Course Endex

OK so the course ended rather abruptly for me. Work kind of took over what with the submission of a couple of proposals and all the related work with it, as well as managing exhibition space and having to nip down to the capital for briefing events.

So I didn't get a chance to submit a poster and an assignment which kind of sucks.

Nevertheless I still think I've taken a heck of a lot away from the course. It's opened my eyes as to the various approaches to and actions happening to promote sustainability and I've also learnt how I can do more to promote sustainability in both work and private life.

According to the site I did 88% of the course, so I qualify for the certificate....but to be honest I'm not paying the fee to get a certificate - I've signed up to 5 Courses, and that would be well over £100.

Call me tight fisted but that's a waste of money.

Anyway - on to Course number 2!

Check out my new blog for the next course: UNDERSTANDING MODERN BUSINESS & ORGANISATIONS

Blog can be seen here: http://nickeyley.blogspot.com/

My thoughts for the future...

It is possibly not a wise idea to ask me such an open ended question like "what are your thoughts for the future"

My mind instantly wanders off to monkey ruled planets with the Statue of Liberty buried in the beach - or alien invasions blowing up the White House.....(Hollywood inspired much!)

Talking of Hollywood - Perhaps I should be thinking of films like that one where Dennis Quaid predicts the next Ice Age and no one believes him until it's too late...and Mexico ends up saving America.

Well chaps - we've got the evidence and a big budget movie to prove it - don't get caught unprepared!

 Reigning my mind in like an unruly toddler on bungee ropes for a second - what can I see the future being for me?!

Well as long as I keep paying off my mortgage thereby keeping a roof over my head, and food on the table - I guess I'd be happy.

I mean, most of us have daydreamed about winning the lottery and indulging in the sports car / holiday / castle / personal rugby stadium in the garden / etc. but being completely honest for a second - Personally I'd be happy with being comfortable...and by being comfortable I mean having enough of everything to plod on with my time on this planet with my family and friends.

Oh...you mean future resources wise?

Well I guess the same answers apply really - I'd be happy with being comfortable.

I mean I already try to be frugal with the gas / water and electricity I use, I've got a little wood burner fire that quickly heats the whole downstairs of my Semi-Detached house if I burn enough sustainably sourced wood.

I'm the type of person who would go and put a jumper on before whacking the heating on full blast.

With the price of energy being what it is, and with it only going one way, I can see myself using the log burner more and more - thankfully I live near a wood, so worst case scenario I take my axe out on walks with me.

Longer term...

I see petrol & diesel being swapped for hydrogen in vehicles, once they get the fuel storage methods safe and cheap enough! I can see the Big 6 energy companies fighting over scraps of natural resources and pricing each other out of the market - and I can see more and more solar / wind energy generating methods springing up across the country...

...unless we're all flooded by then. (on the bright side we could use hydro power then!)

Either way I'll be alright I'm sure - I live on a hill, with a wood, a log burner, an axe....and a semi efficient guard dog.

The Sustainable Forests Partnership (SFP)

As part of the Sustainability MOOC I've been researching The Sustainable Forests Partnership (SFP).

By the time I've reached Google searches I can tell the SFP are going to be World Savers...and I'm right, they're so sustainable they don't even use computers to update the website!

http://sfp.cas.psu.edu/

"Last modified Thursday, June 2, 2011 12:48"

Anyway, back to business:

• What impact are these initiatives having? Can you cite short examples of impact?

Well, this initiative aims to raise awareness and document initatives into sustaining rests and communities and assists others to integrate this innovation into policy and practice. It generates impact by:

• Identifying key sustainable forestry issues and trends
• Designing and conducting sustainable forestry research
• Developing education and training materials and events
• Providing assistance services to organizations and individuals interested in sustainable forestry issues.

They show(ed) good intentions...but having noticed this website page was last updated in 2008 I'm starting to wonder if they've fallen by the wayside.

Their "latest" projects from 2011 give impact by raising awareness to the public on various issues regarding societal interaction with forests.

Truth be told I haven't read these in depth, but if they can't (for whatever reason) update a website in over three years or more, I can't be mithered to read their "Current" projects.

• How are they proving able to cover the three pillars of sustainability: environmental protection, social equity and economic viability? Or if not, which ones don’t they cover?

The goals of the SFP are all aimed at raising awareness.

From the examples I have read, it seems they cover vaguely the pillars of sustainability. By raising awareness through project reporting they promote environmental protection and social equity.

Without going in to these in depth it doesn't seem like they really cover economic viability - and even if I did research this in depth - would the outcomes themselves be viable?

