Recent News
This page details press releases and other news stories about sustainability and related subjects at UEL. Links to newly published policies and plans are available here.
2012: January - March | April - June | July - September
2011: January - March | April - June | July - September | October - December
August
UEL shortlisted for Green Gown Award
UEL has been shortlisted for a prestigious Green Gown Award for the Learning and Skills category. With competition for jobs being tougher than ever in the current climate, we have focused on up skilling our students with skills which will help them make valuable contributions to the green economy. In total we have had over 50 students sign up to Green Skills Workshops.
July 2012
Over the past month, we've been improving our cycling facilities at UEL, in time for the Olympics. We are encouraging all UEL staff who will be working on site during the Olympics adn Paralympics to cycle to work. To help encourage staff, we're letting our cycle shelters be used free of charge throughout the Games. If you'd like to use the shelters, contact the Olympic Operations Team.
June 2012
New home created for one of UK’s most endangered beetles
In the UK, the Streaked bombardier beetle (Brachinus sclopeta) has only recently been found on a couple of ex-industrial sites called brownfields in the Thames Gateway, London. One of these brownfield sites has already been destroyed.
Just days before their second home was due to be destroyed, fifteen Streaked bombardier beetles were rescued in an emergency operation. The beetles have now been re-homed on a new designer brownfield site at the University of East London’s Docklands Campus.
June 2012
UEL scores 1st Class Award
UEL has made serious headway in the ‘Green League’ this year jumping from a ranking of 41 to 16th position, making it the second greenest University in London.
The league, published by the Guardian this month, highlights positive environmental progress in universities, and is designed to test the commitment of academic institutions in creating a fair and sustainable future.
May 2012
Green Impact awarded best Environmental Project at UELSU Awards
UELSU in partnership with UEL Greenthing awarded Green Impact 'Best Environmental Project at UELSU Volunteering Awards 2012.The award was received by Maria Percec, Ethical and Environmental Officer (elect) and Friday Obodo, Student Governor (elect). Green Impact was chosen as the project was an excellent example of embedding environmental sustainability into UEL, working in partnership with staff, students and the NUS.
April 2012
UEL celebrates Green Impact achievements
UEL's 2011/2012 Green Impact Awards took place 27th April, and was attended by over 70 staff and students, with Pro Vice-Chancellor Nirmal Borkhataria, presiding over the ceremony. We were lucky enough to have Guest Speaker Dusty Gedge give an inspiring talk on green roofs and urban biodiversity.
February 2012
UEL academic floods light onto climate change
UEL academic Mark Pinsky's new work, PLUNGE, uses blue neon rings at 28 metres above sea level on famous London landmarks to show the potential rise in the water levels over the next 1000 years as a result of climate change.
Double celebration for Fairtrade at UEL
In January 2012, UEL celebrated both its one-year anniversary as a Fairtrade University, and its reaccreditation by the Fairtrade Foundation. Home-made Fairtrade cake and juice were given out to students and staff by staff in the Environment Team.
This story was also covered by the Stratford Recorder.
January 2012
UEL joins the exclusive ISO14001 club
UEL has recently been awarded ISO14001 certification for its Environmental Management System. This is a great achievement and demonstrates our continued commitment to environmental improvement.
October 2011
UEL branches out with urban orchard
UEL has planted a new urban orchard at Stratford. Representatives from several schools across the University 'adopted' and planted the trees which will soon provide students and staff with fresh fruit, straight off the tree.
August 2011
Medicinal herb garden opens at UEL
A herb garden full of more than 200 types of plants and herbs has opened at Stratford. This garden is an important contribution not only to the herbal medicine course but also to biodiversity at UEL and provides space for students and staff to socialise outdoors.
July 2011
'Recycled Metro' dress student turns her talents to magazines
Amulet Li, one of the Foundation Art students who featured in the story about dresses made from reycled newspaper, was commissioned to create a dress out of old magazines for a special exhibition at the Earl's Court Festival 2011.
Hackney's cycling cultures: 'Bike Portraits' is a photo exhibition with a difference
A sociology research project carried out at UEL by Kat Jungnickel, a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, resulted in a roving exhibition across Hackney. The photos aim to showcase the rich and divere cycling cultures present in London.
June 2011
UEL implements new higher London Living Wage for cleaning staff
The Green Thing is not only concerned with environmental sustainability but also with human rights and poverty. Thus we are pleased that UEL, as part of the new cleaning contract, will now ensure its cleaners are paid the newly raised London living Wage.
UEL course hailed as a global first by International aid agencies
An online Masters degree course, the MSc in International Humanitarian Psychosocial Consultation, makes an important contribution to countless aid agencies by allowing aid workers to study psychosocial impacts of crises through distance-learning.
UEL plays its part in making London world's first 'Sustainable Fish City'
The 'Sustainable Fish City' pledge was signed by UEL to show its support for London's bid. UEL is also doing its bit by committing to include more 'Marine Stewardship Council'-certified fish on its catering menus.
April 2011
UEL research says: London on-track to deliver sustainable Olympics
UEL researchers have assessed 56 key indicators, including carbon emissions and public transport as part of an Olympic Games Impact study, and concluded that London will be left with a sustainable legacy from the Olympics.
It's a bug's life: UEL joint winners in sustainability award
UEL was named joint winners of the Sustain magazine Biodiversity award. This was due to the research of Dr Gyongyver Kadas, an academic in the Environmental Research Group, and her help with setting up a green roof above St James' Park underground station.
March 2011
Met-a-porter: UEL students create high-couture from free papers
Sustainability news do not just come from within the Environment Team. UEL's own foundation art students created a splash in the media with stunning dresses made of recycled Metro newspapers in a project intended to 'Recycle, Recreate and Illustrate'.
All's Fair in food and drink: UEL celebrates its new Fairtrade status during Fairtrade Fortnight
During Fairtrade Fortnight 2011, a two-week event with plenty of talks, free coffees, and other Fairtrade-related activities for both students and staff, UEL proudly announced its Fairtrade status, gained in January 2011.
February 2011
Five whole days of good green fun at UEL
Go Green Week was marked at UEL with lots of activities, workshops, talks and films for all staff and students. Everyone on campus was encouraged to get involved and learn how to 'do their bit' to reduce the footprint of UEL.
January 2011
Keeping green is the name of the game at UEL
UEL was awarded the Carbon Trust Standard in January 2011 as a result of the tireless work done on managing and reducing UEL's carbon emissions. The Great Green Scheme game was also launched to mark this occasion.
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