This June Newcastle University hosted Discover Fest 2025! A free, one-day festival brimming with family-fun. The activities list overflowed with idea-sparking events, but there was one film screening that caught my eye… With the festival’s focus on the next generation, it’s maybe not at all surprising that the challenge of tackling climate change featured. But the “Climate Change Catastrophe!” film co-created by kids, Newcastle University engineers, and the Cap-a-Pie team, was full of surprises. The film expertly communicates the serious and interwoven issues of climate change with a childlike perspective and an attitude of play. So much so that it manages to, the audience into giggles while educating on a topic many would rather avoid discussing. I had the privilege of catching up with Catherine Walker and Katy Vanden, two instrumental players in bringing the film to the festival. I was keen to learn all about the film, from its very origins to the audience reactions at the festival screening.
First, a video call with Catherine Walker, NUAcT (Newcastle University Academic Track) Fellow in Cities and Place. Catherine’s research encompasses the intersections of young people, climate justice and education, zeroing in on how children are learning and reacting to climate issues. Catherine shared how she seeks in her research to learn from youth perspectives and uplift their voices. When she first encountered the film, she saw it as an incredibly useful way to centre child and youth perspectives at the Discover Festival. She explained that when it comes to climate change “people are fearful about bringing it up with children”. But the film demonstrates that “talking about climate change is not just necessary, it can also be fun, supportive and intergenerational”. On the day, the screening and Q&A sparked cross-generational curiosity in helping unpack these tricky topics. While adults tended to voice more technical and specific questions to the panel, the backdrop of laughter enabled young audience members to voice their questions with the hopeful curiosity and honesty of a primary school class.
Next up a call with Katy Vanden, a producer at Cap-a-Pie. She explained that the film’s primary purpose was to give the young people they work with a voice on an issue that concerns them. Action is a brilliant antidote for anxiety, and that’s true for all generations! By working with Newcastle University academic Dr Alistair Ford to ensure the script was supported by the facts, the kids had the opportunity for empowerment by their newfound knowledge. Katy noted the shelf-life of the film has been even longer than expected. The project began in 2019 and was first shown in 2021. Covid lockdown became the catalyst for filming what was initially exclusively a stage-show! It’s immortalisation on Youtube has enabled its transformation into a 6-episode resource for any and every-one interested. It’s proved particularly useful in schools, used in the programs of at least 10 partner schools in the Northeast and beyond! The film’s use outside of the classroom with mixed generation audiences (such as at Discover Fest) is incredibly impactful. It seems the climate science is even harder to forget when voiced by those who will be most affected in their lifetime. So, this rare opportunity for adults to get children’s view on a crucial topic is priceless as a call to action.
PINZ (Process Industries Net Zero) is home to an innovative cohort of researchers, paving the way for Net Zero within manufacturing industries. With a project focus on an industry problem in energy, feedstocks, or data, this research community is the first of its kind, collaborating across the Universities of York and Newcastle and working alongside their respective industry partners to drive the seismic shifts in practice required to achieve Net Zero.
I had the privilege of picking the brains of the inaugural cohort. To learn about the origins of their climate-concerned research focus, their highlights so far, and what they deem as the critical skills for future Net Zero leadership.
When and why did you first become interested in pursuing research centred on Net Zero and sustainability?
The origins of interest for these researchers were multi-faceted and diverse. However, some key themes bubbled to the surface of the group’s responses.
Nearly everyone cited a form of environmental educational as the key that unlocked their curiosity. For some it was a university master’s module, for others a previous research project from work or school. For both the space and time to meditate on the poly-problems of climate change proved to be the tipping point that led them to search for solutions.
“I realised I wanted to be more than just part of a project—I wanted to dig deeper, ask bigger questions, and help find long-term solutions. Pursuing a PhD feels like the natural next step.” – Abdul Samad
The other sentiment that really struck a chord with me was their realism concerning the urgency and planetary impact of their research. One researcher candidly shared about their personal lived experience of climate change.
“I was residing in Chennai, India and the city faced a severe drought that led to water rationing during an unusually intense summer. This experience got me thinking about the alarming consequences of climate change and the need for reduced emissions causing harm to the environment.” – Zuhair Ali
Many quoted the desire to see tangible change in the face of intertwined environmental crises as the baseline motivator for their dynamism. An energy that doesn’t confine itself to the theoretical confines of academia.
