Latest news from Loughborough University
| 16 May 2006 | PR 06/49 |
Simply the BEST! University and Students’ Union host first ever sustainability awards
A brand new award scheme, designed to acknowledge environmental sustainability initiatives at Loughborough University, was launched last week.
The BEST (Building Environmental Sustainability Together) Awards are a joint initiative between the University and Students’ Union and aim to recognise the individuals and groups who have shown real commitment to green issues.
At the ceremony, which took place on 8 May at the Students’ Union, ten awards were made, with two special awards also presented – the Vice Chancellor’s Award for Sustainability, which was given to the Students’ Union’s Simon Alsbury for his work on both ethical and environmental issues this year, and a ‘Lifetime Contribution’ award, presented to Wesley Marriot, who has raised more than £142,000 for charity over the last 18 years by collecting cans from various venues, including the Students’ Union.
“The awards provided the perfect opportunity for the Union and University to showcase the really important sustainability initiatives that are being undertaken across the campus. I was absolutely delighted to be named as one of the award winners!” said Simon Alsbury.
He continued: “I sincerely hope that this proves to be the springboard for further development in this very important area and, judging by the success of this first event, I’d say that the future is bright – and most likely green!”
The evening also marked the official launch of Loughborough’s commitment to the Higher Education Carbon Management Programme, with the Vice Chancellor, Professor Shirley Pearce, and the Director of Estates Services, Roy Hill, signing a special certificate. The primary focus of the Carbon Management Programme is to reduce the University’s emissions from, for example, its academic, leisure and accommodation buildings and its vehicle fleets.
The University is already very committed to sustainability – for instance, it switched to renewable sources for all its electricity almost five years ago and also runs an energy efficiency league between its halls of residence. Signing up to the Carbon Management Programme will enable it to develop its ‘green’ initiatives still further.
ENDS
For further information/accreditation, please contact:
- Simon Alsbury, Loughborough Students’ Union, T: 01509 635000, or
- Hannah Baldwin, Head of PR, Loughborough University,
T: 01509 222239, E: H.E.Baldwin@lboro.ac.uk,
Notes to editors
- The winners of the 2006 BEST Awards are as follows:
• Martin Tailby and Rachel Smithson, from Imago – for their contribution to achieving Fairtrade University status.
• The van drivers and handymen teams from Imago – for their contribution to campus recycling logistics.
• Nik Hunt, from Imago – for his organisation of campus recycling eco-zones and the new collection system.
• David Burgess, from Estates Services – for his contribution to the Burleigh Woods Management Group.
• The Students’ Union building department – Most improved area of Loughborough Students’ Union
• Lea Adlard, from the Students’ Union – Best Staff Volunteer
• Lycia Lobo, from the Students’ Union – Best Student Volunteer
• Lucy Moorcroft, from the Students’ Union – Best Contribution to the Ethics of Loughborough Students’ Union
• Lauren Goodchild, from the Students’ Union – Best Contribution to the Environment.
• Cayley Hall – Winners of the Energy Efficiency League
• Wesley Marriot – Lifetime Contribution
• Simon Alsbury – Vice Chancellor’s Award for Sustainability
- Loughborough has an established reputation for excellence in teaching
and research, strong links with industry, and unrivalled sporting achievement.
Assessments of teaching quality by the Quality Assurance Agency place
it in the top flight of UK universities; the National Student Survey
ranked Loughborough equal first among full-time students; and industry
highlights the University in its top five for graduate recruitment.
Around 40% of Loughborough’s income is for research, and 60% for
teaching. The University has been awarded five Queen's Anniversary Prizes:
for its collaboration with aerospace and automotive companies such as
BAE Systems, Ford and Rolls Royce; for its work in developing countries;
for pioneering research in optical engineering; for its world-leading
role in sports research, education and development; and for its outstanding
work in evaluating and helping to develop social policy-related programmes.
In 2006 Loughborough celebrates the 40th anniversary of its University Charter, awarded on 19 April 1966 in recognition of the excellence achieved by Loughborough College of Advanced Technology and its predecessor Colleges. Loughborough University of Technology was renamed Loughborough University in 1996.