Our new interdisciplinary Sustainability and Resilience Institute (SRI) has welcomed more than 100 colleagues from around the University to its launch meeting on 1 November.
The SRI team, L to R. Simon Kemp, SRI Deputy Director, Ellie Pun, SRI coordinator, Lindsay-Marie Armstrong, SRI Deputy Director, Alice Brock, SDG Officer, Craig Hutton, SRI Director, Jon Lawn, SRI Collaboration Manager, Grace Compton, Specialist Policy Officer, Louise Payne, SRI Comms and Marketing Manager
Opening the session, President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Mark E. Smith said the University was committed to the development of this interdisciplinary research centre, based around sustainability and resilience and emphasized that sustainability needed to be in the fabric of how we behave as an institution.
One of the two Deputy Directors of the SRI, Lindsay-Marie Armstrong said:
“It was fantastic to see such a diverse room of attendees, spanning Faculties, schools and professional services, with representation from academia, technical support and enterprise.
The questions we were asked during the panel, and the insightful discussions after the event, reiterated the collective recognition among colleagues that we need to prioritise collaboration to accelerate our drive towards a sustainable and resilient future.”
Two examples of projects made possible through seed funding from the SRI were announced at the event: a new training centre aimed at developing artificial intelligence to tackle climate change and a study into eco anxiety.
A launch event specifically for student involvement with the Institute will take place in the new year.
Watch a recording of the launch.
You can read more about the launch and hear from key members of the SRI in the December issue of Staff Matters, and there’s further information about the new centre for AI in Sustainability in November’s Staff Matters.