Student Sustainability Research Conference 2023

The 2023 Student Sustainability Research Conference (SSRC) takes place on Wednesday 22 February in Parkinson Court at the University of Leeds.

The conference is back in person after two years of being online. For the first time it is open to students from 12 higher education institutions across Yorkshire, making the event more inclusive and collaborative than ever before.

It offers students the opportunity to share, learn and be inspired by each other. The day will feature a mix of presentations, performances and exhibitions showcasing research at all levels.

Reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of sustainability, the conference will address all aspects of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a particular focus on the themes of Climate Resilience and Adaptation; Net Zero Carbon; Justice, Equality, and Inclusivity; and Protection of Nature and Biodiversity.

These four themes align with the aims of the Yorkshire and Humberside Climate Commission Climate Action Plan. Regional collaboration is vital to the YHCC Climate Action Plan, and core to the Supporting a Net Zero City commitments of the University of Leeds Climate Plan.

Tickets to attend the conference are free and are available to book on Eventbrite. 

The conference is open to all – students, staff or members of the public, so feel free to invite your friends and family!

Each institution taking part has a dedicated allocation of tickets, and those based outside Leeds will also be arranging free transport. Please get in touch with your institution directly to access these tickets and transport information.

We encourage all attendees to travel to the conference by walking, cycling, using public transport or shared transport. The Parkinson Building is located approximately 1 mile from Leeds’ railway and bus stations and is easy to reach on foot or by local bus. Cycle racks and showers are available on campus if needed.

As part of our University Climate Plan we are working to make this our first carbon neutral conference. We are measuring and taking action to reduce the carbon emissions associated with each element of the event, including energy, catering and transport. The emissions associated with the event will be balanced using academically verified offsetting projects to deliver carbon neutrality.

Your support in achieving this is valued – for example, on booking your ticket to attend the conference you will be asked to input the start point for your journey and how you intend to travel. This will allow us to calculate the carbon impact of your journey.

The Student Sustainability Research Conference will in effect act as a ‘Living Lab’ to test approaches to reducing the emissions associated with events. We will be sharing what we learn from this process across the University of Leeds and with wider partners, to inform future events.