UEL launches inaugural Sustainable Cities Festival

The University of East London (UEL) is proud to announce the launch of its inaugural Sustainable Cities Festival, a dynamic nine-day event running from April 15 to April 24. This multi-disciplinary festival, the fourth major event in UEL's Year of Science, will explore how innovative solutions, new approaches and collaboration can help solve the pressing challenges facing urban environments today.

The Sustainable Cities Festival is set to redefine the dialogue surrounding urban sustainability, welcoming all to join UEL in a variety of interactive events, with the aim of producing ideas for a more inclusive, healthy and sustainable future for all city communities. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with cutting-edge research, skills and strategies that promote sustainable practices, enhance a better quality of life, and foster resilient communities.

We’re thrilled to unveil our biggest flagship event yet, the Sustainable Cities Festival

said Robert de Jong, Director of the Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability at UEL.

“This festival serves as a testament to our commitment to sustainability and innovation. We invite all staff, students, urban innovators and city dwellers to join us for this enriching experience."

Participants will take part in a wide array of thought-provoking discussions, engaging talks, interactive workshops, networking sessions, live demonstrations and fun activities, designed to inspire action and spark meaningful change.

In a world marked by rapid urbanisation and pressing environmental concerns, the need for sustainable practices has never been more urgent. The Sustainable Cities Festival will shine a spotlight on the crucial role of innovation and sustainability in shaping the cities of tomorrow.

Noteworthy topics over the nine days include:

• Developing sustainable skills for an industry 5.0 world
• Revolutionising industries, particularly fashion, to tackle sustainability impact
• The just transitioning of cities to a low-carbon and low-impact future
• Innovation that delivers health and urban biodiversity impacts at scale

“Our work on sustainability is world-leading, and the festival provides a unique opportunity for participants to engage with our innovative research and fascinating technology first-hand," added Mr de Jong. “Whether you’re a seasoned urban innovator, a sustainable business or a curious city dweller, there's something valuable for everyone at the Sustainable Cities Festival.”

In addition to fostering dialogue within the UEL community, the festival aims to facilitate collaborations with local partners, industry experts and global institutions to drive meaningful, practical change.

The festival is part of UEL’s Year of Science, a series of events and showcases which is spotlighting throughout 2024 all the ways the University is inclusively creating, collaborating and engaging with science. The University hosts the prestigious British Science Festival from 11-15 September 2024. 

Registration for the Sustainable Cities Festival is now open. See the full schedule of events and secure your spot below.

Join us as we reimagine the future of our cities and pave the way for a more sustainable tomorrow at the UEL Sustainable Cities Festival!

Monday, 15 April – Festival Launch and panel debate, Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability, 3pm to 5pm. We’ll explore how cities around the world are evolving to be more inclusive, healthy, vibrant and sustainable, with guest speaker Juliette Morgan, Global Practice Co-leader at the world’s largest architectural firm, Gensler, and a panel of sustainability innovators. A networking session will be held afterwards. 

Tuesday, 16 April - The Power of One – Talk by Caryn Franklin MBE, Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability, 1pm to 2pm. The former fashion editor, co-editor of i-D Magazine and presenter of BBC TV’s The Clothes Show, will explore bias and stereotypes to alert us to our own internalised stories about identity.

Tuesday, 16 April – Bringing Nature into our Cities – Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability, 2pm – 5pm. Meet authors and researchers in this interactive roundtable as we explore the role of nature in cities, art, culture, health and urban regeneration.

Wednesday, 17 April - Royal Docks Sustainability Network open meeting - Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability, 9.30am to 11am. Meet the landowners and sustainability leads initiating joint programmes to create a thriving and healthy sustainable community in the Royal Docks. 

Wednesday, 17 April - How to be a storyteller - Fashion Revolution talk - Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability, 12.30pm to 2.30pm. Calling all creatives! Join Fashion Revolution’s Digital Communications Manager Mel Watt for tips on how to tell a captivating story about your creative journey.

Wednesday, 17 April – Localising the Sustainable Development Goals – Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability, 1:00pm – 4pm. Join this interactive discussion, which aims to deepen our understanding of how localised actions can significantly contribute to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in light of recent global challenges. 

Thursday, 18 April - Siemens Living Lab project showcase - Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability, all day.

Friday, 19 April - Natural Skincare workshop - Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability, 10am to 1pm. Nourish London, an organic skincare company, will show you how to make your own hand cream. During the workshop, you’ll also learn how consumer habits affect the environment and what you can do as creators and consumers to limit the harmful impacts of our consumer culture.

Saturday, 20 April - Mend in Public Day with Fashion Revolution – Angel Central Piazza, 21 Parkfield St, London, N1 0PS, 11am-5pm. Join our partners, Fashion Revolution, to discover how to mend both your clothes and the fashion system. Take part in repair stations, interactive workshops, good food and conversation. All skill levels are welcome.

Monday, 22 April - UN World Creativity & Innovation Day - Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability, 10am to 4pm. Join some of East London’s most sustainably-minded, forward-thinking creatives in a series of hands-on workshops and discussions. 

Monday, 22 April - Research Coffee: Meet the Sustainable Research Institute team - Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability, 1pm to 2pm. Discover the stories behind sustainability research by joining us for a session where researchers from the SRI will share their projects and the real-world implications of their work.

Monday, 22 April – BreathAware Workshop - A Workshop on Air Quality Awareness - Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability, 2pm to 3pm. Take a deep breath and join us for an interactive workshop on air quality awareness! In this workshop, we will discuss air pollution, undertake air quality tests and explore solutions to reduce our exposure to poor air quality.

Tuesday, 23 April - PhD Perspectives, Meet the Next Generation of Sustainability Researchers - Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability, 3.30pm to 4.30pm. Join us in an inspiring session where PhD students studying sustainability share their research journeys, their aspirations, and the motivations behind their decision to pursue a doctoral degree.

Wednesday, 24 April - Sustainability at UEL – Docklands and Stratford Campuses – all day. To wrap up the festival, we’re transforming our Docklands and Stratford campuses into sustainable havens. There’ll be a host of activities: community garden and tree planting, a chance to make art with the Waste Phoenix Collaborative Art project, a Repair Café to fix your broken household appliances and a Dr Bike workshop. Our sustainable marketplace will have a wide range of products for sale and there’ll be meals and snacks available. We’ll also be hosting our Sustainability Awards.

Find out more about sustainability at UEL and our Year of Science.