Students from The St Marylebone CE School visit University’s Cavendish Living Lab to learn about sustainability

The Cavendish Living Lab is a Quintin Hogg Trust-funded sustainability project by the Sustainable Biotechnology Research Group co-led by Dr Pooja Basnett, Dr Linda Percy and Dr Dipankar Sengupta, Senior Lecturers of the Biological Sciences BSc Honours course. It is vertically and horizontally integrated, meaning that students from all academic levels and any academic discipline can be involved in this project. Students from the Cavendish Living Lab delivered an interactive workshop on food and fashion sustainability. During the engaging session, the young ambassadors witnessed sustainability in action through live demonstrations and hands-on activities.

The students learned about hydroponic systems, which allow plants to grow without soil. They got hands-on experience assembling and operating these hydroponic setups. The Cavendish Living Lab also introduced the students to their circular food model. This sustainable approach involves composting food waste on-site and using the nutrient-rich compost to grow more food. The students were amazed to see how waste could be transformed into a valuable resource. The highlight of the workshop was when the students got to harvest a bumper crop of garlic.

Students also learned about the effects of the fast fashion industry and the global production of textile waste each year. To demonstrate an innovative solution, the students from the Cavendish Living Lab showcased costumes made from sustainable materials produced through kombucha fermentation. The young environmental ambassadors were excited to see this eco-friendly material transformed into a garment. By exploring sustainable fashion alongside urban farming, the workshop provided students with a broader understanding of the need for a circular economy and the role they can play in creating a more sustainable future.

Dr Pooja Basnett said: "At Cavendish Living Lab, we believe in empowering the next generation to be champions of sustainability. It was so wonderful to host the environmental ambassadors from The St Marylebone School for a workshop on sustainable solutions. Seeing their enthusiasm and eagerness to learn about these very important topics fills us with hope for a greener future."

PhD student and Sustainability Outreach Leader at the Cavendish Living Lab Soumya Sharma said: “Working at the Cavendish Living Lab is always dynamic, with each day bringing new opportunities to learn. The visit from The St Marylebone School students was no exception. Brainstorming with the entire Cavendish Living Lab team for days to organise an engaging, hands-on workshop was something that I would gladly do again. The students' enthusiasm not only inspired us to deliver our best but also provided valuable learning experiences for us as well.”

This event directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2: Zero Hunger, 4: Quality Education and 17: Partnerships for Goals. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.  

Find out more about other recent projects under the Sustainable Biotechnology Research Group.