News
Dunn School Green Festival Brings Sustainability to Life
June 2026
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The Dunn School Green Festival returned from 6–14 June 2026 as part of The Great Big Green Week, bringing together staff, students, suppliers, and the wider community to celebrate environmental sustainability and showcase practical actions that can help reduce our environmental impact.
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The highlight of the week was the Sustainability Talks and Laboratory Tours event held on 10 June in the EPA Seminar Room. More than 25 staff and students attended a programme of talks chaired by Anne Hedegaard, highlighting how sustainability can be embedded into research, laboratory operations, and everyday life.
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We were delighted to welcome Louise Pankhurst from the Foster Group, who shared inspiring examples of biodiversity enhancement at home, within local communities, and in research environments. She demonstrated how simple actions, such as reducing lawn mowing frequency and planting native species, can significantly increase biodiversity. Representatives from Greiner Bio-One and Appleton Woods, Nick Rudge and Eliot Barson, provided valuable insights into their organisations' sustainability journeys and the role suppliers can play in supporting greener laboratory practices. Discussions included sustainable laboratory products such as animal-free FBS alternatives with reduced environmental impact. The programme concluded with Chris James from the Dunn School Workshop, who discussed the importance of equipment repair and maintenance in reducing waste and extending the lifespan of laboratory equipment.
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The event also featured sustainability exhibitions from Greiner Bio-One and Appleton Woods, giving attendees the opportunity to discuss sustainable products, recycling schemes, and circular economy initiatives directly with suppliers. A vegetarian and vegan lunch was generously supported by both companies. Waste Less Bio also supplied additional reusable mugs for the Dunn School Café, helping to reduce single-use cup waste.
Following the talks, attendees joined the popular Dunn School Green Tours, led by Emoke Geröcz and Clémence Levet, visiting a range of sustainability initiatives across the department and learning more about how sustainability is being integrated into everyday laboratory and departmental activities.
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Throughout the week, the Dunn School Green Group flag flew proudly outside the department, highlighting the School's ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability. The flag was raised by Martin Smith and Wayne Swan.
Staff and students also took part in a variety of community activities, including clothes, plant and seed swaps, a bake sale, and the Sesi refill station, which was restocked by Anne Hedegaard using funds donated by suppliers and the Dunn School.
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A particular highlight was the charity cake sale, which featured homemade cakes baked by Raman Dhaliwal and additional cakes generously donated by the Dunn School Café. Together, these contributions helped raise funds for a good cause while bringing the Dunn School community together.
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Another highlight was the plant and seed swap, supported through generous donations from B&Q. Special thanks go to Monika Gullerova, who collected the donated plants and seeds, helping to make the event a great success.
The Green Festival also provided an opportunity to support the wider Oxford community. Through donations made during the week, an impressive £723.50 was raised for Oxford Mutual Aid, helping to support local residents facing financial hardship.
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The week concluded with the Bike Doctor Clinic outside Dunn School Reception on 11 June, where staff and students received free bicycle checks and repairs, encouraging active and sustainable travel.
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Saroj Saurya, Chair of the Dunn School Green Group, said:
"The Green Festival is a wonderful opportunity to bring people together and show that sustainability can be practical, engaging, and achievable. From laboratory recycling and equipment repair to biodiversity projects, sustainable travel, and community activities, every initiative contributes to creating a more environmentally responsible Dunn School. It has been inspiring to see staff, students, suppliers, and volunteers working together to share ideas, learn from one another, and demonstrate that small actions can collectively make a significant difference."
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The Dunn School Green Group would like to thank all speakers, volunteers, suppliers, attendees, and supporters who contributed to another successful Green Festival. The enthusiasm shown throughout the week demonstrates the growing commitment to sustainability across the Dunn School and highlights how small actions, when combined, can make a meaningful difference.
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Written by: Luisa Haiss
Dunn School Hosts Green Festival for Oxford’s Green Action Week
February 2026
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As part of the University of Oxford’s Green Action Week (23-27th Feb 2026), the Dunn School Green Group proudly organised a vibrant Green Festival, bringing together staff, students and partners to celebrate sustainability in action.
The festival featured a series of engaging Green Talks from Joseph Arroway-Myatt, Georgia Tuney, Candice Conyers and Martin Smith. Joseph opened an important discussion on what comes next for Oxford and how to balance sustainability ambitions without causing burnout. Georgia highlighted the impact of everyday lab habits, including how ultra-low temperature freezers can take 17 minutes to return to temperature after being opened unnecessarily. Candice shared insights into Merck’s reusable 5L ethanol stainless steel canister, demonstrating how supply chain innovation can significantly reduce carbon emissions. Martin presented real examples from within the department, showing how laboratory cooling systems contribute substantially to energy costs and COâ‚‚ emissions, and where efficiencies can be improved.
Clemence Levet kindly led a lab tour for guests, showcasing sustainability initiatives in practice within the Dunn School. The event also featured exhibitions from Thermo Fisher Scientific and Merck Group, who provided information on greener laboratory products and sustainable research solutions.