“I’ve become increasingly focused on sustainability and making more eco-conscious choices in my daily life” – Louise Amor-Seabrooke
What’s been the highlight so far?
Not even one year into the PhD programme, the group had no shortage of engaging experiences and pinpoint moments to share.
Praises were sung of how the wider PINZ team had made the switch to a research-mindset, although a learning-curve, all the easier. A few specified the intensive training that kickstarted the programme as formative to their practice. These workshops laid the foundations of clear communication, out-of-the-box thinking and ethical responsibility for each project.
“The highlight has been learning how to shift my mindset from thinking like a student to thinking like a researcher” – Vaishnavi Jambhokar
An additional stand out was the culture of collaboration. This culture spans universities, researchers, disciplines, industries, business partners, and the cohort itself! Knowledge sharing across networks seems to make up the bedrock of these projects, proving to be invaluable in their problem solving.
What’s going to be the most critical skill for future Net Zero Leaders?
One of the purposes of the PINZ PhD programme is to grow the net zero architects and leaders of tomorrow. Given this group have begun their journey, I wanted to hear their perspectives. What skills do they believe will be integral to the future champions of net zero?
A clear agreement across the cohort was the need for “Systems Thinking”. Researchers were quick to recognise solution finding in an interconnected world requires a deep understanding of the relationships at play. This work isn’t about answering one question in isolation, but instead about understanding a much more intricate tapestry of interrelated issues.
“It requires a fundamental change in how we work” – Ben Chapman
This inevitably demands an intentional focus on interdisciplinary and collaborative working. Clear communication was deemed essential. Not only to fellow researchers, but across industries, communities, governments and more.
“Achieving net zero requires… effectively communicating solutions to diverse audiences” – Abubakar Kuburi
Potentially most challenging on the essential skills list was the ability to imagine and actualise a world we don’t yet have. Building these new imaginaries requires minds so invested and excited by what the world could look like they are unconstrained by the limits of tradition and status quo.
“It could be detrimental to only stand by the ideas you are familiar with and not adapt to the needs of the project” – Beatrice Williams
Lastly, the group emphasised net zero leaders must be in it for the long haul. Recreating our existing systems isn’t for the fainthearted or isolated. Future leaders instead must prioritise being rooted in encouraging community.
“Collaboration is at the heart of the transition to Net Zero. No single person can solve this challenge alone—it requires cooperation and collective action” – Abdul Samad
Are you passionate about the environment and climate change? Sign up to become a climate ambassador!
Funded by a £2 million investment from the Department for Education, the Climate Ambassador programme is delivered in partnership with the University of Reading, EAUC (the Alliance for Sustainability Leadership in Education), and supported by STEM Learning.
The programme exists to support nurseries, schools, colleges, and universities in England to develop and implement Climate Action Plans (CAPs) – enabling all education settings to have a CAP in place by the end of 2025.
What is a Climate Ambassador?
A Climate Ambassador is a volunteer from any background who is passionate about taking action against climate change and making a positive difference in their local schools, communities, and to the planet! You don’t need to be a climate expert to be an ambassador – training and ongoing support are provided. Ambassadors help raise awareness, inspire others, and lead by example, promoting sustainability and environmental responsibility.
As a Climate Ambassador you will have flexibility as to what support you give and how much time you contribute but this includes the opportunity to:
Promote climate action and sustainability across education through collaboration, leadership, and engagement.
Co-develop and implement effective Climate Action Plans (CAPs) with schools and local communities.
Lead eco-initiatives and educational campaigns that inspire participation and long-term behaviour change.
Share insights, experiences and best practices within the network.
The Northeast Hub
To support the programme, regional hubs in each of England’s education regions have been set up so that volunteer ambassadors can be matched with education settings in their area. The Northeast Hub is hosted by Newcastle University and led by Dr Stephen Blenkinsop and Professor Hayley Fowler.
“The Northeast Climate Ambassadors Hub hosted by Newcastle University is excited to be able to draw on the expertise and passion people across our region have for addressing the challenges of climate change. Volunteer ambassadors as well as nurseries, schools and colleges interested in getting support can find out more about all the help the scheme provides from the regional hub at climateambassadors.ne@newcastle.ac.uk.”
