After a successful interview with Old Leightonian and Glaciologist, Peter Nienow on Monday 8th November, the team took their seats at the Glasgow Science Centre on Tuesday morning for their first COP26 event. The interactive workshop entitled ‘Walk in Beauty’, explored ideas, strategies, and practices, based on a combination of indigenous knowledge and western science that could transform our thinking about the future.
Describing what the group hoped to achieve during their trip, Politics student George, commented “We were looking at optimism vs pessimism and what young people can do to help solve the problem of climate change. Obviously, seeing the agreements coming out of COP26 shows that governments are taking climate change somewhat seriously, and big advancements are coming out of it, such as the America/China deal.”
From the world of western science to walruses, next, one group caught a glimpse of the moustached marine mammal from space, with the Worldwide Fund for Nature and British Antarctic Survey. Walruses are just one species facing the harsh reality of our climate crisis. The ‘Walrus from Space’ project aims to carry out a census of their populations over five years, in order to help scientists spot changes over time.
From a range of exhibiting organisations, students were able to visit the UK Space Agency, University of Reading representative, Sally Stevens from the National Centre for Earth Observation, and Astronaut, Tim Peake. Students have otherwise recently engaged with the work of Tim, through his book ‘Swarm Rising’, cowritten by the School’s Patron of Reading, Steve Cole.
After lunch, Sam, Grace and George made their way to the New York Times Climate Hub to meet with two researchers from the Natural History Museum; Botanist, Dr Sandra Knapp and Head of Earth Sciences, Professor Richard Herrington. The interview, enabled by Old Leightonian, Lottie Dodwell, a colleague of Sandra and Richard, saw the students ask “What can we as young people do to help?” The pair discussed elements of responsible consumerism such as dietary habits, reducing food waste and buying from local sources as well as designing trade that doesn’t induce biodiversity loss.
Whilst at the Climate Hub, the group also listened to what Sandra had to offer as a panel member in the ‘Think Tank’ talk, ‘Plant Trees Not Just Seeds: Counteracting Deforestation’. Following the session, Sam, Grace and George were even able to secure an interview for the next day with accompanying panel member, Elizabeth Wathuti, founder of the Green Generation Initiative.
Reflecting on their last talk of the day ‘Climate Justice Means Racial Justice’, Oliver Staines, Head of Geography, commented “This one served to bring the day full circle for me, contextualising from the other direction the morning talk on indigenous knowledge and western science, not only listening to marginalised voices but not trampling on their rights – oil pipeline protests through native lands was a good example for this.”
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