Green Gown Awards 2021: Sustainability Champion – Student - UWE - Catarina Costa - Highly Commended

Catarina Costa

I have worked collaboratively, pro-actively and innovatively in my role as President for the UWE Built Environment Society to embed sustainability into the curriculum across two main projects.

Zero Carbon Framework (ZCF): a series of three short courses (by levels: Aware, Skilled and Expert) focusing on zero carbon design in the built environment to be provided by the society (for students, and by students in the future). The first two levels have already been successfully delivered by the society mentor (a lecturer) and I was a key part of designing the first level which has been delivered during September 2020 to 1000+ students!

Passive Pod: a fully student-led design and construction project of a studio-sized pod using low carbon Passivhaus principles to be built on campus. The design has been approved by lecturers and materials have been ordered to start building during Summer 2021 onwards!

The two projects embody an advanced education for sustainable development agenda with the Architecture and Built Environment (ABE) department by positively empowering students with knowledge and skills related to their course and sustainability.

Top 3 learnings:

1. Collaboration is the key to generate positive change.
2. Questioning of existing status-quo is essential in order to do better and move forward.
3. Adverse situations can lead to incredible projects and experiences!