Dr Stephen Blenkinsop
Sign up now!
If you are interested in getting involved with the Climate Ambassadors scheme, you can find out more here or sign up here! Volunteers will be provided with free training and support, and be matched to a local nursery, school or college that needs help creating a climate action plan.
Last week, on Monday the 10th of March, the inaugural Women in Sustainability Careers Exploration Workshop took place, in partnership with the official Women in Sustainability Network. Over 35 students were able to reflect, learn and be inspired to explore careers in sustainability-related roles, coached by experts in the field.
At Newcastle University, we support the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – seeking peace and prosperity for all people and the planet now and in the future. The UN SDG group recognise that without the full participation and leadership of women and girls, the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals will be an impossible task (UNSDG website, 2025).
“Women and girls deserve a seat at every table, a voice in every decision, and an equal chance to shape what lies ahead.”
– Amina J. Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General and Chair of the UN Sustainable Development Group
Read on to explore the valuable advice shared by our panellists and to learn about the students’ thoughts and reflections on the event.
The Event
The event was opened by Charlotte and Cristina – two placement students from the Sustainability Team, before handing over to Jenny Davidson. Jenny is a Visiting Fellow at Newcastle University having previously been a Senior Lecturer in the Business School, Climate Change Fellow in School X and Chair of the University’s Sustainability Committee. Jenny chaired the panel session with four inspiring sustainability experts from a variety of fields.
The Panel:
The panellists discussed their passions, career backgrounds, and current topics they deemed most relevant in their roles. Here are some key takeaways from the panel session:
There is not one route into sustainability, and each of our experts studied a variety of subjects at university including languages, geology and environmental management. Working towards a more sustainable world is a group task, and people from all work fields need to get involved. Each panellist had a different interest within sustainability, from teaching and research to consulting.
Experience and perseverance are key! Hannah from AECOM shared that after graduating she had a variety of jobs before landing her graduate sustainability consultant job. Sometimes it’s easy to compare yourself to others, but everyone’s journey is different!
You don’t have to know exactly what you want to do at the start of your career. You can find your passions as you gain more experience in the field and find your speciality.
After the panel session, our experts each joined a breakout table of students, where conversation menus guided the discussions. This format created a relaxed and safe space for students to ask questions, share ideas and reflect on their own aspirations and attributes.
Hannah, a Sustainability Consultant at AECOM, shared valuable advice with the students: “Utilise all the additional (most of the time – free!) services that the university provides to you throughout your studies e.g. dissertation/essay writing services, and these often offer the opportunity for you to work on your thesis with an extra professional who may be a specialist in academic writing – I found this really useful when completing my master’s dissertation”.
Reflecting on the event, Meryl Batchelder, TeachSDGs Ambassador and United Nations-accredited Climate Change Teacher, said, ““It really was a fantastic gathering of young students. I loved talking with them about their hopes (and fears) for the future alongside sharing my lived experience.”
The students were also given a handy “earnings and action plan” sheet where they could record learnings, and tick off actions, such as ‘make one new LinkedIn connection’. The back of the sheet listed a variety of helpful websites and networks to search after the workshop.
The feedback from students has been glowing, highlighting the value of bringing experts from industry into students’ learning.
“I learnt much more than I anticipated. I learnt about so many different backgrounds and different career opportunities. It was amazing to hear such strong, smart women describing their experiences and careers and how they utilised their own failures and got where they are today. I came away feeling brave and strong being a female scientist.”
“I really enjoyed the whole event, and the environment was really friendly and open to discussion. [I learnt] there is no set route into the sustainability industry, but it is important to show your enthusiasm for the subject and follow a career that you feel rewarded in.”
“There’s no right or wrong route to working in sustainability. Say yes to as many opportunities as possible and don’t be afraid to stick to your principles.”
Thank you to Meryl Batchelder, Olivia Partington, Hannah Shepherd and Hayley Fowler for inspiring and talking to our students. A big thank you to Toby Price for putting the event together, and Jenny Davidson for chairing.
This February marks the unveiling of 3 exhibitions across campus, all with something to add to the sustainability conversation. Not sure which to carve into your calendar? Don’t worry! We’ve spoken to the curators responsible to give you a taste of what these displays have to say.
