Student Sustainability Research Conference 2021

Building knowledge of sustainability is fundamental to our teaching strategy here at Leeds, and we are committed to giving opportunities to students to take part in activities to promote sustainability.

The annual University of Leeds Student Sustainability Research Conference allows students at all levels and across all disciplines to showcase their sustainability-themed research, projects, performances and installations.

This year’s conference will be taking place on Wednesday 9th June 2021 and is a great way to share ideas and creates opportunities to develop innovative solutions to sustainability challenges with like-minded students.

The theme of this year’s conference is Leaving No One Behind, one of the guiding principles behind the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The SDGs include zero hunger, good health and wellbeing, and gender equality. These goals are more difficult to reach for low- and middle-income countries, which are predominantly situated in the Global South and often have the least resources. Within the generally more affluent Global North, there is great disparity in the impact of these issues within and across populations. The SDGs can only be reached if we reduce inequality and so we would like you to think about how your project or research can be applied to reduce inequalities.

All topics linked to sustainability are welcome and applications that reflect and/or contribute to promoting elements of social equity and their intersections with climate and with each other (gender equity, LGBTQ+ equity, disability justice, Indigenous rights, migrant rights, worker rights, intergenerational equity, etc.) are strongly encouraged.

Further details including registration links will be posted here in due course. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to be notified when these go live!

1. To apply you must be currently enrolled as a University of Leeds student (undergraduate, postgraduate taught, postgraduate research, PhD) or be a University of Leeds Alumni.

2. Sessions of complete and ‘in progress’ research projects are accepted. Your work does not have to be finished or in its final stages, however it should have clear aims and have a positive sustainability impact.

3. Work conducted in groups can also be presented. Please be sure to note this in your application.

4. All applicants are strongly encouraged to produce an electronic academic poster. This is a fantastic opportunity to practice your visual communication skills, as well as helping you to demonstrate your ideas and to answer questions around your topic area.

6. Following the launch of the University’s #2023PlasticFree campaign, we encourage submissions of applications on the topic of the impacts of single-use plastics and single-use plastic-free solutions or alternatives. Please note that we do not allow the use of single-use plastic items in any of the sessions, workshops, or performances.

7. Submissions of performances, art pieces and practical demonstrations are strongly encouraged. Please provide additional details in the space provided on the conference application form about your submission and any requirements, to carry these out virtually.

8. If you are hosting a live virtual workshop, you must be available for the conference event on Wednesday 9th June 2021 between 9:00am – 4:30pm.