The University of Tasmania has added to its long list of sustainability achievements after picking up five awards at the 2024 Green Gown Awards Australasia on Thursday night.
Held at the Hotel Grand Chancellor in Launceston, the Green Gown Awards were part of this year’s Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability (ACTS) The Future of Sustainability Conference, which was hosted by the University at the Inveresk campus from 5-8 November.
The Green Gown Awards recognise the tertiary education sector’s leadership in advancing environmental and social responsibility. This year’s awards featured 38 finalists from 18 different institutions across Australia and New Zealand.
The University of Tasmania won the Climate Action Award for its ongoing comprehensive and innovative climate action approach, aimed at significantly reducing its carbon footprint and promoting sustainability.
The University won the Student Engagement Award for its “Sustainable Food Solutions” initiative, a multifaceted program coordinated between the Sustainability Team, TUSA, and the College of Health and Medicine, to address food insecurity among students while promoting sustainable food practices.
The Creating Impact Award went to the Kelcey Tiers Extinction Matters BioBlitz, organised by Dr. Clare Hawkins, Adjunct Researcher at the University of Tasmania, in collaboration with the Bookend Trust and Devonport City Council.
The University was joint winner of the Next Generation Learning & Skills Award for its interdisciplinary Sustainability Major, which allows students from various disciplines to pursue sustainability as a second major, integrating knowledge from fields such as Science, Arts, ICT, Economics, Business, and Health.
This award was shared with TAFE NSW for its entry, “Skilling up the next generation of Sustainability Professionals”.
And University of Tasmania sustainability lecturer and researcher Dr Emily Flies won the Individual Sustainability Champion Award for her substantial contributions through innovative teaching, impactful research, and dedicated community service.
Now in its 22nd year, The Future of Sustainability Conference continues to be the only dedicated sustainability event developed by and for sustainability champions from campus communities across Australasia, attended by both staff and students.
The newly developed Inveresk campus was a fitting location to host the conference, as sustainability principles are at the core of the campus buildings and facilities.
The University of Tasmania’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Corey Peterson said the conference was a great opportunity to bring together higher education staff and students from across Australasia to share their knowledge and experiences.
“At the University of Tasmania, we are committed to significant and bold action for sustainability, and we are pleased to support colleagues and students from across our region of the planet to undertake and lead the changes needed.”
The packed conference program included garden and park tours, interactive games, workshops, roundtables, and conversations on a broad spectrum of topics, including: sustainable design; diversity and equity; carbon literacy; sustainable food systems; the circular economy; and the connections between sustainability and wellbeing.
This year the University was ranked the world’s #1 university in the world for climate action for the third year in a row, by the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings.
The THE Impact Rankings also rated the University of Tasmania as the second most sustainable university in the world for 2024.