“Sustainable Clay” (Hatton Gallery)
A short chat with Matthew Jarret (the mind behind “Sustainable Clay”) and it was clear to see this display distils the accumulated wisdom of history, alongside many years of conversation, and shifts in the ceramics-sphere.
Combining Newcastle’s ceramics reputation and the growing environmental concerns of artists, Matthew has sculpted together an insightful exhibition. It tells the tale of the plethora of ways these 12 artists (all linked to Newcastle) are seeking to break from tradition by minimising their planetary impact.
The videos that accompany each work are the top glaze of the show. Filmmaker Jason Thompson affords each visitor unique access to sit in the artist’s studio and hear their thought process first hand.
“Everybody owns ceramics… everybody’s got a teapot or a cup or some plates… But we rarely think of where this stuff was mined from, how it was produced, if it was mass produced and the whole environmental footprint” ~ Matthew Jarret
Growing ecological concern is not unique to artists, let alone ceramicists. This exhibition aims to help us all meaningfully confront one arena of overconsumption which, in doing so, enable us to mould a new pattern of consumption that turns down the temperature on our planetary kiln.
Hatton Gallery Sustainable Clay, photo taken by Colin Davison
“Eco-Brutalism” as part of “Concrete Dreams” (Farrell Centre)
Bumping into Owen Hopkins, director of the Farrell Centre, and architect of “Concrete Dreams,” it was impossible to not be intrigued by the network of intersected ideas and concepts that seemed to naturally bubble over in our brief conversation. The exhibition (and its associated talks) creatively articulate these intersectional ties between the built environment, past social imaginaries, and the future narrative of the cityscape.
One talk, juxtaposingly entitled “Eco-Brutalism” seeks to unpack how buildings that starkly embody masses of carbon, could be creatively adapted to mitigate environmental impact. And how the boldness that first conceptualised them could be harnessed to imagine “new brutalisms.”
“New brutalisms… architectures that celebrate low carbon materials and techniques with the same vigour that Brutalism celebrated concrete.” ~ Owen Hopkins
Beyond the planned lectures the exhibition itself offers plenty to spark curiosity, including a city model, built to envision the future of the city. This piece is a favourite, as Owen explains, it “embodies a kind of long-term thinking – and belief in the roles of architecture and planning to reshape the world in positive ways.”
When it comes to joining the sustainability conversation, the Farrell Centre are crystal clear that climate is too all encompassing to relegate to an optional theme. Instead, they look to weave it into every exhibition, inviting visitors to engage with the built environment as a key to reimaging societal change on a large scale.
“SHOAL” (Great North Museum)
The work of Mandy Barker, shown from the 21st of February, is a short series of images, but nonetheless powerful in their ability to cultivate an atmosphere of reflection.
12 images featuring marine plastic debris collected from trawls, net samples, and shoreline between Japan and Hawaii after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami provoke viewers to contemplate the tragedy of environmental disaster, the impact on humanity, and the human propensity to prevent and contribute towards them.
This work is indicative of the programme at Great North Museum. Led by innovative research, no matter the scale of installation, they seek to engage both the team and their guests with the conversations that are cornerstone to building a sustainable future.
On Thursday 28th November, the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences (SNES) hosted SpudFest. With over 1000 visitors, many have labelled it the “best event of the year.” From mini games to research stalls, the Boiler House was transformed into a potato haven. Read on to learn more about the event, its successes and its partners!
NU Farms
As part of their ground-breaking research, SNES has collaborated with NU Farms to drive innovation in plant and crop science. Every year, University farms – Cockle Park Farm and Nafferton Farm – grow tonnes of potatoes for research. When ready for harvest instead of contributing to food waste, SNES generously share their excess potatoes with the university community at SpudFest every year. This year over two tonnes of potatoes were given away!
Image: SpudFest attendees gather around tables, collecting NU Farm potatoes.
Eat@Newcastle
One of the highlights of the day were the complimentary food samples, courtesy of Eat@Newcastle. The spiced wedges and the creamy potato soup were fan favourites, attracting long lines of students and colleagues. In total, 200kg of NU Farm potatoes were used in the catering!
