Reading School has benefitted from a series of grant-funded interactive workshops imagining sustainable futures. In the workshops, led by local Social Enterprise Design Nature, pupils explored the potential for more renewable energy in the future and devised Action Plans as to how to get there.
The workshops focussed on design challenges and innovations, allowing students to get creative in thinking about sustainable futures in their school and wider communities. Topics explored included waste management, food production, transport, renewable energy solutions, education and the potential for generation in space.
Five workshops were held for Year 8 pupils, with a total of 150 students reached by the programme.
Innovative ideas from pupils included putting solar panels on wind turbines, creating greenspaces for growing food near schools, generating energy through gym equipment like rowing machines, and even shortening school days to reduce energy use!
The workshops were funded by a grant from Reading Community Energy Society and aimed to grow awareness of renewable energy and climate issues in the local area as well as combining creative design and teamwork with science subjects.
The initial workshops acted as a pilot project that Design Nature is keen to expand to other local schools. Mark Mason, Co-Director of Design Nature, said “We are very much looking forward to what 2023 will hold for us and would be keen to roll out ‘Renewable Futures’ further”.