ATLANTIC TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE
Atlantic TU Transitions towards a
Climate Action University On April 6, over 80 staff and students from across our eight campuses attended a virtual conference to discuss ATU’s sustainability ambitions and goals. Panellists included staff and students from Galway, Mayo, Donegal and Sligo and reflected on how our individual experiences and unique skillsets can be brought together to drive our commitment to sustainability leadership and climate action. The event was chaired by Dr Orla Flynn. Panellists included Dr Mark Kelly, Fiona Britton, Mary Daly, Dr Frances Lucy, Dr Deirdre Garvey, Lynda Huxley and Emily McGroary.
ATU has the strength and capacity to innovate and be leaders in the sustainability space.
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Dr Flynn opened the discussion and said: “The call to arms is never more important than now. We need to work together and be outward-looking beyond our campus gates.” Dr Deirdre Garvey (Head of Department, Environmental Humanities and Social Sciences, ATU Mayo) said: “We have a great opportunity as a regional university to mobilise our students to be active and informed citizens and provide regional leadership. We can create and design a future we want in this region.”
Green Campus Committees All ATU campuses actively participate in the Green Campus programme run by An Taisce. The Green Campus committees on each campus are a vehicle to encourage our students to get involved in addressing climate change. Emily McGroary, (Students' Union Vice-President for Mayo Campus) urged all students interested to join one of the Green Campus Committees. Fiona Britton (Sustainability Officer, ATU Sligo) said: Our students are facing a different and uncertain future. We have a duty of care to them to prepare for the challenges ahead. Embedding sustainability in our core values gives us more opportunity to be creative in how we respond to the climate challenge.”
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Issue One May 2022
Retired member of staff Lynda Huxley, spoke about her work with the Green Campus Committee on the Mayo campus. She was instrumental in the Mayo campus becoming the first Institute of Technology campus in the world to achieve Green Flag designation.