Verti-Tech Innovation Hub for Vertical Farming
At SpudFest, you may have noticed the vertical potato growing in display cases. These are a contribution of the Verti-Tech Innovation Hub, the newest partnership between Newcastle University and Fyto Engineering. Verti-Tech is a scheme that supports sustainable agricultural research and innovation in the heart of Newcastle. Aimed at both the commercial and academic sector, Verti-Tech facilitates growth trials, nutrient testing, LED lighting research, and more!
Image: The Verti-Tech stand, embellished with glass cases of sprouting potatoes.
Newcastle West End Foodbank
The Newcastle West End Foodbank also participated in the event, successfully raising awareness of their cause:
“Thank you for inviting Newcastle Foodbank along to your event last week. We received a generous number of both financial and physical donations, but it was also a wonderful opportunity to meet people and raise awareness of our work.”
All remaining potatoes from the farms were distributed to families in need with the help of Newcastle Food Bank.
Food Waste Awareness
Lastly, the Sustainability Team and Biffa made an impact at SpudFest, raising awareness on food waste issues. The Sustainability Team was especially proud to unveil new food waste caddies – coming soon to a university accommodation kitchen near you. Annita Clark from Biffa shared shocking food waste stats, including the fact that 4.4 million fresh potatoes are thrown away by UK homes every day!
Other highlights of the event included potato caricatures courtesy of Damon, the potato prints station, the presentation on historic potato cultivation, and the potato costumes worn by the enthusiastic SNES team. SpudFest was even featured in an interview on Spice FM, solidifying its status as the trendiest event of the year! We’re already counting down the days till the next SpudFest – long live the humble potato!
Image: (From left to right) The SpudFest celebrations included historic potato presentations, the potato painting station, and fun potato costumes.
I’d like to give a big thank you to the SNES team for organising such a well-thought out and enjoyable event. I would also like to thank Katy Sawyer, for not only leading the SpudFest plans, but for providing me with the statistics and photos for this post. If you want to find out more about the research SNES do, click here.
At Newcastle University, we recognise that the climate crisis must be addressed communally, and we cannot meet the sustainability targets set out in our Climate Action Plan without the efforts of all our colleagues and students.
Green Impact and LEAF are two amazing programmes available for our colleagues at the university, with the opportunity for participants to win bronze, silver, and gold awards for sustainability. Earlier this month, the Environment Awards recognised and celebrated the achievements of our colleagues and students over the past year, with 11 teams receiving Green Impact awards and 10 teams receiving LEAF awards. A massive congratulations to those teams!
So, read on to find out how you can get involved in the next programme of Green Impact or LEAF, and play your part in increasing environmental sustainability on campus!
Green Impact
Green Impact is a United Nations award-winning programme which promotes environmentally and socially sustainable behaviour across organisations. At Newcastle University, colleagues can sign up to Green Impact and create teams within their work area, with actions assigned to complete in the online toolkit. The toolkit is aligned with the UN Sustainability Goals, with themes such as energy, water, waste, travel, biodiversity, communication, and wellbeing.
This is a great opportunity to improve your knowledge on environmental issues and contribute to meaningful sustainable change in your workplace, whilst collecting some awards to display!
Chat to your colleagues in your work area about Green Impact teams and either join one that’s already been created or create a new team.
Email sustainable-campus@newcastle.ac.uk to join the Green Impact Teams channel, and chat to other teams!
Work through your assigned actions. Each action grants a certain number of points which then add up to the bronze, silver, and gold awards.
Our friendly student auditors will come round to check your progress later in the year.
The Environmental Awards will be held in June, with engraved recycled slates for teams that made it to Bronze, Silver, or Gold.
LEAF
Our laboratories are essential in enabling the groundbreaking research conducted at Newcastle University, and scientific research is vital in mitigating the climate crisis. However, traditional laboratory practices can come with unintended environmental impact (Freese et al, 2024).
LEAF, or the Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework, is an online platform for laboratory users designed by UCL to improve the sustainability and efficiency of laboratories. Similar to Green Impact, lab teams work through sustainability actions to reduce waste, water, and energy along with improving the efficiency of other resources. There is an upcoming refresh of the LEAF actions and criteria, so sign up now to be a part of this updated programme.
Image: Diversity of Life Lab Session (Biology & Zoology). Photo Credit: Chris Bishop.
