Sustainability Research Network
Reflections on a Student-Led Initiative at the
University of Nottingham
Sarah Glozer | Georgina Wood | Eleanor Hadley Kershaw
Student Action for Sustainability Conference, 29th-30th October 2013, Keele University
Context
Eleanor
Sociology
Georgina
Geography
Sarah
Business
Jenny
Architecture
Sustainability
Orla
Bioscience
Identifying the gap
 ‘Pockets’ of sustainability
research taking place at UoN
 Sustainability is an interdisciplinary subject area
 PGRs / ECRs are keen to share
ideas
 Sustainability teaching and
learning - key focus for UoN
Need: Network to bring together
PGRs / ECRs with an interest in
sustainability
May 2013: SRN is born
Facilitate
sustainability
knowledge exchange
Promote
interdisciplinary
collaboration and
discussion
Raise awareness of
opportunities at UoN
and beyond
Support the quality and
visibility of sustainability
research at UoN
SRN Today: Key Stats
 No. of Members: 50+
 No. of Depts represented: 22
 No. of events held: 6
 No. of events in pipeline: 2
 Funds awarded: £1215
 Communication:




Email (50)
Twitter (101)
Facebook (38)
Blog (138)
“I’m delighted to see the birth
of this network and I’m
looking forward to seeing
how it grows,” [Lecturer]
Key Milestones
Sarah &
Georgie meet
Funding
applications
Nov
2011
Oct
2012
Jan
2013
SRN launch
Feb-April
2013
May
2013
June
2013
July
2013
Eleanor,
Planning meeting
Jenny & Orla
& Mission
come on
statement
board
Establish SRN: name, logo,
email, social media,
contacts, event planning,
funding awarded
Aug
2013
Sept
2013
Oct
2013
Nov
2013
Dec
2013
2014
What have we learnt?
Learning 1: Think strategically
Sustainability, Society
& You (MOOC)
Launching 06/01/2014
 Develop relationships with senior stakeholders
 Make alliances with helpful contacts (Graduate School)
 Support UoN sustainability and research priorities
 Discover related societies / research groups / initiatives
 Teaching: ‘NOOCs’ and MOOCs
Learning 2: Listen to your members
 “The opportunity to
gain a different
perspective on own
research”
 “Create networks with
external organisations”
 “Connections between
scientists and those
studying the impacts of
sustainable solutions”
 “Advising the UK
government,”
“Influencing the cares
of the next generation”
" Topics such as Sustainability
often generate general
positive discussion (who can
argue about saving the
planet) but I’d like to see us
discuss some more negative
issues… why do people focus
on the “easy” activities (e.g.
recycling) rather than on more
dramatic lifestyle changes
(e.g. cooking for themselves)?”
[SRN Member]
Learning 3: Be true to who you are
 Established society vs. organic network
 Formal commitment vs. Flexibility?
 Face to face meetings vs. working online?
 Focus upon driving the network, whilst
understanding individual workloads
 Believe in your research field, but keep your
mind open and respect the work of others
Learning 4: Play to your skills
Learning 5: Set aside some time
 Don’t underestimate the time
commitment….
 Managing Email Inbox
 Contacting speakers
 Booking rooms
 Updating social media
 Constant recruitment focus
 Funding applications
 Meetings
 Special requests
 Event planning
 Attending events
 ….
Where do we go from here?
 Extend to international campuses (China & Malaysia)?
 Develop regional network outside of UoN?
 Establish Advisory Board?
 Recruit new committee members?
 Provide alumni support?
 Invite interest from MBA, MSc cohort?
 Do you have any suggestions?
?
Sustainability Research Network
Our 5 key learnings…
1. Think strategically
2. Listen to your members
3. Be true to who you are
4. Play to your skills
5. Set aside some time
Please continue the
conversation
sresearchnet.wordpress.com
@sresearchnet
Sustainability Research
Network
SRN@nottingham.ac.uk
Sarah, Georgie, Eleanor & Jenny
Thank you for listening…
…Any Questions?