Second-year Biological Sciences BSc Honours student Mehseen Ullah spoke to Shay Kaur Grewal on BBC Radio London’s Afternoon Show about her experience working on the Cavendish Living Lab project.
During the show she spoke about how the experience reignited her passion for gardening, gave her part time work and helped build on valuable skills through working with other students.
The Cavendish Living Lab, a Quintin Hogg Trust-funded project, has seen Westminster students and academics cultivate greens hydroponically on their Central London campus, using food waste from the onsite catering facilities and donating their produce to Euston Foodbank.
In the interview, Mehseen told the presenter that she took up the role thanks to her interest in sustainability when she was younger. During secondary school she was involved with her school’s farm, where she dealt with animals and got into gardening. However, with the pressures of sixth form, university exams and living in a flat without a garden, she was unable to continue. By getting involved in the CLL she has been given the opportunity to get back to nature.
She said: “Being part of the project has given me loads of skills such as problem solving, teamwork, creative thinking and I think one of the most helpful skills has been practicing and learning how to research. It’s a very authentic learning experience because we’re on site, working together and communicating directly with each other - using our hands essentially.
“Everyone has been passionate about the project – working together and helping each other out. We have some Master’s students so they are teaching us a lot from their own experiences. For me as a first year going into second year, it has been very helpful and eye opening.”
Mehseen finished the interview by putting a message across to the listeners about how anyone can play a part in the fight against climate change.
She said: “Any small little action is still an action - there are always ways to be sustainable. You can try find your own local food bank and donate to them or grow your own fresh produce in any space you have - anyone can do it.”
Listen to the full interview on BBC Radio London which is at 1:42:25 of the segment.
