On 9th December 2021, ASHRAE NUIG Student Branch, chaired by Raquel Lima, hosted Prof. Jamie Goggins, Michael Curran and Hannah Aris for a webinar on “Sustainability Plan Implementation for NUI Galway”. The main objective of the event was to discuss the NUI Galway Sustainability Strategy 2021-2025 from different perspectives: development, implementation, and student contribution.
Background:
The NUI Galway Sustainability Strategy 2021-2025 sets out the university vision and commitment to lead the implementation of sustainability across the campus and beyond. NUI Galway, a signatory to the ‘SDG Accord’, commits to do this by embedding sustainability in its culture, operational policies and governance structures and empowering its communities to be champions of sustainability. The vision is anchored in the Shared Vision, Shaped by Values ambition to lead the transition to a sustainable future on the campus, in Galway city and region and around the world. The Strategy is based on a Learn-Live-Lead model organised around 6 themes (Research and Learning, Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Nature and Ecosystems, Health and Wellbeing, Built Environment and Governance and Leadership). Each theme is comprised of a series of aims, objectives and targets for the next five academic years. The Strategy was developed by the Community University Sustainability Partnership (CUSP) team following campus-wide consultation.
About the Speakers:
Prof. Jamie Goggins is an Established Professor at NUI Galway and a Chartered Engineer with more than 20 years’ of experience in consultancy, construction, expert advisory work and research. His core expertise is in developing sustainable and resilient structures for buildings and energy infrastructure. He served on the Council of Engineers Ireland and is former Chair and President of the Civil Engineering Research Association of Ireland. He is also Principal Investigator and member of the Executive Management team of the MaREI Centre, and Chair of the Community University Sustainability Project (CUSP) board in NUI Galway.
Michael Curran is the head of Building Services, Energy and Utilities at NUI Galway and current CIBSE Ireland Chairman. Michael is a graduate of the University of Liverpool and has served over 18 years as a building service consultant in industry before taking up his current role in NUIG. Michael is a core part of the day to day building operations in NUIG and in recent years has specifically focused on the university sustainability strategy leading the team in winning SEAI team of the year in 2019.
Hannah Aris is a PhD student at NUI Galway studying Biomedical Engineering. In 2019, she became the president of the NUI Galway Energy Society and led initiatives such as the Green Energy Festival, Pedal Powered Charging Station Initiative, the Wind Farm 5k, and led international networking with the European Fusion leaders. She serves as the Auditor for the Energy Society and Vice Auditor for the Women in STEM Society at NUI Galway. She was also selected as a Climate Change Ambassador for Galway by An Taisce in recognition of her outstanding environmental work.
Agenda:
NUI Galway Sustainability Strategy 2021-2025 [J. Goggins]
– Strategy background, how it was envisioned and developed.
– What is the strategy and the main topics addressed in it.
– Stakeholders involved in the strategy, the CUSP team, and their main goals.
Sustainability implementation in the NUI Galway campus [M. Curran]
– The ongoing and proposed actions to implement the NUI Galway Sustainability Strategy 2021-2025 on campus.
– The stakeholders involved in this implementation.
– The role of the NUI Galway Buildings & States in the implementation.
NUI Galway Energy Society – Student contribution to sustainability [H. Aris]
– The role/contributions of the Energy Society and the NUI Galway students, in general, in the development of the NUI Galway Sustainability Strategy 2021-2025.
– The Energy Society activities (past, ongoing and scheduled) regarding sustainability on campus.
Presentation slides:
[Raquel Lima] http://ashrae-ireland.org/wp-content/…
[Jamie Goggins] http://ashrae-ireland.org/wp-content/…
[Michael Curran] http://ashrae-ireland.org/wp-content/…
[Hannah Aris] http://ashrae-ireland.org/wp-content/…
Recording: