food for thought: Let’s tackle food waste 

• News from a sustainable NHS on our doorstep 

Further information: 

• Planetary Health Alliance: blog 

• ES at the University: website 

• UoM Sustainability squad sign up – contact Lucy 

• PS code of practice: website 

• AI links from John’s presentation 
  • ◍For learners: https://elearning.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/ai-guidance-for-learners/ 
  • ◍For staff: https://www.staffnet.manchester.ac.uk/ai-hub/guidelines/ 
  • ◍FBMH resources: https://elearning.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/software/artificialintelligenceresources/ 
• Sustainable Futures
  • Events listing: website 
  • Newsletter sign up: website 

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