The digital platform was developed by Bachelor of Design Innovation graduate, Kerryn Song, who worked on a Summer Research Scholarship with the Sustainability Office on the project.
The University’s Sustainability Director Andrew Wilks says there are many projects and initiatives going on around the three campuses and the office was looking for innovative approaches to letting people know about them. They also wanted to provide information about what sustainability means and to get people thinking about how they can contribute towards a more sustainable future.
The tool presents slightly different information and poses different questions, depending on whether people identify as a student or staff member.
Kerryn says the project was a great opportunity to apply the design and web development skills she had learnt in her degree to a real project
She says as a student she didn’t see much sign of sustainable development in action on campus but her view changed once she became involved with the project. “It turns out the University actually does a lot in this area, but it mostly goes behind the scenes. This project attracted me as I wanted to help make visible and known what the office of sustainability really does, and hopefully for this to spark more involvement from staff and students.”
She says the platform is intended to provide an induction to sustainability for staff and students, which she hopes people will take it as a starting point and then go on to further educate and involve themselves in sustainable action.
Mr Wilks says the sustainability tool is a must for anyone new to the University but he hopes others will give it a go. “We want to engage with the University community to ensure people know what we are doing and also to hear from you about what you think is important for the University’s sustainability journey.”