The data itself is three years out of date...Any Impact they had has now been superseded.

Learning to date...

During the course so far I have learnt the following:

a) Everyone’s opinions, however different, have an echo of wanting to do something positive regarding sustainability. I haven’t seen anyone state that they want to see the world burn. That’s also taught me that maybe we’re inherently a good bunch of people…

b) I've learnt about myself, and my attitudes to sustainability and how they’re ingrained by my culture, heritage and past growing up, and how I could potentially change my lifestyle for the benefit of myself, and my environment. 

I always thought I was pretty good at being sustainable – I recycle, I reduce my gas and electric consumption by using a log burner etc.  But this course has shown me how little I’m doing compared to what is possible.

c) Sustainability is not just about halting the melting ice caps, or reducing our carbon footprint. It is those things, but it’s so much more. It’s about an attitude change to reduce the negative impact we have on the world in everything we do.

Reading the comments of some other people posting up on the MOOC, some of the answers to things people have put are pretty threadbare - they could answer in more detail. They answer the questions sure, but they could include detail on why they've answered, how they reaching that opinion and what has led them to that conclusion.

Maybe it’s because I’m nosy, but I’d like to get a bit of background, a feel behind the person posting up the answer – It would help me to understand their attitudes and why they’re saying what they do. I try to do it in my posts and certainly in this blog as it’s my space to explain my opinions and the attitudes I have, and that’s OK right?

Heritage as Propoganda

There's a black and white photo my father took in the midst of the UK miners' strike (1984–1985) of a toddler, clearly scared and unable to process the chaos around him.  There's tears welling up in his innocent eyes and running down his dirt smudged face. His knitted woolen jumper is torn and his mop of blonde hair is filthy. He's stood in the middle of the street, in front of a pile of smoking rubble - completely alone.

This image, due to the age of its subject was unable to be published in the media. Had it been, it would have been more poignant, and said ten times more than any of the arguments of that day.

I have only seen that image once, but whenever anyone talks about the Miners' strikes I can't help but think of that nameless toddler and feel the anguish and desperation in his eyes.

I've tried to write this piece from an unbiased perspective, stating only facts relevant to the message I want to convey. I have my opinions on the UK miners' strikes as I'm sure you, the reader do too.

The message I wanted to get across is how one single image, of an unknown innocent child from one part of society, taken at a time of huge divide can have such massive impact on me still, over 28 years later.

Anthropocentricity Vs Ecocentricity...and donkeys.

Ignore the title. I possibly just made up two new words. Hurrah!

Am I anthropocentric or am I eco-centric...well let's look at the evidence:

Do I think I am a dominant species in nature? -  Yes. 

I mean I've learned the knowledge and skill to light a fire, drive cars, use tin openers, and knock up a cracking spaghetti bolognese - something I'm willing to bet the average donkey can't do. BUT does that really make me the most significant species on the planet?

Am I more important to nature than a donkey? or a plant for that matter? - No, probably not. 

I don't really contribute to nature the way a plant does. I don't take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen like they do...in fact just the opposite.

Hang on, does that make us equals? And therefore am I too anthropocentric? Should I be eco-centric?

Honestly - the more I think about it the more I get confused, I think i've reached a counter-counter-counter argument in my head. So, let's make it simple. 

Every species has evolved in some method or manner. The chameleon has a massively effective method of defence, far superior to a human whose best method of camouflage so far is some form of disruptive pattern material.

HOWEVER... humans have developed rapidly in the past 200 years, creating tools to survive more easily and make our lives better: For example - Cars, Electricity, Nuclear Power,... and Rugby Union....and then if I think about donkeys, (which I am one to do)...well let's face it, what have donkeys done in the last 200 years...other than worn footpaths into the beach at Blackpool?

HOWEVER - Donkeys haven't started wars because they didn't like other religions leading to the deaths of millions of other donkeys....Donkeys don't have to pay more taxes because donkey bankers have ruined the country and donkeys don't have to visit the mother in law when the 6 Nations is on this weekend.

So really - who's the more clevererererist species?

Well played donkeys, well played. 

Quick update on the MOOC

Well blimey - Everything has gone a little turbo at work at the moment. I've not had a spare minute to give to either writing blogs or thinking about sustainability.

As my old teachers used to say - "must do better!"

So recently I've been working on a new exhibition space, which demonstrates all the impact of the research outcomes in the Faculty of Engineering. The new Technology Demonstrator showcases 13 pieces of innovative impact across a whole range of societal areas.

Out of all of these fantastic exhibition pieces (and they're all massively impressive, seriously the output of the University of Nottingham is amazing!) I have noticed myself thinking about the impact on sustainability.

