Thriving Futures: The role of the University in shaping policy for a more sustainable world

What is the role of universities in affecting climate policy?

How can research help ensure global policy can protect people and planet?

And how do students play their part?

As global temperatures continue to rise and the effects on society and ecosystems become increasingly damaging, there is a huge weight of expectation on this year’s United Nations Climate Change summit – the 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties, COP28 – to deliver a clear plan of action.

In this webinar, hear from some of the people at the University of Birmingham who are working with politicians and businesses to help ensure climate policy is based on the best possible research. Also, hear from the University’s student community on the initiatives and projects helping to address the climate crisis.

Chaired by the Guild’s Ethical and Environmental Officer (Ismael Rodriguez Foronda) the panel will include presentations from;

• Amil Khan, University of Birmingham’s Public Affairs Manager will discuss COP28 policy engagement and why it’s important for universities to work with policy makers.
• Dr Helen Onyeaka, Associate Professor at the School of Chemical Engineering will discuss how her research into protecting food security in a warming world is influencing global policy.
• Undergraduate Eliska Gooch will discuss how plant-based campuses is working to affect policy change at the University at a local level.

About the speakers; 

Ismael Rodriguez Foronda is the Ethical and Environmental Officer, as well as a Mechatronics and Robotics student at the University of Birmingham

Amil Khan is the Public Affairs Manager at the University of Birmingham and supports the institution with its regional and civic engagement. He also provides some policy impact support for research which includes the university’s policy and political stakeholder engagement for COP28. Amil will discuss COP28 policy engagement, what we have planned for the event, why it’s important for universities to work with policy makers, and the impact we can have when it comes to influencing policy makers.

Dr. Helen Onyeaka is an industrial microbiologist with 25+ years of expertise, she excels in academia, research, and training and leads postgraduate and undergraduate courses in Food Microbiology, Food Safety, and Chemical Engineering while supervising research projects. Her presentation will explore why research is important when it comes to climate policy. Understanding the consequences of climate change and evaluating strategies that will effectively deal with these consequences is one way research empowers policymakers in addressing the pressing global challenge of climate change.

Eliška Gooch is a final year BSc Environmental Science Student, as well as a Humanitarian, Animal and Environmental activist.

This event is part of the University’s Green Week and open to all.