Beyond the talks, the Green Festival fostered a strong sense of community. The Green Group flag was raised on the Dunn School flagpole by Wayne Swan and Martin Smith. Activities included a plant swap supported by donations from B and Q, procured by Monika Gullerova, and a clothes swap for staff and students. The SESI refill stations were restocked by Anne Hedegaard, enabling colleagues to refill household essentials. Cycling leaflets were arranged by Louise Pankhurst to encourage sustainable travel.
Raman Dhaliwal, together with the Dunn School Café and Kerryanne Crawford, generously prepared delicious cakes and cookies for the charity cake sale. Waste Less Bio supplied reusable mugs for the café to reduce single-use waste. Funds raised (around £155) during the event were donated to Oxford Mutual Aid, supporting local families with surplus food and essential goods packages.
Saroj Saurya, Chair of the Dunn School Green Group, said: “Green Action Week shows that sustainability is not just about large policies or targets. It is about everyday actions, shared responsibility and working together as a community to create lasting change.”
The Green Festival demonstrated that sustainability at Oxford is driven not only by innovation and infrastructure, but by people, collaboration and everyday actions that collectively make a difference.
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Written by: Aakash Mukhopadhyay
Dunn School Green Festival 2025: A Celebration of Community and Sustainability
June 2025
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The Dunn School Green Festival, held from 7–15 June 2025 as part of the national Great Big Green Week, was a vibrant celebration of sustainability, community spirit, and climate action. Organised by the Dunn School Green Group, the festival brought together staff, students, and supporters for a series of engaging and impactful activities.
The festival opened with the raising of the Dunn School Green Group flag, a symbolic gesture of the department’s continued commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable science.
Among the most popular events were the plant and seed swap and clothes swap, which promoted circular use and reduced waste by encouraging participants to exchange greenery and garments. The plants—generously donated by B&Q—and a wide variety of clothing items found enthusiastic new owners, creating a buzz of shared purpose and eco-consciousness throughout the week.
Food played a central role in community building. A bake and cook sale, featuring sweet and savoury items, was made possible by Oxford’s community-wide food and goods rescue volunteers. All treats were prepared using surplus ingredients, and the Dunn School Cafe, contributed additional cakes to support the effort.
A SESI refill station offering household products attracted steady interest, with attendees bringing their empty bottles to refill and donate, helping to cut down on single-use packaging.
The Bike Doctor clinic, hosted in collaboration with the university sustainability Team, proved extremely popular. Held outside the main reception, the clinic offered free labour for bike repairs, with participants only paying for replacement parts—promoting cycling as a healthier and more sustainable transport option.
Proceeds from the swaps, refill station, and food sales are being collected in support of Oxford Mutual Aid, with a goal of raising at least £100 from the Dunn School community.
The festival concluded with a thought-provoking seminar titled "One for All: Sustainable Facilities for our Future Research", delivered by Dr Marcelo J. Salierno of King’s College London and chaired by Dr Saroj Saurya. The session highlighted how researchers can reduce their carbon footprint not only by using green energy but by lowering energy use, reducing plastic, and actively involving students in environmental projects such as labware washing.
Reflecting on the festival, Dr Saroj Saurya, Chair of the Green Group, said:
“The Green Festival reflects a wider culture shift at Dunn School—one where environmental awareness is becoming embedded in our daily choices, lab practices, and community events.”
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Written by: Clemence Levet
Sustainability and Community Spirit Unite at Dunn School Green Festival
February 2025
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The Dunn School marked this year’s University of Oxford’s Green Action Week, held from 10th to 14th February 2025, with the vibrant and successful Dunn School Green Festival organised by Dunn School Green Group. The event brought together students and staff of the University in a shared commitment to sustainability, community engagement, and environmental action.
The festival began with the raising of the Dunn School Green Group flag, symbolizing the department's dedication to environmental stewardship. Attendees participated in a clothes and plant swap, bringing gently used items to exchange, reducing waste and promoting a circular economy. The event was supported by B&Q, which donated an array of plants, making the swap even more vibrant and accessible.
Sweet treats were available at the charity bake sale, with cakes and donuts generously donated by the Dunn School Cafe, Sainsbury’s St Aldates, and the Dunn School Postgraduate Research Student Association (PRSA). By the end of the week, more than £430 had been raised and donated to Oxford Mutual Aid to support vulnerable individuals and families across Oxford.
The Bike Doctor session held in association with university sustainability in front of the Dunn School was a huge success, offering free bike repairs with participants paying only for parts used. This encouraged cycling as a sustainable and healthy commuting option. A refill station with SESI household products was also popular, where people refilled their empty bottles and donated funds.
Sustainability talks were another highlight of the festival. Danielle Stephens from Recycle Lab delivered an insightful presentation on contaminated lab plastic recycling, exploring innovative methods to reduce plastic waste in research. Saroj Saurya, captivated the audience with a talk on Community-wide food and goods rescue initiatives. Both sessions sparked engaging discussions.
