Case study: Reaching above and beyond Geography's natural alignment with sustainability

The increasing concern around climate change and a sustainable future has been core to how King’s teaches Geography and it is part of many of its modules. In 2020 the Department extended this commitment further to create its own Sustainability in Practice module for both third year undergraduates and postgraduate students. Originally launched by Dr Emma Tebbs and Dr Helen Adams, Dr Rowan Gard has now developed the module further, expanding the partners involved from a wide range of backgrounds including industry, government and within King’s itself.

Living Lab approach

By taking a ‘living lab’ approach, the module anchors learning in the real world so the students spend time discussing core sustainability concepts such as the UN’s Sustainability Development Goals and how they can be practically applied. This approach also enables students to consider what role they have as individuals, groups and communities in implementing sustainable practice. “In the classroom and collectively as a group we put a lot of emphasis on coming together to make systems change,” says Dr Rowan Gard, Lecturer in Human Geography and Sustainability. “I think about 90 per cent of our teaching and learning is done as groupwork, which provides an excellent insight into the challenges we face in realising an idea or project and the benefits of involving a diversity of viewpoints and considerations.”

As a group exercise students are given the opportunity to select a single research project around real sustainability issues faced by partners from the public and private sector. Initially the process can involve some toing-and-froing as the ambitions and methods are finalised. The project then runs for roughly six weeks and at the end they will share the project with their peers, write a report and then present to their partners.

“We work on a myriad of projects every year with a range of partners,” says Rowan. “It gives the students the opportunity to research and to consult, and, I think crucially, to see how hard it can be to move from theories and concepts to practically implementing a project where you make U-turns and have to adapt to changing circumstances.”

Partnering for the planet

Many of the projects have been within King’s itself, working with the sustainability team and different parts of the professional services within the university. Recently a group of students worked with King's Food and Estates & Facilities to find a way to compost the increasing levels of vegetable waste and peelings that has resulted from King’s switching to more vegetarian and vegan options in its catering (the result of another past Sustainability in Practice project). In an urban setting and with limited land, the group proposed that King’s use rooftops for composting, researching possible costings and suppliers for the equipment. The calculations produced by the group guided the decision to go ahead with the project and informed its roll-out across King’s campuses.

The strength of the external partnerships comes from the Department’s 100 + strong connections they have developed through their internship program for the Environment and Society module on the Master’s degree. Transport for London has worked with groups of students for a number of years and recently conducted a project where they assessed how to provide safe travel opportunities during heatwaves for vulnerable people, such as the elderly and those with chronic illnesses. The project not only mapped out the different options such as creating air-conditioned carriages but also proposed the messaging to help communicate the options to the community. “Collaborators want to hear from our students,” says Rowan. “They're interested to hear their views and they realise it benefits them because not only do they get a free consultation but a fresh perspective on some of the sustainability challenges they are facing.”

A new partnership was launched last year with a local football club who were looking to introduce initiatives to become more sustainable and reduce their carbon footprint. The students considered a range of options for the club from EV charging units to offering lower carbon options on their menu . “It is fantastic to see the students’ theoretical understandings and aspirational goals meeting a reality,” says Rowan. “As well as manifesting better employment prospects for their future.”

Creating a sustainability community 

Students have the opportunity to pitch their projects to the King’s sustainability seed fund and three have been successful in receiving funds to implement their ideas and see them come to fruition. Many are able to cultivate the relationship with their project partners, particularly those Masters’ students who are on the internship module where they have been embedded within an organisation for several months. “I’d say around 10 per cent of our students move into permanent employment with their host organisations,” comments Rowan. “And that’s a significant number.”

Alongside the curricula the department has worked hard to integrate sustainability into other aspects of its work. It has a Sustainability Champions team and a sustainability committee and hosts several events during sustainability month such as tree planting and seed bomb initiatives. It is also part of the wider University’s Climate Action Network. “I think these extracurricular activities can connect students beyond the classroom and create a sense of a community.” Rowan was part of a carbon footprint working group which has been embedding initiatives as part of the King’s strategy. She has also been invited to speak at several conferences and external events about the Sustainability in Practice module. “It’s made me really proud of our work but also made me realise that we are fortunate to have this strategic support at King’s.”

Despite the progress and the accolade that the module has received, Rowan is determined there is more to do, a sentiment that chimes with many of those involved in sustainability at King’s. She is interested in creating an ‘Education for Sustainability’ hub to enable the faculties to come together and discuss their initiatives, and to learn from each other rather than duplicating efforts. “I’m proud of the commitment of the University to sustainability” says Rowan. “Not just in our department or faculty, but across King’s. I think people are using different ways to bring sustainability into every aspect of our work to make it real, systemic and meaningful.”