Skip to main content Skip to navigation

Research

COLAB4 - Consultation Day Event Capture

A group photo of workshop attendees for Sustainability Consultation Day event

Executive Summary by Prof Elena Korosteleva

The consultation session ‘Time to Talk’ on organising the university-wide cross-disciplinary Sustainability Spotlight was held on 4th July 2024, bringing together 65 registered representatives from all faculties, and all levels of seniority, including professional, central research services, business partnerships and regional engagement. The event generated a lot of proposals and recommendations, which will be developed for implementation by the Sustainability Spotlight Leadership Team and Steering Group.

Creating structured networking opportunities for sustainability research has been recognised as important by everyone, highlighting a series of urgent concerns. A range of Ambitions and Ideas were prioritised by the participants. These inter alia included:

  • Developing a database of researchers with similar thematic interests to develop synergies, collaborations and become ‘multifaceted connected’ for external stakeholders.
  • Facilitating a community of practice, which should include ECR platform and training; and organising dedicated funding workshops to encourage idea exploration and iteration.
  • Activities should focus on synergy-building, and include matchmaking forums, speed-dating around project-based ideas and/or calls; nomadic sustainability seminars; podcasts and position papers.

Action Ideas of the forum were summarised with the help of AI taking all individual comments into consideration. They highlighted the importance of the following:

  • Develop forward-thinking approaches, by reimagining ‘alternative futures’ in a designedly way. Explore systems’ approach to offer a holistic way forward.
  • We need to think differently: develop alternative thinking through network engagement, training and creative skills development.
  • Translate shared passion for sustainable futures into tangible actions and meaningful research through joint funding bids & wider engagement.

The Sustainability Spotlight will continue its engagements throughout the year, based on the Action Plan to be prepared by the Sustainability Spotlight Leadership Team, in partnership with the Steering Group. The next ‘Time to Talk’ session is planned for summer 2025 (date TBC), to evaluate the progress towards the identified KPIs.

Quote from Sustainability Spotlight Chair, Professor Elena Korosteleva, saying 'Our Sustainability Spotlight will build capacity, connect researchers and unleash complementarities that will revolutionise the way we think about and tackle sustainability through research.'

Thoughts from the day:

Working on sustainability research is important because...
  • 'Because it’s the most important problem we are facing.'

  • 'Planet has finite resources.'

  • 'Safeguarding what we have for future generations.'

An interdisciplinary approach to sustainability research is important because...

  • 'We can all make a difference and have impact, regardless of which department we work in.'
  • 'Working with diverse and international stakeholders – it’s a global interdisciplinary challenge!'

  • 'Change ways are done to more elegant solutions.'

 

Find out more information from our Consultation Day event from one of our resources:

'Time to Talk' ReportLink opens in a new window

Padlet

Photos from the day:

People happily workshopping and discussing at an event
People sat around tables discussing ideas and writing thoughts on post-it notes
A series of post-it notes created in relation to sustainability research
Attendees of a workshop
Text reading What makes Warwick THE PLACE to be for Sustainability Research?
People focusing on their work at a workshop
People collaborating and brainstorming ideas around a table
People sat around tables, discussing thoughts about sustainability research
People adding post-it notes onto a communal working board