Big Green Gathering

Tuesday 8 March signalled the long awaited arrival of the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences’ very first sustainability festival called The Big Green Gathering. With activities spread across the University’s campus and open to all staff and students it proved to be an eventful day.

In the Alan Turing Building, to raise awareness of what can and can’t be recycled on campus, a can-crushing competition saw records broken with the winner crunching 10 cans in an incredible 3.67 seconds. Meanwhile, the Renold Building played host to multiple events: spirited discussions covering a range of energy related subjects unfolded at the DebaTED talks; those who had used sustainable travel on the day enjoyed a free breakfast at the Enigma Café; Greater Manchester Travel Advisors suggested sustainable travel alternatives; Friends of the Earth helped people to pedal their way to fresh fruit smoothies; and the Sustainable Research Poster Competition drew a large crowd.

In the Sackville Street Building, the entrance hall held a very successful staff-only Sustainable Procurement Fair where staff members met University suppliers and discussed available sustainable options.

Finally, the clothes swap, held in the Barnes Wallis Student Hub, proved the most popular event by far; it boasted a huge selection of clothes and a great many visitors. The Manchester Royal Infirmary and Lifeshare received leftover adult clothes for homeless people in Manchester, and the Wood Street Mission received any clothes for children and young people. You can find out more on this student blog.

Daniele Atkinson, Social Responsibility Manager in the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, said: “The day was both fun and absorbing and gave those staff and students interested in sustainability, the chance to network and involve themselves in a variety of enjoyable activities.”