New academic lead for environmental sustainability

Professor Amanda Bamford is announced as the University’s academic lead for environmental sustainability.

In a joint appointment with Professor James Evans, Faculty of Humanities; Professor Amanda Bamford, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, will work with the Office for Social Responsibility and the University environmental sustainability team, to provide academic leadership, collaboration and direction on driving environmental sustainability across education, research, business strategy and operations.

Amanda was previously the Associate Dean for Social Responsibility within the Faculty of Life Sciences and is currently the chair of the University’s Living Campus group which oversees and implements the University’s biodiversity targets and develops elements of the University’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy.

Commenting on her new position Amanda said: “Looking after our environment and behaving sustainably is something we must do. In the past I have carried out research in the areas of air pollution, food security and climate change, all topics of key global importance. I now relish the opportunity to support and encourage the next generation of global citizens.”

Projects that Amanda has developed have already had a positive environmental impact, including creating a citizen science urban biodiversity mapping app (UMAPIT) and working with the National Trust on biomonitoring workshops. She also works on international projects, collaborating with Andrew Gray from Manchester Museum, on environmental education around biodiversity and habitat loss with local communities in Panama and Costa Rica.

Amanda says: “I look forward to championing environmental sustainability. Greater Manchester has a great opportunity become a world-leader in sustainability and the University can play a key role in the way forward.’’