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Durham Energy Institute contributes to University-wide sustainability panel
Members of the Durham community came together on 19 January for the second annual Psychologists for Environmental Action (PEA) interdisciplinary panel event, “How do we Create an Environmentally Sustainable University and Stay World Leading?”. The discussion, held in the Department of Psychology, brought together experts from across the University to explore how Durham can move towards an environmentally sustainable future while maintaining its position as a world-leading institution.
Chaired by Professor Emerita Sarah Banks, the panel featured insights from Dr Kieran Laurence (Department of Biosciences), Professor Robert Song (Faculty of Arts and Humanities), Professor Simone Abram (Faculty of Social Sciences and Executive Director of the Durham Energy Institute), Professor Laura Marsiliani (Durham University Business School), and Jane Simmons (Senior Sustainability Manager, Greenspace).
The lively discussion explored what is working well across the University, which approaches can be improved, and what needs to happen to embed sustainability across teaching, research, operations, and partnerships.
Professor Abram reflected:
“Being an environmentally sustainable university is not an option for a world-leading university, it’s an imperative. It is very encouraging to hear about the range of work going on across Durham to move closer to being a truly sustainable institution.”
The event demonstrated a shared commitment across faculties and departments to both environmental action and critical reflection on how the University can lead by example. From expanding renewable energy generation on campus, to embedding sustainability in the curriculum and supporting community initiatives, Durham continues to make tangible progress toward its ambitious sustainability goals.
Professor Abram’s contribution underlined how cross-disciplinary collaboration - drawing on science, social research, business insight, and institutional leadership - is essential for realising a sustainable university future.