What is it?
The Environmental Action Network is comprised of termly meetings at each of the University of Brighton's six sites - with Moulsecoomb split into two -
Grand Parade • Mithras House • Cockroft & Watts • Falmer
Eastbourne • University Centre Hastings • Hollingbury
Check the dates for upcoming meetings!
Purpose
The EAN is for academic and support staff, together with students, to meet, discuss and plan how to ‘green’ their immediate environment at the University as well as think about broader sustainable development issues.
In the 2008-09 academic year, the Environmental Action Network has made significant advances in becoming
a force for change within the university.
Grassroots Action
The EAN meetings focus upon developing plans for grassroots action stemming from staff and student experience. The amount of initiatives has greatly increased over the past year... participating will make you realise your capacity as an agent of change within the University.
EAN-led initiatives include:
- 'Celebrating our Environment' Event at Falmer to bring staff and students toegether around thew New Checkland Building and highlight the importance of sustainability in all our behaviours
- Creating a Biodiversity Action Plan for the University of Brighton as well as individual Biodiversity Action Plans for Eastbourne ~ Falmer ~ Grand Parade ~ Moulsecoomb ~ Varley
- Water fountains installed at Eastbourne to reduce bottled water use
- 'safe cycling map' created for the Falmer campus
- Sustainability rambles take place at Falmer and Moulsecoomb, giving staff and students an opportunity to discover the biodiversity and sustainability features in their area, exercise, and meet new people.
- Cockroft/Watts EAN suggested that taps were running too long in bathrooms. This lead Estates to discover that the taps were faulty, and they have arranged for the taps to be replaced. This will lead to increased water and energy savings.
- Grand Parade have improved their recycling facilities for arts materials.
- Cockroft/Watts EAN have initiated several energy, paper and waste campaigns including - auto-monitor switch off in CMIS pool rooms, a double sided printing campaign, and student-led development of new recycling posters to be placed above bins.
- Eastbourne EAN have developed a composting system for staff use. The compost is used in a local gardening project for unemployed people.
- Falmer EAN are planning a 'sustainable development launch' for the new Checkland Building.
Broader Change
These Networks are also a forum for channeling suggestions and requests on broader initiatives to the Sustainable Development Policy Management Group (SDPMG). Initiatives that extend beyond the scope of grassroots action such as new builds, curriculum ideas and transport plans are then discussed by the SDPMG which takes action where possible and feeds back to the EAN groups.
EANs are considered University business.
Who attends?
The meetings are open to the entire University community - and sometimes include people in from other sites or outside the university who can inform attendees of sustainability initiatives operating at a wider level.
To find out about the next meeting at your site, please contact Elona Hoover.
All EAN meeting minutes can be found on staffcentral.
You can also check out the EAN blog on Community @ Brighton |
