On Thursday 25th January 2024, Sustainable Futures will be launching the first occurrence in our 2024 Seminar Series with Dr Maggy Fostier and Dr Richard Kirkham.
Indicative Agenda
14:00 - 14:05 - Introductions and Welcome
14:05 - 14:25 - Dr Maggy Fostier, Head of Environmental Sustainability in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health at The University of Manchester, will present on 'Environmental sustainability projects in the School of Biological Sciences: a welcome addition to our portfolio of final year projects'.
14:25 - 14:30 - Q&A with Dr Maggy Fostier.
14:30 - 14:50 - Dr Richard Kirkham, Senior Lecturer in Civil Engineering at The University of Manchester, will present 'Embedding sustainability into project delivery capabilities in government'.
14:50 - 14:55 - Q&A with Dr Richard Kirkham.
14:55 - 15:00 - Closing thoughts from our seminar Chair.
15:00 - Event Close
Talk Descriptions
Dr Maggy Fostier | 'Environmental sustainability projects in the School of Biological Sciences: a welcome addition to our portfolio of final year projects'
All our Biological Sciences undergraduate students undertake a research project in their final year (‘Capstone Project’). Most students are placed in research laboratories, but many diversify into the fields of science communication, bioinformatics, business enterprise or history of science. Three years ago, we added environmental sustainability project to our portfolio. Projects included validating alternatives to toxic products in laboratories; increasing recycling compliance; campaigning; and plastic reduction strategies. These projects gave students the opportunity to develop skills necessary to address environmental issues around research, laboratory teaching, or campus living that will be beneficial for the future.
This presentation will review how we run these projects and their benefits.
Dr Richard Kirkam | 'Embedding sustainability into project delivery capabilities in government'
The Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP) accounts for 244 projects with a total whole life cost of £805bn and £758bn of monetised benefits (2022-23); many of these projects form a key part of the government’s commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050 and meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Our project seeks to inform the work of the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) on the government capabilities necessary to achieve these goals and we have identified the following research question to support that work: What are the challenges, and opportunities, in upskilling project delivery professionals to focus on embedding sustainability into long term projects and programmes?
The team completed a rapid evidence review in respect to the skills required for sustainable project management, and delivery. A single case study on government project delivery professionals’ skills for embedding sustainability into long term projects, and programmes, gathered qualitative data through interviews with experienced project delivery professionals who are active in the ESRC funded ‘Project X’ network. Dissemination of findings will be via a policy and practice focused report for the IPA.
Get to know our speakers
Dr Richard Kirkham is Portfolio Director for UoM-British University in Dubai, TAI Deputy Director, and TAI Theme Lead for Reliability and Resilience. He is also involved with Project X – improving Government projects through research, and the Manchester Urban Institute.
Dr Maggy Fostier - After an engineering degree in Biotechnologies with an integrated Master in Molecular Biology in Toulouse (France), I completed a PhD and a post doc in Developmental Biology at UoM. I worked as a consultant assisting the economic development agency of Poitiers (France) in developing their ‘Biopole’ before coming back to Manchester in 2004, starting my career as a teaching focused lecturer in the Faculty of Life Sciences. My key innovations were to co-develop a new type of dry project: Enterprise for Life sciences in a team based setting, and to run our multi-awards winning Peer Assisted Study Programme.
My work in sustainability started in 2019, when Ruth Grady and I developed with staff and students the 6R guide to reduce plastics in labs, home and campus. In 2020, we obtained a MADA award and were finalist for the Green Gown award, and I joined the University the Single Use Plastics (SUP) task group. In 2021, we launched the SBS Environmental Sustainability UG final year projects. In June 2022, I became the head of Environmental Sustainability in the Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health. During this presentation, I’ll explain how the environmental sustainability projects are helping with many targets.
Sign up via this link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/763340049637?aff=oddtdtcreator
This event will be hosted on Zoom. Please sign up to receive the zoom link to your inbox prior to the event.
