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Join us for Climate Action Month!

In February 2021, Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ published our Climate and Ecological Crisis Action Plan, which outlines the ways we’re hoping to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030/31. Community action is a key part of achieving this target, so for the second year we’re hosting Climate Action Month in March, as an opportunity for students, staff and the broader community to join us in taking action for the benefit of the planet and the people living on it.

The range of events, both online and in-person aim to enable you and empower you to take climate action, by sharing knowledge, discussion and top tips to help you start thinking about the positive actions you might be able to take. Many of the events are open to the public, so please feel free to share the information with any friends and family who may be interested.

What events are on?

We will still be hosting our regular events including Dr Bike sessions at both campuses (details below) and our weekly zero waste (refill) pop-up shop hosted by every Thursday, 11am – 3pm, in the Student Centre.

We also have a host of Fairtrade events in the first week of March, as part of Fairtrade Fortnight which you can find here.

Sustainability Skills Masterclass: Pitching and Presenting a Business Idea, online, Wednesday 2 March 2pm–4pm

This session will focus on giving you practical advice on how to pitch and present a sustainable business idea to a panel of potential investors.

Electric bus rides, Talbot Campus bus hub, Monday 7 March 9:30am - 2:30pm

Ever wanted to ride an electric bus? Now's your chance as an electric bus will be completing the U1 route all Monday morning. Just pop along to the bus hub to ask questions and enjoy the ride!

Mini Bike Fair, Talbot Campus, Tuesday 8 March, 10am - 2pm

Whether you're looking for a bike and accessories or wanting to ask questions and find discounts, come along to our mini Bike Fair for stalls from Beryl, Cycle Solutions, BU Sustainability Team, Hope2Cycle, New Forest Bike Project, BCP Road Safety Team, Bike Doctor and more.

Cycle Like A Girl Bike Skills Night, Talbot Campus, Tuesday 8 March 6:15pm-7:30pm

Join Cycle Like a Girl who have teamed up with BU to bring you a night of bike skills, helping you get to know your bike in a safe, supportive and traffic-free environment. We will be taking you through all the basics in the comfort of our Talbot Campus and will be on hand to support you with any questions you have about riding on roads. What better way to celebrate International Women's Day than getting uber-confident on two wheels!

This is the perfect event if you are relatively new to cycling, and will be excellent preparation ahead of our Thursday group ride.

Please note: Creating a safe and inclusive environment for those marginalised by dominant cycling communities is important to us, so this is a female-led workshop only for women, including the trans and non-binary community.

Cyclist cafés, Create Lecture Theatre, Fusion Building, Wednesday 9 March 10am – 12pm and BG-113, Bournemouth Gateway Building, Thursday 10 March 10am – 12pm

Cycling is a much about community as it is about being confident on two wheels. Join one (or both!) of our cyclist cafés to meet other students and staff interested in cycling and maybe even start planning a ride over a free Fairtrade tea and pastries! Any level of cyclist welcome, including aspiring ones, drop in as you like.

Lunchtime social walk with SportBU, Talbot Campus, Wednesday 9 March, 12pm - 1pm

There's few things better to relax than a walk in nature. Join SportBU for a short social lunchtime walk to get moving and ready for the afternoon!

Going off gas: heating in a low carbon world, online, Wednesday 9 March 4pm-5pm

In this session, hear from Mike Diamond, our Energy Officer, who will share why and when we need to address this as well as which low carbon technologies and energy sources could offer solutions. There will also be top tips and insights for home owners and businesses, as well as time for questions.

Cycle Like A Girl group bike ride, outside Bournemouth Gateway Building, Thursday 10 March 6pm–8:30pm

Join Cycle Like a Girl who have teamed up with BU to bring you an evening group ride. This ride is designed to be socially-paced, meaning that we won't leave you behind or expect anyone to be coming top of the Strava leaderboards. 

This ride is perfect for any beginners to groups rides, with a mostly flat route and plenty of rest breaks and stops. Our evening route will be around 15km, on a mix of quiet and traffic-free roads meaning that it will be suitable for most bike types. 

Although we are on hand to support our riders, it is important to know that you are responsible for your own safety whilst cycling. We strongly encourage all riders to wear helmets, high vis clothing and come with fully charged lights. In the event of a puncture, riders are strongly encouraged to bring a spare set of inner tubes, although we will be more than happy to lend a helping hand! 

If you don’t have a bike, you can enjoy 100 free minutes for Beryl Bikes using the code BUBERYL100.