For example - Drill cuttings for oil off shore - The technology demonstrator showcases new developments and procedures to remove residual oil  in this waste to under 1% (from a standard minimum of ~15%)  - Therefore meaning cleaner seas and oceans, and saving on transport costs which saves fuel and emissions etc.

On top of this we now demonstrate developments, benefits and therefore improvements in Sustainability across agricultural, architectural, road safety, nano-materials, health preservation, manufacturing and many more I'm neglecting to mention.

Writing this blog and going back over thinking about the exhibitions I've worked with recently, it's just dawned on me...

There's a hell of a lot of thought going in to sustainability across everything we're researching.

We'll have this planet fixed in no time.

Sustainability Week 3

OK so I've not posted anything for a while on here. Work's been super busy what with first pot of  €70bn research funding up for grabs, I've just not had time to be able to dump more mind ramblings on this blog.

Anyway, here goes.

Week 3 of the sustainability MOOC and it's all about food. (Awesome!) I was hoping for a few sustainable recipes maybe, but perhaps that can come towards the end of the week??

I was quite shocked to find out from the videos of the Cripps house on University Park Campus. University of Nottingham, that little things like having an empty fridge is more energy consumptive (if that isn't a word...I'm claiming it as a new one!) than having one filled with items. There was a really good suggestion by the Nottingham academic about having bottles of water in the fridge too to save energy - Think I'll have to do that.

By the way if you want to get more information about the Creative Energy Homes at the University of Nottingham, you can get this here:

http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/creative-energy-homes/creative-energy-homes.aspx

I've not completed week 3 currently so I may update the blog again shortly, depending on if I want another rant, or the cogs start turning again...

.

.

.

Oh yeah, that's another thing - (sorry, my mind goes off on random tangents sometimes, bear with me!) There's a new road layout on my way to work and on my 30 mile commute it's the last half mile to get to work (and the first half mile going home). Previously it would take me perhaps a minute or two to complete this stretch of road which includes two roundabouts, a speed camera (not a problem, honestly!) and a traffic light.

still with me? Now...

DAMN YOU WHOEVER DECIDED TO CHANGE THE NEXT ROUNDABOUT DOWN THE ROAD INTO A T-JUNCTION.

Since the road got changed, (very recently I might add) it's taking me 10 times a long to do the same stretch! that's between 10 and 20 minutes, crawling along, stopping, starting - all the while burning fuel.

Surely that's reversing all my efforts to be sustainable?!?!

My Yorkshire Dales.

The Yorkshire Dales, for me, is such a wonderful part of the UK and maybe it's the memories I have attached to it, but it's one of the very few things that can bring a tear to my eye.

Me. A great big hairy 17 stone, front row, rugby boy.

There's one place in particular that I go, (I won't say where exactly) but it's a lovely tiny little village. There's nothing really there: a waterfall hidden by an old Water mill, a pub, a tuck shop and a quaint little village green set at the bottom of a shallow natural valley with various walks scattered through it. I guess I love it up there as it's somewhere that my mum loved and where she's laid to rest, and the feelings of that place I'm expressing here, for me, suit a lot of the Yorkshire Dales.

Even when I'm sat in meetings, stressing out with deadlines approaching I can think back to that place and the calming effect on me it has is wonderful.

Every time I go back there I get a sense of peace and calm. All my troubles seem to loosen as I drive up the M1 A1 and by the time I get to my favourite spot, they've been washed away.

As a place It's so quiet, and the locals there are lovely, it's just a beautiful corner of the world.

My mum's buried under a tree on top of the valley over looking the village and so every time I'm back, I take the same old path, in front of the waterfall, up and over the river feeding it, and up onto the worn out footpath across the fields, until it leads me up to the top of the valley.

The view we left her with is breathtaking. You can overlook the small, almost forgotten village in the base of the valley, and see for miles, even on the dull days. Even the occasional gust of wind isn't a nuisance.

My love of this place started when I was tiny, and my earliest memories are of the family spending weekends up there in rented cottages, eating and drinking well, singing and laughing as one big clan. Even the sadness of losing my mum is somehow lessened knowing she's forever there and I can always see her when I return.

Even happier memories of subsequent visits only deepen my affinity with the Yorkshire Dales:

Being forced off the road and subsequently surrounded by an endless herd of sheep

My older brother introducing a 10 year old me to a local bitter. (I liked it!)

As a man, returning there with my brother and our dad for a weekend of food, beer and walks.

Introducing my brother's two daughters, my wonderful nieces to the same place and watching their love of the Yorkshire Dales (and beer!) grow.