Register with your institutional email, then login and either join an existing lab, or request a new lab (if your lab is not already listed).
After your account is verified, work with your team through the bronze, silver, and gold criteria. Members of the Sustainability Team will assess your progress along the way, and certificates will be awarded at the Environmental Awards!
Every year, progress to a higher certificate, or re-audit to keep your accreditation.
Key dates:
Relaunch of Green Impact on Monday the 11th of November
Criteria Update of LEAF on Monday the 11th of November.
Green Impact Launch Webinar on Thursday the 14th of November, Sign up here.
LEAF teams channels launch on Friday the 1st of November.
Celebrating Success Environmental Awards: June (date to be announced later).
Thank you for reading, and we look forward to welcoming some new teams to Green Impact and LEAF this year!
References
Freese, T., Elzinga, N., Heinemann, M., Lerch, M.M. and Feringa, B.L., 2024. The relevance of sustainable laboratory practices. Rsc Sustainability, 2(5), pp.1300-1336.
The 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as the 29th Conference of the Parties, or COP 29, is set to take place in Baku, Azerbaijan from the 11th – 22nd of November. Conference discussions are expected to centre on themes of climate finance, carbon markets and new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC’s) – the national targets to support climate change commitments that countries must submit in 2025.
This year, we have the opportunity for 10 University representatives to attend the conference virtually. Keep on reading to find out more about being a virtual delegate, and how you can apply!
Image: The venue for this year’s conference- Baku Olympic Stadium in Azerbaijan. Credit: AZTV.
What is an observer?
Newcastle University gained “observer organisation” status with the UNFCCC in 2021 and a delegation of academics, professional services colleagues and student representatives were able to attend COP 26 in Glasgow as a result. Observer organisations can select representatives to attend the annual COP’s both in-person and virtually. This year, for COP 29, all observer organisations have been allocated 10 virtual delegate places – though in-person quotas have been limited.
Observers are chosen from a variety of groups, all expressing unique perspectives on climate change. They fall into one of three groups: United Nations organisations, intergovernmental organisations (IGOs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
NGOs can include:
Youth groups
Trade unions
Farmers
Indigenous communities
Environmental charities
Research organisations including universities.
Gender-equality initiatives
Virtual delegates can access many meetings and events being held at the COP 29 conference, though often this is limited to being able to observe proceedings via a one-way live stream. As well as the main negotiations between Parties to the Convention, COP conferences host hundreds of related side-events, exhibits and meetings every year. Observer organisations can apply to host side-events at the conference and many of this year’s events should be available to view by virtual delegates. Some events may even interact with the online community, allowing you to network with peers and have your say!
More information about observer organisations is available here on the UNFCCC website, and a list of this year’s formal side-events is available here. The list will most likely be updated as the conference nears, so keep checking for new events!
Image: This year’s timetable of themes. Keep this safe when deciding which talks to attend! Credit: UNFCCC.
How can I apply?
This year, we are encouraging both students and colleagues to apply to be a virtual delegate. We will select delegates on a first come, first serve basis. We will also try to ensure a balance of undergraduate students, postgraduate taught students, postgraduate research students, academic colleagues, and colleagues from professional services.
To apply, simply fill out the form below telling us your availability and why you would like to attend. Please note, it is not expected that virtual delegates will commit the whole of their time to the COP – we would encourage our virtual delegates to attend as many events as their commitments will allow.
By filling out the form, you will also consent to helping the Sustainability Team with a follow-up blog or knowledge-sharing activity, describing your experience at COP 29. You will also agree to abide by the UNFCCC Code of Conduct found here.
Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) are key to building sustainable cities and countering the influence of urbanisation. These eco-friendly solutions maintain habitats, support natural cycles, and protect human communities. Since 2023, it is now a legal requirement for all new major developments to include SuDS in their planning.
Newcastle University has great research infrastructure in this area, including the UKCRIC National Green Infrastructure Facility (“the living laboratory”) and the Newcastle Urban Observatory. This blog will explore how SuDS work and their importance, using a current student’s project as a steering guide. Enjoy!
What are SuDS and why are they important?
The main purpose of SuDS is to mimic the natural processes that urbanisation has impeded, i.e. the infiltration of water into the ground. Smaller projects use methods like installing green roofs or rain gardens while large-scale projects use basins and swales (flood ditches).
