A message from our sustainability officer:

Thank you so much to everyone who got involved with sustainability at Queen Mary this year. It’s not been the easiest year on the climate change front, but this has not stopped people from remaining enthusiastic and motivated.

It feels wonderful to be able to recognise people’s hard work and commitment, from helping to clean the canal running through Mile End campus, to lobbying the university to declare a climate emergency. It has been so great to see all the ways that people have helped make a difference.

It’s been so nice to meet so many lovely people this year who are all worthy of recognition, and I’ve had the best year working with you all. Thank you to everyone who was nominated and to those who nominated someone.

Lizzie Hunter
Sustainability Officer

✩ Sustainability Champion of the Year

This award seeks to recognise outstanding volunteering performance and commitment to sustainability through volunteering activity, campaigning or other initiatives.

Nominees:
  • QMULBC
  • Amelia Kaminski
  • Caley Stonestreet
  • Adam Mitchell
  • Stephanie Onamade
  • Finely Wright

Winner: Adam Mitchell & Stephanie Onamade

Adam is the president of Sustain at BL, a new student society aiming to increase awareness of local and global environmental issues at BL to empower students. This year Adam has pioneered particularly creative responses to the climate crisis including creating a marketplace for students to swap items, organising effective Climate Clinics seeking to work through many of the key environmental issues and even tackling the crisis through the medium of his drag alter ego Gaia Frayed for LGBT+ History Month.

Stephanie is a worthy winner of Sustainability Champion 2020. She has worked unbelievably hard this year to lobby the university to do more to tackle the climate crisis and has helped lead endless meetings and events, including the September climate strike. She has also played a key role in promoting sustainability in the wider community, working with Tower Hamlets Climate Strike Support. So much wouldn’t have been able to happen without her this year and she is an inspirational climate activist.

✩ Sustainable Student Group of the Year

This award aims to recognise the student group who have gone above and beyond to embed sustainability in their activities this year through championing environmental causes and considering the environmental impact of their activities.

Nominees:
  • Queen Mary Fashion Society
  • Queen Mary Boat Club
  • Queen Mary Theatre Company
  • QM Zoological Society
  • European Law Students Association

Winner: Queen Mary Fashion Society

Fashion Society organised and ran a clothes swap where over 300 items were donated, helping to reduce fashion waste and promote sustainable fashion alternatives. Following this they’ve run a DIY workshop to promote giving new life to new clothes and discussed the challenges of fast fashion on their blog.

✩ Sustainable Idea of the Year

Winner: Bring your Own Cups

The bring your own cups initiative championed by sports teams at BLSA including Women’s Hockey and Netball and supported by the cup-washing prowess of our VP Barts and the London Megan, has seen thousands of single-use plastic cups saved from landfill at sports nights over at the Griff Inn in Whitechapel.