UCL Sustainability Awards 2019: Nominations now open!

We are excited to announce that nominations for the awards are now open!

These are five awards in addition to the awards which will be given to teams who have completed the Green Impact Programme.

Staff Award for Outstanding Commitment to Sustainability

An exceptional person within your or another department who has been leading environmental or social change at UCL.

Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Embedding sustainability into departmental/ faculty policies and core functions e.g. making your events sustainable, promoting sustainability into university marketing, making your department vegetarian or paperless, making your labs more energy efficient
• Creating a network for sustainability students or staff to collaborate
• Putting on events to raise awareness about sustainability

Student Award for Outstanding Commitment to Sustainability

An exceptional student within your department, society or halls who has been leading change at UCL.

Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Setting up an environmental or social society
• Embedding sustainability into the functions of UCL's student union, accommodation or department
• Campaigning or raising awareness of sustainability issues at UCL or beyond 
• Putting on a sustainability event e.g. conference / film / fair
• Embedding sustainability into a society e.g. UCL Modo Fashion Society’s sustainable fashion show or the Hockey Society’s pledge to go plastic-free

Sustainability Impact Award

A team/society at UCL, who has undertaken an environmental or social initiative, which has made a positive impact to sustainability at UCL or beyond.

Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Energy saving initiatives
• Improving recycling and reducing consumption (e.g. water, plastic, coffee cups, meat, fashion, paper)
• Enhancing green spaces or biodiversity
• Cycling or walking engagement activities
• A food initiative e.g. a redistribution scheme

Sustainability Education Award

This category is for staff or post-graduate students who have integrated sustainability into either the formal or informal curriculum.  This could be through the development of academic courses, voluntary programmes or community involvement schemes: 

• Examples include, but are not limited to:
• Developing a sustainability related module
• Integrating sustainability into modules across a course
• Providing sustainability related participatory learning
• Facilitating sustainability related coursework or Living Lab projects

Sustainability Research Impact Award

This category is for staff or students (undergraduate or post-graduate) who have undertaken research which has led to a positive outcome for society. This could be as part of a dissertation, PhD or research programme.

Examples include, but are not limited to research relating to the Sustainable Development Goals or other environmental or social topics.

We are looking for examples of demonstrable impact, for example changing public policy, new innovations in technology, changes in societal understanding or modifying industry practices.

Who, and what kind of work, is eligible?

UCL staff and students (undergraduate or postgraduate) are eligible for the awards. Groups of students and staff working in a team or society can also be nominated. To be eligible for nomination, staff or postgraduate students must be either employed by UCL or registered as a student at UCL, at the point of nomination or have been employed by UCL, or registered as a student at UCL, within the calendar year preceding nomination deadline date.

Nominees do not have to be a designated departmental ‘Green Champion’ or be part of a Green Team at UCL. These awards are for anyone at UCL who has made a contribution to environmental or social sustainability, be it at UCL or beyond.

How to nominate

Fill in the application form by July 1^st. All nominees will be informed whether or not they have been given an award as soon as possible before the ceremony takes place in July 18th 2019. Nominators will also be informed of the success of their nominee.

Nominate now: Deadline July 1st

How do the judges choose the winners?

A panel of judges with sustainability experience and understanding, including academics, professional services staff and students from across UCL, will choose prize-winners, taking into account a summary of the guidance above.

How will they be awarded?

All nominees will be informed whether or not they have been given an award as soon as possible before the ceremony takes place on July 18th 2019. Nominators will also be informed of the success of their nominee.

How can I contact the organisers?

The UCL Sustainability Awards 2019 are organised by UCL Sustainability. If you wish to contact us for any reason, please email Hannah Biggs.

We will acknowledge all nominations received before the deadline, but please note that no correspondence will be entered into regarding the selection process once the deadline has passed at noon on 1 July 2019.