Please note: Creating a safe and inclusive environment for those marginalised by dominant cycling communities is important to us, so this is a female-led workshop only for women, including the trans and non-binary community.

Creative Café series: Nature and us, messages from Singapore and Japan, online, Friday 11 March 9pm–10am

This session will provide a lively learning opportunity in a friendly atmosphere and the chance to enjoy the essence of cutting-edge interdisciplinary research with coffee and biscuits.

Digital Skills Masterclass: Eco-friendly web design, online, Friday 11 March 12–2pm

This interactive informal workshop will provide an introduction to Eco-friendly Web Design, advantages, green hosting and moving towards carbon positivity.

Chartered Institution of Waste Management (CIWM) Wessex Professional Development Network (PDN), BG-407, Bournemouth Gateway Building, Thursday 17 March 9:30am–2pm

The CIWM Wessex PDN is a group set up to assist career development in the waste industry. This event is aimed at those who are new to the waste industry or people who are keen to pursue a career in the waste/resource industry. Offering fantastic networking opportunities with local authorities, consultants and waste management companies, the theme is ‘Back to Basics’, and will cover different technologies, including anaerobic digestion and inert recycling, as well as waste crime and waste regulation. Join to find out more about the waste industry and meet some of the sector’s key players.

This event is offered free for 10 BU students. Tickets are £30 for non-students.

SUBU litter pick, Talbot Campus, Friday 18 March 12pm-1pm

It’s Global Recycling Day, and what better way to join in the action than with a litter pick around our own campus? Join the SUBU Beach Champions and get involved. Find out more on their Facebook page.

Dorset 2030: Creating a zero-carbon county, Executive Business Centre, Monday 21 March 10am–4pm

Dorset 2030 is a comprehensive report setting out the vision of a zero-carbon county and shows how the wider Dorset community needs to build on this at scale and pace to achieve net zero in the timescale climate scientists are setting out.

This event aims to inspire and encourage everyone to participate, taking action, no matter how small and insignificant it may appear, to build momentum for the changes needed.

Creating Harmony in Community Conference: The Dorset Story, Talbot Campus, Wednesday 23 March 9am–4:30pm

During this conference, you will travel through the Seven Principles of Harmony: Cycles, Diversity, Interdependence, Geometry, Adaption, Oneness, and Health. You will hear great examples of these in practice within the Dorset community and how an integrated approach can be better for the global problems and opportunities we face.

Introduction to Sustainability at BU, semi-circle outside the Student Centre, Talbot Campus, Friday 25 March 10:30am–12pm

Join the BU Sustainability Team for a guided tour of our Talbot Campus to learn about our low-carbon technology and energy installations, followed by a talk about what action we've been taking since making our net zero commitment, what we have planned and how you can get involved.

Eco-anxiety to action workshop, Faith & Reflection, Talbot House, Monday 28 March 3pm-4pm

70% of 18-24 year olds in the UK experience eco-anxiety; feelings of fear, guilt, stress and disempowerment in the face of the climate crisis. These feelings are completely valid, but can be overwhelming so it’s important we don’t feel the weight of them alone. Join us for this workshop where we’ll support each other to shift from a place of climate anxiety to one of climate action. 

SUBU One World Day, Student Centre, Tuesday 29 March 11am–3pm

One World Day - one world, one planet, one passion is an immersive celebration of cultural diversity. You can expect a day full of activities, food, crafts, music and workshops where you can learn about different cultures and global citizenship. 

SUBU Summit, online, Tuesday 29 March 6pm-8:30pm

The SUBU Summit is a fantastic opportunity to raise your voice to influence climate action at BU. If you've got an idea to make SUBU or the university a better place for students, this is the best place to influence so be sure to submit it via our online ideas platform! 

Eco-Entrepreneurs final

Could your business or idea help address the climate and ecological crisis? BU has partnered with Santander to bring you £5000 funding and support to launch or grow your idea. Deadline to apply is 7 March ready for the final on the 30 March. 

Make a pledge to action this Climate Action Month!

We are always stronger when we act as a community, so as part of Climate Action Month, we ask you to make a pledge to take action for the benefit of the environment as well as our fellow species and humans. Whether your pledge is large or small, short- or long-term, we encourage you to commit to something new, that will help us tackle the climate and ecological crisis, and we’ll enter everyone who pledges into a £25 raffle!

To find out more about what BU is doing for the planet, visit our sustainability webpages or email the BU Sustainability Team at [email protected].