Sustainable UCL: Gain experiences and skills whilst at UCL to prepare for your sustainable career

Written by Farzana Chowdhury, third year Education, Society and Culture student following the Starting a Sustainable Career UCL Careers Sector Insight Event, October 2024.

Experiences and skills development are important if you are interested in preparing for a sustainable career whilst at UCL, but it might be difficult to know where to start. Therefore, hearing about the opportunities other students have got involved with can help you envision yourself taking part too.

I caught up with second year BSc Environmental Geoscience student Uta Beavis about her passion for sustainability, the sustainable opportunities she has got involved with whilst at UCL, and what she’s doing to prepare for a future career that makes a difference.

What does sustainability mean to you and why are you interested in it?

Sustainability is highly relevant to my studies in Environmental Geoscience. I also take a keen interest where geology interacts with human activity—the anthropogenic forces that shapes the Earth over time. I think it is hard not to notice some greenwashing in this sector with industry, where organisations set ambitious goals (2030), but we often don’t see meaningful changes. To me, sustainability means ensuring that the resources we use are either renewable or replaceable. If we fail to do this, we risk leaving a poor legacy for future generations. It’s all about looking ahead and prioritising the well-being of our planet.

Why did you choose your programme and what do you like about it?

I chose Environmental Geoscience because living in London, where air quality issues affect both myself and my family, just made me realise the urgent need for action in this area.

The Environmental Geoscience degree also appealed to me because it involves actively testing water, soil, and air samples to ensure they are safe and healthy for people. What I really love about my degree is the potential to make a difference—one day, I hope to contribute to positive changes in our community.

This year, you went to the Sustainability Conference at UCL East. What motivated you to apply for the conference?

At the time, I was the President of the UCL Beekeeping society. I was deeply aware of the declining bee populations and their crucial role in pollination and food production. I wanted to develop sustainability leadership skills to be able to share and empower my fellow society members and enhance our understanding of these important issues.

What was the most valuable insight you gained there?

The most valuable insight was understanding the rapid pace of climate change and our individual roles in addressing it. Inspired by Greta Thunberg, I wanted to move beyond token activism and acquire practical skills to make meaningful changes in my daily life. The conference emphasised that small daily actions, like mindful fashion and food choices can have a significant impact. One particularly inspiring speaker was a UCL alumnus with a background in fashion design, who now uses her degree and her background with sustainability research. She conducts studies on the seafloor and effectively communicates complex scientific ideas using everyday language, reaching a broader audience and raising awareness about environmental issues. Her approach demonstrated how diverse backgrounds can contribute to sustainability efforts.

You touched on the importance of individuals creating change by making small changes in their daily life. Do you think it is difficult to do that, especially when a lot of people might not have the ability to make these changes or they might not have the knowledge to know what to do?

Absolutely. The UCL sustainability conference emphasised this point, highlighting that when people are struggling to put food on the table or heat their homes, sustainability often isn’t top of their priority list. While we talk about a universal 2030 vision, we must recognise that some developing countries are only now catching up and will need a lot of resources and infrastructure to become developed.

On an individual level, change might not always feel attainable, but small actions like recycling properly or switching to a reusable water bottle can make a difference. It is important to remember that we can’t expect the same level of urgency from someone who lacks the privileges that others may have. Education and awareness vary greatly based on circumstances.

What other opportunities have you taken part in, related to sustainability?

I participated in the Engineers Without Borders society’s outreach programme, which focuses on sustainable engineering. This initiative involves visiting primary schools to teach children about engineering, through hands-on workshops using limited resources. The goal is to raise awareness that once these resources are gone, there’s no Plan B. Engineers Without Borders emphasises that we don’t have a second planet to rely on if we fail, so it’s crucial to have a solid plan before starting any project.

Additionally, I volunteered for various projects posted on the Student Union UCL's website. One notable experience was at Earthfest 2024, a sustainability festival at King’s Cross, London. The mayor of London was a guest speaker at the event, and it was hosting only sustainable organisations promoting greener products as alternatives to what we usually use. It was a great opportunity to network and take part in something I am passionate about.

Do you know what career you want to go into and is it going to be a sustainable career?

I hope to work in an organisation to mitigate hazards, as I have a big interest in land remediation where pollutants or contaminants have previously been spilled.

What do you want the world to look like in 10 years?

In ten years, I envision a world where my nephew can walk freely without needing his inhaler, surrounded by clean air. I hope the move to greener vehicles will be the trigger for this. I believe everyone has the right to breathe clean air, and just guaranteeing we have clean air and fresh water will help in building this future.

Do you have any other insights?

With the Sustainability Conference, attendees who participated on both days received a certificate to add to their CVs, which was a great incentive as I’m working to enhance mine. It’s important to remember that you don’t have to change the whole world—just your own. While tackling major corporations and ending pollution is a huge challenge, we can all contribute by making small changes today.