Check out this helpful video for an in-depth explanation of SuDS, linking their function to the University’s Green Infrastructure Facility:
So, what are the actual benefits of SuDS over traditional drain systems? SuDS are known to:
Decrease risk from flooding
Reduce flood damage costs
Improve water quality
Act as a carbon store
Support biodiverse habitats and animals
Image: Snapshot of a hidden drainage grate among greenery and purple flowers. Demonstrates the contrast between manmade installations and natural stores. Credit: John Donoghue.
“Domestic SuDS Planter: Design, Construction and Evaluation”
During her study, Madeleine Tate found herself drawn to water and flood management, which inspired her MEng dissertation project. Madeleine chose to install and test a sustainable planter box at Kensington Terrace accommodation. The research aim was to combat the issue of increased storm water affecting the residential sector. Kensington Terrace proved to be a perfect location:
“Everyday I go into university I walk past and check on it. It’s quite easy to collect data from.”
Image: Close up photograph of the SuDS planter, showing the pipe diversion, the overlaying gravel, and the blooming plants. Credit: Madeleine Tate.
Madeleine’s planter collects rainwater from the roof and interrupts its flow by slowing it down. The water flow is filtered a variety of soil layers within the planter (see image below for a layer breakdown). After the water has moved through the layers, it passes through a geotextile, finally exiting the planter via an outlet. This outlet deposits water back into the drain system. Thus, the mechanism slows down the journey from roof to drain, giving the traditional system more time to cope. Crucially, this reduces flood and Combined Sewer Overflow risk.
Interestingly, the planter itself was made from a reused intermediate bulk container, which was cut down and repainted. How innovative!
Image: Diagram showing how the planter in Kensington Terrace works. Shows soil layers and step-by-step route of rainwater through the system. Credit: Madeleine Tate.
Project Success
Madeleine’s planter is still in the process of collecting data but has so far proven to be a success! Here we can see a graph comparing inflow levels to outflow levels for rainfall events in May and June 2024. The orange outflow dataset is consistently lower than the blue inflow dataset, by up to 75%. This mirrors the slow pace of the flow travelling through the soil layers.
Image: A graph tracking water inflow and outflow in the planter for events from May 1st – June 19th. Credit: Madeleine Tate.
The Future of Planters and SuDS
Due to its success, the planter installation will remain at Kensington Terrace and will continue to produce meaningful data. Madeleine is now in the process of starting her PhD, looking at how these planters can be scaled up. She is collaborating with Newcastle City Council to project datasets, visualising a city where these planters are installed in all houses and drainpipes. In what Madeleine deems the “snowballing effect,” this initial planter innovation will open the door for more similar schemes:
“The future should bring more research; more use and more awareness”
As the threat of climate change becomes more imminent, SuDS and modelling wide-scale integration will prove to be an important tool for risk prevention. If no action is taken, water systems are bound to collapse due to heavier rainfall.
I would like to thank Madeleine Tate for her extensive help and her informative graphics. She ensured that my first post on the sustainability blog was both inspiring and educational! For more information about the UKCRIC National Green Infrastructure Facility, click here. If you are interested in learning what Sustainable Campus are doing for water management, click here.
Completed in June 2021, the _OME is the flagship research and showcasing facility of the Hub for Biotechnology in the Built Environment (HBBE), an innovative research partnership set up between Newcastle and Northumbria Universities. With funding from Research England, the HBBE combines expertise in biosciences, design, architecture, and engineering to advance cutting edge research on biotechnology. As part of this, the team, now made up of nearly seventy researchers and support staff (HBBE, 2022), are constantly testing ways to improve the health and sustainability of our homes by researching everything from controlling the spread of pathogens to innovating on sustainable technologies. This diverse and hugely beneficial work is centred on the state of the art _OME facility, so how exactly are these exciting projects designing the living spaces of the future?
Image: a front elevation showing the interior spaces of the _OME and their uses, including the experimental apartment, biotechnology laboratory, and testing/showcasing spaces for new technologies. Credit: Armand Agraviador.
