Open Minds for a Greener Future

From the ongoing cost of living crisis and increased energy bills everyone has experienced, access to ‘affordable, reliable and modern energy for all’ (part of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals) has risen to the forefront of concerns for many people. The thought of what gets deposited into a toilet becoming a source of sustainable renewable energy is not only a comical thought but a possible reality through anaerobic digestion. From the toilet, to wastewater treatment plants, to energy Luna Pulford will be talking about the science behind this source of green (or brown) energy.

Did you know that the medicines and drugs we take can end up in our water sources and pose potential risks to our health and the environment? Learn about the emerging contaminants, like pharmaceuticals, in wastewater and groundwater in Botswana. Using cutting-edge technology, the research aims to determine the concentration and distribution of these contaminants and assess their risks, with the aim of ensuring sustainable supply of water for our communities, and a healthier environment for the future.

Most of us have taken at least one type of medicine in our lives, whether that’s over the counter painkillers or more complex treatments for diseases such as HIV, but have you ever stopped to think about how your medicines are made? This talk will explore how medicines have evolved from using whole plants to the cutting edge of engineering biosynthetic pathways and we will discuss how this supports us to develop a more sustainable world.

We are facing an unprecedented Earth crisis driven by climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss, leading to widening inequality, vulnerabilities, and poor health. Contact and connection with nature can restore and promote human health, especially mental health, but it can also bring benefits to natural environments. This talk will look at the ways in which nature can promote good health and wellbeing and show how participatory engagement in natural environments can build a more caring, compassionate, and sustainable future.