Westminster celebrates Sustainability Fund’s successful projects for 2023-24 academic year

Launched with the support of the Quintin Hogg Trust, the Sustainability Fund, formerly known as the Green Fund, continued in 2023-24 to provide students, regardless of their course degree or level, with the opportunity to carry out sustainability-related projects and initiatives which are co-created, designed and implemented by students and University colleagues working in partnership. This year’s cycle was also sponsored by Graham Hobson, Westminster alumnus, entrepreneur and co-founder of the online photo printing company Photobox.

The Fund supports Westminster’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by promoting understanding, awareness and behavioural change in the field of environmental leadership, and empowers students and colleagues at Westminster to design and co-create sustainable local projects that help create a sustainable future.

One project created this year was EcoEscape: AI-Powered Sustainable Tourism Mini-Tool - an eco-friendly AI-driven travel route planner designed for road trips across the United Kingdom. EcoEscape customises nationwide itineraries from London based on the group size, trip duration and vehicle type, whilst calculating the CO2 emissions for each journey. 

Greening the Campus: Towards a more Biodiverse Marylebone is another one of this year’s projects. In developing a design plan for Westminster’s Marylebone Campus facade, the project reflects streetscape improvements in the nearby Marylebone High Street and Baker Street, aimed to rejuvenate the public realm, increase biodiversity in the space and foster a shift in perspective among students, pedestrians and residents, while illustrating the collective benefits of these enhancements. 

This year also saw the design of MicroVision: Low Power, Motorised, Automated Microscope Scanning Stage for Pathological Image Analysis. The project aims to design and develop a low-power, automated, slide positioning unit for microscopes to facilitate the detection, identification and analysis of pathogens. The unit would be greatly beneficial to researchers and medical workers in diagnosing certain pathogens which require manual analysis of blood samples. 

Another project is MaSt+, a physical and digital materials library that supports and promotes ecologically conscious art and design practices. It is located at the BAIA Studios at the University of Westminster and is the first connection point for Architecture and Interior students who want to investigate and connect further with sustainable construction materials, sources and makers. As an online library, MaSt+ showcases sustainable, traditional, innovative, recycled and low carbon building materials. It is the first independent and non-profitable physical and digital material database for students created by students. 

New Building System and the Common Brick presentation

New Building System and the Common Brick is an eco-brick system made from regenerative materials to proactively support biodiversity and host sites for plant colonies. The project team designed and produced three different brick types: the double pot, the moss grower and the single pot bricks. Using diverse designs, the bricks aim to host inter-dependent life forms at a variety of scales, from micro to macro, and can create a continuous corridor of planting across a wall or building facade. 

Along with this was the introduction of the Screen Futures: Widening Participation in UK Screen Higher Education project. This initiative supports the diversification of the student body in UK screen-arts higher education by widening participation in university screen degrees and the screen production industries. Through a series of online resources, Screen Futures supports students aspiring for careers in film or television production but are lacking the support to proceed with a successful application to a Higher Education Institute. 

Another project was the Transformation Workshop II – Prototype Structure, which saw the construction of a full-scale Prototype Structure using recycled plastic from the Transformation Workshop and bamboo. The Prototype Structure construction serves as a tangible representation of sustainable design principles, promoting environmental consciousness within the campus community, aiming at raising awareness about innovative construction methods and materials. 

The final project of the 2023-24 academic year was the Sustainable Photobook. The project team created a book that shares research and best practice on sustainable photobook publishing, which is set to be published soon. The book aims to test sustainable production and alternative distribution methods as a proof of concept, and share tools, resources and practical steps to grow the conversation about sustainable practices both within and beyond the University.

The Sustainability Fund exemplifies the power of interdisciplinary partnership and collaboration between colleagues and students, working on projects that directly address the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

For the project teams, the Fund has been a fulfilling initiative; demonstrating the value and impact that joint efforts between colleagues and students can have in tackling global challenges and driving meaningful change.

Talking about this year’s successful projects, Anastasia Lydaki, Sustainable Development Advisor at the University of Westminster, said: “It was incredibly enriching to have worked closely and been part of all the teams’ journeys. Together, we experienced firsthand how entrepreneurship, creativity, partnership and leadership can drive innovative and sustainable solutions for the betterment of our world, starting at Westminster. Well done to all project teams!”

Learn more about the Sustainability Fund at the University of Westminster.