The University of Aberdeen has had two transformational projects shortlisted in an internationally recognised awards scheme celebrating sustainability excellence.
The Green Gown Awards, held in association with UKRI, recognise the exceptional sustainability initiatives being undertaken by universities and colleges around the world.
The University has been shortlisted across two categories in the 2024 UK & Ireland awards, Creating Impact and Reporting with Influence.
The Student Relocation Travel Emissions Calculator is among the 14 finalists in the hotly-contested Creating Impact category. The tool was created to meet the goal of reporting emissions data associated with students travelling to study in Aberdeen from around the world. It saw a Net Zero undergraduate internship created within the Sustainability Team, resulting in an innovative and effective calculation methodology and tool that enabled the University to report these emissions for the first time.
Subsequent engagement with the HFE sector, including through partnership with EAUC Scotland, has enhanced the tool for sector wide use and seen it adopted as a freely available, best-practice calculation and reporting methodology in the UK, with usage also spreading to Australian universities.
In the Reporting with Influence category, the University’s ‘Sustainability Dashboard’ was developed through a collaboration between Planning and the Sustainability Team to provide visually compelling emissions data reporting. Using Power BI functionality to publish comprehensive, granular data, it allows users to explore both current and historic trends, including building level energy emissions, with data from sources such as student relocation and business travel.
The dashboard enables staff and students to review hundreds of data points and utilise the information for research and study. Making the material publicly available also supports our wider sustainability reporting.
“As a University we are committed to supporting the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals and making a positive impact through our research, education and operations, so to have the innovative work of our teams recognised through these prestigious awards is fantastic and we wish good luck to all our colleagues at the awards in November.” said Fraser Lovie, Head of Sustainability.
Susan Simon, UKRI Environmental Sustainability Programme Director, added: “Each year we are presented with new, innovative and inspirational projects nominated for these awards. We look forward to following the progress of another exceptional set of projects tackling this important global issue.”
A further nomination sees North-East Scotland College (NESCOL) shortlisted in the Next Generation Learning and Skills category for its National Energy Skills Accelerator project. This energy transition skills themed initiative includes both the University of Aberdeen and Robert Gordon University as partners.
The winners will be announced at the award ceremony in Edinburgh on 13 November.