Greiner Bio-One showcased their sustainable products giving participants an opportunity to explore eco-friendly alternatives. Meanwhile, Dunn School tours led by Clemence Levet Anne Hedegaard highlighted various ongoing green initiatives at the school.
"The green festival at Dunn School showcased the power of small, everyday actions in making a big, positive impact on our environment."
— Saroj Saurya, Chair of the Dunn School Green Group
The Dunn School Green festival was a resounding success, raising awareness about environmental issues while fostering a strong sense of community and shared responsibility. The event serves as an inspiration for future sustainability efforts within the university and beyond.
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Written by: Deeksha Munnur
Green Action Week Feb 2025
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New Life for Lab Plastics as Planters
August 2024
Green Action Week at Dunn School: Fostering Sustainability and Community Engagement
February 2024
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The Dunn School of Pathology at the University of Oxford has successfully concluded its Green Action Week, a testament to the institution's ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship. From the 19th to the 23rd of February 2024, the Dunn School was abuzz with a series of eco-centric activities, showcasing the collective green spirit of the Dunn School Green Group and the wider university community.
The week kicked off with the Bike Doctor clinic on the 19th help organized by Jo Peel with the support from the University of Oxford's sustainability team, providing free bike repairs outside the Dunn School reception, promoting sustainable transportation, and the installation of the Dunn School Green Group flag by Dunn School workshop, a symbol of the Dunn School's dedication to green initiatives, proudly displayed for all to see.
The Combination Room at the Dunn School played host to a variety of eco-conscious activities, including a clothes swap, a cake and bake sale with items baked by Dunn School members, and a plant and seed swap. These activities were made possible through collaborations with local M&S and Sainsbury's stores, B&Q and some sustainable laboratory suppliers, highlighting the community's efforts to promote a circular economy and reduce waste.
Highlighting the week were two key sustainability talks held in the EPA seminar room on the 21st. Danielle Stephens from RecycleLab addressed plastic waste management in the science industry with her talk "Breaking the Mould." This was complemented by "Waste not, want not" from Mary Mawhinney and Elliot Possnett of Oxford Mutual Aid, which offered insights into food waste's social and environmental implications. Both sessions, well-attended by the university community, were enriched by a RecycleLab-sponsored sandwich lunch and afternoon tea courtesy of Atlantic Imaging.
Participants were also invited to book Green Initiative tours, showcasing the Dunn School's sustainability efforts, including the Raff lab's ongoing initiatives and the Community-Wide Food and Goods Rescue Initiative. The green tours, led by Clemence Levet from Freeman Lab and Anne Hedegaard, from James & Lillian Martin Centre showcased the Dunn School's eco-friendly practices and inspired attendees to incorporate similar actions into their own lives.
The culmination of the events was the generous donation of proceeds, amounting to approximately £350 (£130 alone from Atlantic Imaging), to Oxford Mutual Aid. This gesture highlighted the interconnectedness of community support and environmental care.
Saroj Saurya, lab manager of the Raff lab and chair of the Green Group, reflected on the week’s success, stating, “I extend my heartfelt thanks to all participants and sponsors. Your support was indispensable. The Sir William Dunn School of Pathology is driven by its green ethos, and the passion and dedication witnessed during Green Action Week reinforce our hope that our collective efforts will catalyze broader environmental consciousness and tangible progress.”
The Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, buoyed by the week's triumph, is poised to continue championing environmental advocacy, inspired by the community's collaborative spirit and unified strides towards sustainability.
Written by: Karim Housseini
Collage created by Karim Housseini B Issa. Pictures taken by Saroj Saurya and Clemence Levet
Dunn School with Green Group flag during the Great Big Green Week. Photo by Saroj Saurya
Green Action Week 2024 poster created by Saroj Saurya
Collage created by Karim Housseini B Issa. Pictures taken by Saroj Saurya and Clemence Levet
Green Group celebrates High Sheriff Award
February 2022
Saroj Saurya Spotlighted for Glove Recycling Initiative on University of Oxford's Lab Stories
November 2020
2020 Environmental Sustainability Awards Recognize Dunn School's Commitment
October 2020
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In October 2020 Environmental Sustainability Awards, the Dunn School of Pathology earned noteworthy mention for its pioneering efforts in sustainable laboratory practices. Embracing the new Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF) initiative, multiple labs from our department achieved distinct LEAF accreditations. Both the Molecular Immunology Group and Raff lab were conferred with the LEAF Silver accreditation. Meanwhile, the Gruneberg Lab and the Gluenz Lab distinguished themselves by attaining the LEAF Bronze accreditation. These accolades exemplify the Dunn School's ongoing dedication to championing environmental sustainability in laboratory settings.
The Molecular Immunology Group's inaugural LEAF certificate from 2020, awarded by the University of Oxford Sustainability Team
The Raff Lab's inaugural LEAF certificate from 2020, awarded by the University of Oxford Sustainability Team
The Molecular Immunology Group's inaugural LEAF certificate from 2020, awarded by the University of Oxford Sustainability Team
Dunn School Goes Green with Climate Awareness Week Underway
September 2020