To be held at the University’s Bedford campus on the 26^th January between 09:30–13:00, the event will be themed around investing in a sustainable future. In December last year Bedfordshire retained its Top 10 spot for sustainability by the People & Planet University Green league, making it the perfect place to host an environmentally-conscious event of this calibre.  

Approximately 300 Key Stage 3 (KS3) students from schools across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Milton Keynes and Essex will be in attendance. It is hoped that the summit will reinforce the impact of environmental challenges the planet is currently facing and will help young people to identify possible solutions and technologies which could contribute towards combatting climate change for future generations.

Dr James Bishop, Senior Lecturer in Construction Management & Building Technology at the University, will be delivering the keynote speech laying out the main themes of the summit. He will be using an interactive software to visualise climate change and the impact of different actions that people can take.

Speaking about his involvement, Dr Bishop commented: “I’m very pleased to have this fantastic opportunity to represent STEM subjects on behalf the University. It is important to be discussing the actions we can take to tackle the climate change crisis. Bringing these discussions to the fore at all levels of academic study are key, and we really look forward to hearing more from the KS3 students themselves.”

Bringing together partners from across education, research and the wider STEM sectors, the event hopes to enhance students’ understanding of the science behind – and implications of – climate change.

Paula Page, Collaborative Outreach Project Manager at the University of Bedfordshire added: “Hosting the Climate Change Conference at the University is a great opportunity for our local schools and brings together expertise from our University academics, STEM Ambassadors and local businesses. This further strengthens the relationship that we have with the Hertfordshire & Essex Science Learning Partnership and we look forward to future collaborations.”

The Hertfordshire & Essex Science Learning Partnership provides subject-specific Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for primary and secondary schools across Hertfordshire, West Essex and Bedfordshire, aiming to support schools to develop high-quality science and STEM teaching provisions.

Claire Ruthven, Lead Practitioner of the organisation, said: “We are thrilled to be working together with the University of Bedfordshire to offer this exciting opportunity for schools. 

“Young people understand the threat climate change poses, and this school summit highlights how different industries and local authorities are tackling the issues surrounding the future of our planet, and provides an insight into the diverse career opportunities in the field.”

The event will also feature a marketplace where students can talk with local businesses and local authorities, alongside the opportunity to get involved in a number of workshops to broaden their understanding of the topic.