October is Water Month at the University of Sheffield. Staff and students will be taking part in a number of activities and events to help reduce the water consumption of the University, its Union and residences. The University will be giving plenty of tips and advice throughout the month to get staff and students thinking differently about the way they consume water, as well as making them aware of why it is essential that they take care of this precious resource. The University has already implemented a number of water saving measures around the campus but we know there is much more than can be done, both as a University and as individuals. Water Month will see a percentage of the the University's water savings for October going to the worthwhile charity OneWater - a charity which provides water roundabouts to communities in Africa. At the University of Sheffield we firmly believe that everyone is capable of making a difference and we hope that by working together we can make great strides to rectifying the water imbalance in the world. We're taking the plunge in October, help us save water too. Visit www.shef.ac.uk/water-amnesty for more information.

"Why are they looking for water on Mars? Because without water life couldn't exist - it's our most precious resource and everyday we waste it. Water Amnesty at the University of Sheffield aims to make people think differently about the water they use and why, making them better custodians of our aqueous legacy.”

Prof Tony Ryan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Science at the University of Sheffield

In line with the University of the Arts London sustainability action plan UAL has committed to take part in ‘Water Amnesty’ a project that has been instigated by the Free Radicals group founded by Professor Helen Storey (UAL, London College of Fashion) and Professor Tony Ryan OBE (The University of Sheffield).  Water Amnesty is an ambitious concept designed to reduce water consumption in HE environments and also a clever way of generating income for charity ONE WATER.
A target of a 50% reduction over one month has been set and it is hoped by collaborating with fellow Free Radicals members such as Sheffield University, UAL will be able to identify ways in which to cut consumption and achieve its ambitious target. With the money saved as a result of these reductions UAL will make a donation to ONE WATER who are dedicated to providing safe drinking water to thousands of communities in the less developed world.

http://www.fashion.arts.ac.uk/

“University of the Arts London is dedicated to finding innovative solutions to reduce its environmental impact and carbon footprint. The enormous challenge that this presents across six colleges and over 30 sites in London cannot be overstated, but with projects such as Water Amnesty UAL can start to take small steps towards making big changes. In taking action we hope that through collaboration the HE sector can set a benchmark against which others will be measured.”

Prof Will Bridge, Deputy Rector and Chair of Estates and Facilities for Sustainability, University of the Arts London

“Fashioning the Future"
Fashioning the Future brings together a global community of creative thinkers and doers, designers, innovators and entrepreneurs ready to offer the fashion industry opportunities for the future. The underlying issue of consumption, the theme for the 2008 awards, will continue to be a crucial issue to fashion and its sustainability. Aligned to this, the theme for 2009 is Water, and there is a specific cross-discipline award focusing on this.

Student Briefing Pack
www.sustainable-fashion.com

Water Amnesty is a great opportunity to raise the profile of water as something that is a finite natural resource. We will take a multiple approach to the campaign through awareness raising, interactive events and improving infrastructure. The aim is two-fold: empower individuals to use water moderately and, as a University, make sure our water consumption is kept to a minimum.

We will communicate water issues through social media and online tools to all staff and students throughout the month. To achieve our target of making a 30% saving in the water we use, we have already started a comprehensive infrastructure audit and we will share water saving tips, look at how water links with carbon emissions and investigate the question “what is a water footprint?”

A lunchtime discussion will explore innovations on water and a film event ‘The End of The Line’ will focus on oceans and overfishing.
The Water Diary will be available for everybody and some members of staff have agreed to keep the Diary and reflect their thoughts on their use of water.
We will also encourage the use of tap water instead of bottled water and water fountains.

http://www.wmin.ac.uk/sustainability

“Universities have often been the birthplace of major social change. Our planet needs to massively rethink its approach to water, and so I’m pleased that along with our partners this University is once again at the head of the national green agenda”

Professor Geoffrey Petts, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Westminster, world-leading specialist in river research