Group 3 - Green Cities Sustainability

@greencities_unic

GROUP 3 GREEN CITIES SUSTAINABILITY UCC PROBLEM

Engaging Local Communities in Biodiversity Conservation and Restortion Effort

Orla Leahy & Paula Rincón

Introduction

Empathise Our User What’s biodiversity?

Animals and flowers?

Ehh? Resources ???

Andrea 25 years old Arts student at University Very little exercised awareness of local biodiversity

Empathise Our User University Students

University Staff

Local Community

Define What is our Challenge?

TARGET MARKET Universities - Students & Staff

TARGET AREA Local Biodiversity

TARGET BREADTH To create a ripple effect beginning within the local community & spanning across communities based upon the concept of ‘pay it forward’

TARGET RESULT Increased Engagement

What initiatives can we take across all universities, beginning with those involved in UNIC, to encourage increased engagement by students & staff in local biodiversity?

Ideate

Approach Survey Shared with our Network - Students & Lawyers QUESTIONS FROM CASE STUDY AS A BASE

Example - how do you think universities, students and staff can support citizens and communities to engage in practical bio-diversity actions?

KEY FINDINGS 1. General consensus that universities pave the way for communities to take collective action 2. Meetings amongst stakeholders drive action 3. Information & funding are pivotal to success 4. Students desire the creation of extracurricular and alternative study options linked to biodiversity that will drive action 5. Respondents believe that the development of workshops & platforms for individuals to share ideas will ensure action is community based

Instagram

@greencities_unic

Identification of the…

Biggest Issues: Lack of knowledge Lack of sensitivity & awareness Lack of community bond between students, staff, & community Finance Key Areas for Development: Education Outdoor community based activity Food & beverages’ link with biodiversity

3 Core Ideas: 1. Mandatory biodiversity recovery & individual waste management class 2. Meadow management training for residents of student accommodation, styled by the residents, for the residents 3. Requirement to educate university stakeholders on the impact of meals to biodiversity

Prototype Overall Benefits Increased awareness about biodiversity amongst university stakeholders Stronger connection between the community & the local environment Real world knowledge applicable to daily life Each initiative is unique & it is likely that some aspect will resonate with everyone Each initiative can grow and develop from community to community Tackles the current lack of knowledge about biodiversity, which is one of the biggest causes of damage to ecosystems & biodiversity as a whole

Prototype Benchmark Results Solution 1 - Mandatory biodiversity recovery & individual waste management class

Findings

Optional courses within universities, e.g.

UCC’s UW0005 Complete university programmes such as the USA & Austria’s joint MSc. in Environmental Sciences & Policy Massive Open Online Courses Short courses via study portals Mandatory staff training such as in Swansea University

Conclusion The increasing availability of optional courses and training programmes on the environment & biodiversity shows the potential interest and strength of a mandatory course that would provide essential education

Test Acceptance and attendance Willingness of participate Applicability to all students and staff levels

Solution 1 MANDATORY COURSE Introduction to Biodiversity

Week 1

Energy as a Resource

Week 2

Water as a Resource

Week 3

Individual Waste Management Introduction to Meadow Management Food & Beverage Consumption &

Week 6 Weeks 7-8

Biodiversity 1 Person Can Make a Difference Presentations

Weeks 4-5

Week 9 Week 10

Presented to the students, approved, & further developed to include meadow management

Solution 1 To introduce a mandatory module for all UG students on biodiversity Taught by university staff PG students may take it as an elective or audit it Worth 5 ECTS Credits & Digital Badge Appears on Transcript Begin with universities passionate about positive change, then roll out to other universities Community involvement aspect - teach younger generations about biodiversity to earn awards Students must complete it in their first year at the university Presentation in week 10 & reflective essay due afterward Module taught in such a way that student wellbeing is central

Prototype

Benchmark Results Solution 2 - Meadow management training for residents of student accommodation, styled by the residents for the residents

Findings Short meadow management training courses such as the Sustainability Centre’s 6 hour courses, costing £75, which are currently sold out Greater quantity of community gardens in recent years, such as in cities and universities Concept of utilising any available space to develop a green space, e.g. roof gardens or vertical gardens in dense urban space

Conclusion

There is an increasing trend towards harnessing space to develop green spaces, and to interact with local wildlife & nature. The fact that an expensive course sells out shows society’s interest in attending training on this concept.

Test

Funding Willingness to join Time and space to develop a meadow

Solution 2 To make meadow management/ gardening training available to all students and staff across the university To establish, or to improve upon the preexisting, community garden for students & staff to engage with

Prototype Benchmark Results Solution 3 -Requirement to educate university stakeholders on the impact of meals to biodiversity

Findings Slow development towards a more biodiversity friendly dining experience resources including books on biodiversity & nutrition, and webpages such as Chef’s Collaborative, are available to staff Restaurants such as the Food Brother in Germany highlight the origins of their food Food traceability initiatives and increased signage on packaging

Conclusion

In an age where diets are changing, and where consumers have greater access than ever before to alternative cuisine, chefs and other culinary staff are leaning towards increased accountability for their actions. Our proposed solution would support increased accountability, and appeal to consumers’ trends.

Test

Difficult to put in place Funding Enforcement

Solution 3 To train university campus restaurant / canteen staff on biodiversity conservation and restoration This training would positively impact the menu in the restaurant/canteen to ensure that local biodiversity is preserved and would truthfully inform consumers about the "footprint" Similar to the allergens page in the menu, a page on the impact of the food and beverage choices on biodiversity would be included

Final Solution University

/ Students / / \

1) Mandatory class

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/

Staff

2) Meadow Management/Garden Training

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3) Biodiversity Friendly Menus

What initiatives can we take across all universities, beginning with those involved in UNIC, to encourage increased engagement by students & staff in local biodiversity?

Conclusion Design Thinking Process

Benefits Fostered a new way of developing ideas Constructive method of harnessing the most impactful ideas that will be applicable to our future

More open minded to fresh perspectives from different backgrounds

Challenges Challenging to narrow down & define our user

It can be challenging to ensure adequate consideration of all stakeholders’ backgrounds

! s o t i i K k n a h T ! u ! o y