Two of the University’s sustainability champions have been honoured in this year’s Green Gown Awards.
Professor Simon Kemp, Professorial Fellow in Education for Sustainable Development within Engineering and the Environment, won the Sustainability Professional Award with recent graduate Emily Haggett, taking the Research and Development Student honour.
Professor Kemp has helped transform sustainability at the University and has led significant change across the Higher Education sector. His passion for sustainability education has made a positive impact on over 1,800 students from across the University through numerous sustainability modules and research projects and a further 1,000 students through various Sustainability Action projects.
He said he was thrilled to win the Sustainability Professional Award:
“This award recognises the work of all my colleagues at the Centre for Environmental Science (both staff and students), through our quest to jointly deliver an exceptional learning experience that enables our students to thrive in the workplace, whilst making a positive contribution to solving the world’s problems.”
“I get enormous satisfaction from taking a partnership approach to sustainability education by placing our students at the heart of all teaching, assessment, university events and community collaborations, so it is especially great to receive an award alongside Emily.”
Emily’s novel research examined a highly important and emerging issue of microplastics in the marine environment and the possible consequences for the human food chain. Her work is already benefitting other postgraduate researchers and academics and she’s now developing her skills as a Plastic Free Coastlines Project Officer for Surfers Against Sewage.
“It’s fantastic to have your hard work pay off and be acknowledged through a prestigious award like this but it’s even more exciting to expand people’s knowledge about microplastics and raise awareness about marine plastic pollution,” said Emily.
“I would like to say a massive thank you to the whole Environmental Science department at the University of Southampton, as it’s really down to their energy and commitment throughout my degree programme (MEnvSci Environmental Science) that I have been so inspired to research into and pursue a career in sustainability. I hope this award will help to continue driving forward the environmental aspirations at the University.”
Established in 2004, the Green Gown Awards recognise the exceptional sustainability initiatives being undertaken by universities and colleges. Administered by the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges, the Awards have become established as the most prestigious recognition of best practice within the sector.
Click on the names to watch a short film on the work that led to Professor Kemp and Emily winning their respective awards.
