An all day event was held today at the Nursing Building of DCU to launch the Sustainable DCU initiative. The seminar was launched by DCU President, Professor Brian MacCraith. He spoke about DCU’s involvement with the Green Way/An Sli Glas and clean energy and the he called for DCU to become an “exemplar” university in terms of addressing sustainability in its economic, environmental and social aspects Dr. Gerry Byrne of the Environmental Protection Agency opened the presentation with a wide-ranging review of the work of the agency. He stressed in particular the issue of waste reduction and how it can be taken forward in the higher education sector. Next Dr. Yvonne Ryan who is in charge of the Green Campus Programme at An Taisce produced an overview of this initiative. How to qualify for a Green Flag by addressing waste, energy, water, travel and bio diversity on campus was the main theme. Ms. Maggie Fagan, a communication student at Colaiste Dhulaigh told the seminar about how her college obtained the Green Flag. The stress was was in the student involvement in particular. Finally Richard Kelly , Estates Manager, provided an informative practical review of DCU’s initiatives around energy conservation, waste reduction and the need for a “greener” campus.

The seminar agreed whole heartedly with the idea that DCU should seek to obtain a Green Flag as soon as possible. The seminar then broke up into four groups to pilot a draft environmental audit across the campus focusing on the Hub, the Mall, the Campus entrance and the Nursing Building. This data will feed into the Green Flag plan to be prepared by the Green Campus Committee which was set up at the end of the seminar.

The afternoon session focused on environmental research at DCU and the possible link s which could be forged with the Green Campus campaign.

Speakers included:

• Dr.Stephen Daniels –Electronic Engineering
• Dr.Sean Marlowe – Electronic Engineering
• Dr.Brid Quilty - Biotechnology
• Prof. Fiona Regan- Chemical Sciences
• Dr.Abdul - Ghani Olabi – Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
• Dr.Anne Morrissey - Oscail

Thus Sustainable DCU was seen to have two distinct but clearly inter-related facets: the campus as a living space and ongoing research contributing to a better environment for the betterment of society.

For further information on the seminar and its follow up please contact Professor Munck (Head of Civic and Global Engagement) at ronnie.munck@dcu.ie or Dr.Declan Raftery of (Office of the Vice President for Research) at declan.raftery@dcu.ie.

Sustainable DCU Workshop 26th May 2011