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Coventry schools to build future cities from recycled household items

· TeenTech is a national charity working with school children to help them consider a future in digital, science technology and engineering.

· Their TeenTech City of Tomorrow initiative is working with nine Coventry schools with the help of WMG, University of Warwick

· Experts from WMG will deliver advice to children on sustainable materials, and inspire them as they design and build their city of the future out of recyclable household items

· A few Cities will then be exhibited at The Coventry Transport Museum

TeenTech City of Tomorrow will see Coventry school children make a city of recyclable household items, with help from researchers at WMG, University of Warwick who will teach them all about sustainability. A select few ideas – buildings and technology- will then be exhibited at the Coventry Transport Museum.

Caption: Children at Courthouse Green primary school listening to the online workshop from TeenTech and WMG researchers  Credit: WMG, University of Warwick

TeenTech is a national charity engaging children and teenagers in Digital, Science, Engineering and Technology and their latest initiative has launched today, the 11th November, in Coventry, which will see nine schools in Coventry build a futuristic sustainable city out of recyclable household items.

As it’s ‘Cities, Regions and Built Environment’ day at the COP26 summit in Glasgow, researchers from WMG at the University of Warwick are helping children understand sustainability and its importance, by delivering an online session about sustainable materials and why it’s important we use them more for a greener future, thanks to funding from the University’s Innovative Manufacturing and Future Materials GRP.

The children will then have two weeks to build their cities from recyclable household items. Three researchers from WMG, University of Warwick will run workshops, educating the children in using natural products for sustainable solutions and how to dispose of products.

On the 25th November the researchers from will then provide feedback, before selecting a few of the buildings and ideas to be exhibited at the Coventry Transport Museum from the end of the month.

Dr Stuart Coles from WMG, University of Warwick comments:

“Having spent my career researching how to reduce, reuse and recycle materials I am honoured to be a part of the TeenTech City of Tomorrow initiative, and look forward to seeing how creative the children can be in making a futuristic and environmentally friendly city.Caption: Malik, Jody and Christian from Mrs Barretts class. Credit: WMG, University of Warwick

“It is our children that will suffer from the damage we have caused and are causing to the planet, therefore it is imperative that we educate them from young age about sustainability and how they can create a cleaner and greener future for themselves and future generations, whilst we work out how we can change our ways to further prevent the climate crisis.”

Maggie Philbin, CEO of TeenTech comments:

“We want young people in Coventry to understand they can shape the future with their ideas. Young people think boldly, differently and inclusively and this is the thinking we need for a sustainable future. Tomorrow is very much a two-way event – experts will be sharing their knowledge, but we know that it will be the children who surprise everyone with their creativity, honesty and who will be the ones to challenge outdated thinking.

“Their buildings may be constructed from cardboard boxes but their ideas will be sophisticated and ones which should be seriously considered. They really are the architects, the engineers and the designers of the future. Let’s listen to them.”

Miss Kaur, Class Teacher at Courthouse Green primary school comments:
Caption: One of the building designs by children at Courthouse Green primary school  Credit: WMG, University of Warwick"TeenTech is a great project to engage and enthuse the children and encourages them to consider how to be responsible about improving their environment. It has given the children the opportunity to think big about their world. their future and their role within it.

"The children are learning life skills, teamwork and are thinking outside the box to design and create cities that could effect change. The project is amazing! If I could give up a whole week to work on this, I would...it's real-life skills in the classroom."

Two children from year 5 at Courthouse Green Primary school have said:

"I love the project because it will help the future. It has made me think about climate change and how it is affecting our cities. In Coventry I see lots of litter and it gives our city a bad reputation. My team, Team Queen Tech are designing a treehouse from recycled materials that filters wastewater to use again." - Bhavika age 9

"We have designed a hotel for homeless people which is made from sustainable materials like bamboo." Sanjot Age 9

ENDS

11 NOVEMBER 2021

NOTES TO EDITORS

Images available to view at:

https://warwick.ac.uk/services/communications/medialibrary/images/november_2021/courthouse_green_teen_tech_6.jpg
Caption:
Malik, Jody and Christian from Mrs Barretts class.
Credit: WMG, University of Warwick

https://warwick.ac.uk/services/communications/medialibrary/images/november_2021/courthouse_green_teen_tech_5_002.jpg
Caption: Children at Courthouse Green primary school listening to the online workshop from TeenTech and WMG researchers
Credit: WMG, University of Warwick

https://warwick.ac.uk/services/communications/medialibrary/images/november_2021/courthouse_green_teen_tech_1.jpg
Caption: One of the building designs by children at Courthouse Green primary school
Credit: WMG, University of Warwick

https://warwick.ac.uk/services/communications/medialibrary/images/november_2021/courthouse_green_teen_tech_3.jpg
Caption: One of the building designs by children at Courthouse Green primary school
Credit: WMG, University of Warwick

https://warwick.ac.uk/services/communications/medialibrary/images/november_2021/kids_at_teentech_w_stuart.jpg
Caption: Children at Courthouse Green primary school listening to the online workshop from TeenTech and WMG researcher Dr Stuart Coles
Credit: WMG, University of Warwick

For further information please contact:

Alice Scott
Media Relations Manager – Science
University of Warwick
Tel: +44 (0) 7920 531 221
E-mail:
alice.j.scott@warwick.ac.uk

For further information please contact:

Alice Scott
Media Relations Manager – Science
University of Warwick
Tel: +44 (0) 7920 531 221
E-mail: alice.j.scott@warwick.ac.uk