Exploring sustainability first-hand: a transformative visit to the Sustainability Centre

During the reading week of our Autumn term, the  cohort ventured away from busy London life to attend a field trip at the Sustainability Centre. Located in the idyllic South Downs National Park, the centre is a non-profit organisation that aims to educate people of all backgrounds on incorporating sustainability into how they live and work. They strive to be a working example of sustainability and promote sustainable living through their one-off and continuous workshops and courses. Our cohort was lucky enough to participate in some of these immersive experiences across the three days we spent there. 

As we got off the bus in Hampshire, we were welcomed with a series of interactive activities that deepened our understanding of sustainability in business. Our experience began with a Business Transformation Workshop led by Christine Seaward, the CEO of the Sustainability Centre. She introduced us to the centre's mission and history, then led us through an exercise that demonstrated how sustainability can be an opportunity for business growth. After that, we heard from Lyndsey Carr of Aspire Pharma, who shared insights into the company’s sustainability initiatives and provided an example of what a sustainable business can look like. These engaging presentations were followed by an informative tour of the stunning grounds, led by Seaward, including stories of how the buildings of the Sustainability Centre had been retrofitted to reduce their environmental impact. This first afternoon set the stage for all the activities that awaited us, and got us excited to experience the more practical aspects of sustainability.  

Over the next two days, we explored the 55 acres of woodland and natural chalk downland that the centre is built on and engaged in multiple outdoor activities. The workshops were focused on traditional building techniques and cooking methods that embraced renewable and natural materials from the local environment. We got our hands dirty (literally) building clay ovens, clay bricks, and chalk walls. We split into groups and engaged in team building and healthy competition using Earthbags to create arched bridges, demonstrating how such bags can be used to make entire sustainable buildings. We built fires to boil water in Kelly Kettles, and used native sycamore wood we chopped and whittled ourselves to cook over an open flame. As we participated in the workshops, we gained a better understanding of conscious consumption and the importance of connecting to the natural environment. Everything we did emphasised tapping into the massive potential of utilising the existing surrounding environment and reincorporating traditional methods into daily life, rather than the modern methods we are used to but that come with significant environmental costs. We all walked away from the workshops with a deepened awareness of how our daily choices can contribute to a more sustainable future and a healthier planet. 

Equally as impactful as the workshops themselves was the collaborative nature of the trip. More than just getting to know each other's general interests and thoughts on business or sustainability, we were able to spend quality time together in the evenings. Here, we discovered fun facts about each other, found common interests, laughed about funny moments, and, all in all, got to develop a deeper understanding of each member of our cohort, both professionally and personally.  As we left the centre, we recognised that we had gotten exponentially closer and that the trip had served as a unique opportunity to connect outside the academic setting, fostering stronger relationships among our cohort and with our programme team. We are all more excited about our time at UCL and, more importantly, feel more connected to and supported by each other. This enhanced familiarity will help build a solid foundation for a more collaborative and cohesive group dynamic and enrich our classroom experience. We are grateful that we got to experience an opportunity like this.

We would like to extend this gratitude to our programme lead, Dr Samuel Tang, and our deputy programme lead, Dr Stuti Rawat, for organising, facilitating and leading the cohort throughout the field trip. The trip would not have been as successful without their guidance and encouragement. Our appreciation extends also to Paola Beretlli, BSEER, and everybody at the Sustainability Centre for creating such a memorable and impactful experience for us. This trip truly enhanced our learning, and I'm confident that it will be remembered as one of the highlights of our time at UCL.  

Additional links 

• Dr Samuel Tang's academic profile
• Dr Stuti Rawat's academic profile

Image credit

Jiaqian Li, MSc Business and Sustainability (2024-25)

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