Located on Devonshire walk, next to the Great North Museum: Hancock and the Devonshire and Drummond buildings, the _OME houses an in-house experimental apartment, accompanying laboratory, and display space for innovative materials and technologies. The HBBE’s research is organised into four key themes and utilises concepts including the genome, biomes, and home, hence the name: _OME. The four research themes being undertaken in the facility touch on a variety of repurposed, improved, and novel technologies and practices to lower carbon footprints and keep us healthy by design. So what do they all involve?
Theme 1: Building Metabolism
The first theme focusses on building-wide methods to achieve a higher degree of sustainable self-sufficiency by creating an artificial ‘metabolism’ in the structure and systems of the house itself. Practical examples of how this metabolism works include generating renewable electricity on site via solar panels on the building’s roof and utilising greywater to lower water use by, for example, reusing water from sinks or the shower to flush the toilet. Additionally, other technologies being woven into this metabolism include rainwater harvesting from the roof gutters and developing waste handling systems within homes that can deal with waste on site and even generate heat and other useful resources from it! When combined, these technologies could work to maintain a living space with a fraction of the energy and water requirements of a standard home, helping to save on both carbon and bills!
Theme 2: Living Construction
The construction sector is a major emitter of carbon globally and commonly used materials including steel and concrete require an awful lot of energy to produce (Wang and Ramakrishnan, 2021), leading to homes with high embodied emissions. Thankfully, lower carbon materials, including cross-laminated timber, are becoming more commonly used (Ahmed et al., 2024), but researchers at the HBBE are looking to advance construction even further by developing intelligent materials. The focus of this research sits squarely on bio-materials, including biominerals, biopolymers, and hygromorphs, which promise not only to lower embodied emission further, but also to offer other advantages. One exciting potential feature of these biomaterials would be to respond to certain stimuli and regrow their structures when damaged – creating self-repairing buildings! These innovations would further add to the construction sector’s arsenal of sustainable building techniques, giving architects more tools to create buildings that are good for both people and planet.
Image: a view of the side and main façade of the _OME laboratory, exhibition space, and experimental apartment. The apartment is located in the central upper floor section, behind the large opening for natural light. Credit: Professor Ben Bridgens.
Theme 3: Microbial Environments
The third theme touches on the _OME’s creation mid-way through the Covid 19 pandemic. Here, research teams are designing homes to better support healthy microbiomes and passively reduce the spread of illnesses, including pandemics. Proposed technologies for achieving this include smart ventilation, antimicrobial materials, and advanced microbiome monitoring systems to better understand what’s going on in the home. Not only will these innovations improve people’s health, but they could also reduce the environmental costs of dealing with illnesses and epidemics (see our sustainable medicine blog here) by creating environments that are far better at handling these issues by design.
Theme 4: Responsible Interactions
As seen previously, the HBBE is working on a variety of innovative technologies, but implementation of these isn’t always smooth sailing. To help ease biotechnologies’ transition from research to widespread use, therefore, researchers are investigating a variety of potential potholes, from accessibility concerns to unintended environmental effects. Additionally, ensuring these new technologies can seamlessly integrate with existing practices and standards, and making sure that people are culturally on board to accept innovations such as biomaterials, remains an important challenge. The _OME is major part of the solution here, as novel technologies can be tested out in the living laboratory and new materials can be shown off to unsure potential adopters, helping to tackle challenges before they become significant issues.
Thank you to the amazing HBBE team for their innovative work and their dedication to improving the sustainability of our built environment. Upon its completion in 2021, the _OME joined a series of Living Labs associated with Newcastle University across campus and elsewhere. These facilities look to continually generate high quality research and data as part of their site’s design (often while being used for a variety of other useful purposes) and you can learn more about them here. Additionally, further information on the HBBE’s activities, including its publications and additional research groups, can be found here. If you’d like to find out more about sustainability at Newcastle University, you can explore our website and other pieces in this blog, and sign up to our newsletter here.
References
Ahmed, S., Dharmapalan, V., and Jin, Z. (2024) ‘A Subject Review on the Use of Mass Timber in the US Construction Industry’, Construction Research Congress 2024: Sustainability, Resilience, Infrastructure Systems, and Materials Design in Construction. pp. 287-295.
Dixon, T., Connaughton, J., Green, S., (eds) (2018) Sustainable Futures in the Built Environment to 2050: A Foresight Approach to Construction and Development. Hoboken: Wiley-Blackwell.
