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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