The last of these, I'm counting as a point for Sustainability by the way!

Week 2 of the MOOC

OK so week 2 of the Sustainability MOOC is now well underway. It's not even 10 am and the opinions of some of my course mates are really offending me.

Everyone's entitled to their opinions, and naturally I wouldn't do anything to stop that but some of the utter tosh being spouted by some people really does "extract the waste fluid".

Excerpt from my post on the course:

"I was lucky enough to be brought up in the Peak District, which became the Britain's first National Park... 

...What this has meant for me, being born in 1985, I was able to grow up in a beautiful part of the UK, in a lovely, and thriving town not only busy through tourism but also through the nurturing of the community itself..."

The town I'm talking about is Bakewell, and on a side note:


If that sounds familiar it's because of its fame (or infamy) of the Bakewell Pudding, and NOT the Mr Kipling type rubbish. The proper Bakewell pudding is the ugly duckling of the cake world, but my gosh are they delicious warm with custard or cold with ice cream, and well worth a visit to Bakewell just for the taste!

But I digress... Bakewell is one of the busier towns in the Peaks (and a lot of this via tourism) and after reading comments on the course such as:

"The Lake and Peak Districts, the mountain of Scotland and Wales - they should all be covered in trees"


I can't help but be flabbergasted and the small mindedness of such comments. 
Fine - let's demolish the entirety of the Peak District and plant trees over everyone's homes, businesses and parks etc. I'm pretty sure that a) the relocation of these communities would create a serious dent in the economy, carbon footprints and set back sustainability in general because b) the benefits would, I honestly believe be marginal.
Perhaps the person who stated the comment above should do a bit of reading up on the Peak District. For example did they know that 69% of the land within the Peak District is protected for natural wildlife and growth
I could go on, and mention the benefits brought to the National Park by having the non-tree covered bits...such as the 16-20 Million tonnes of carbon stored in the peatlands which are crucial for nature conservation and reducing the impacts of climate change.

I think I've made my point though, and I've calmed down now....What's the next topic of discussion?

(Data taken from: http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/79231/factsheet8-conservation.pdf )

A bit about me!

OK so for a bit of background: for the last couple of months I've been sat here working on European Funding preparation ready for the big Horizon 2020 launch that's just happened. Now comes the flurry of proposal writing and all that goes with it.

So, on to week 2 of the MOOC and the first video gives a philosophical perspective on Sustainability and ponders the question of who are we trying to be sustainable for and specifically:

"Second question is the question of the sources of our obligations to act sustainably. Why should we try to preserve these opportunities for living well for other people?"

Surely that's just common sense, right? I don't have any kids (that I know about...) but I'm pretty sure if I do have them at some stage, I'd want them to live in a world with the same living quality, benefits, levels of  resource and opportunities that I currently enjoy. Why wouldn't I want that for the next generation?

Apart from beetroot....I seriously don't care if the world's beetroot ceases to exist.


I REALLY hate beetroot.

Now, I'm not the laziest person in the world, but the questions raised in the video did get me thinking. If the current generations decided  - "Right, that's it, we're not bothered about the future of mankind" then what is the point of X amount of people across the world working in research to discover (amongst other things) more ways to be sustainable in every aspect of life.

Seriously, if that's the case, let me know.

I could be in the pub right now, drinking a nice cider delivered by courier in a really fuel inefficient super-car whom I'd made drive on the rev limiter all the way, and who'd stopped at the ice-caps to chill my glass, and fill it with ice. I could also have a great big Cuban cigar i'd had personally flown over from Havana and lit using flaming crude oil. And I'd leave the lights on whilst I do it.

We're not that arrogant though are we?

First Post on my journey into Sustainability....

Hey,

To all of you reading this, I guess I better introduce myself as your humble narrator. I'm Nick, and I currently work at the University of Nottingham, UK in the Faculty of Engineering. I joined the Massively Open Online Course for Sustainability Society and You with an idea of how to better my understanding in my role on the Sustainability of both myself and the University and I'm hoping this will generate ideas on how I can use sustainability to both lower my energy consumption and to generate funding proposals with our experts.

So what is "Sustainability"? - Well I've heard the term bandied about over the last few years especially but I'd never stopped and thought about what it means to me. For me, I'd guess that...sustainability is being able to use renewable energy in such a way that we can complete our daily tasks without draining the planet's resources.

Realising what this course aims to get us thinking about - all of a sudden I'm noticing how much energy I'm using just by sitting at my desk...writing this on a PC, with a landline phone next to me, my mobile next to that, with a laptop charging to my left and it's WiFi dongle boxed up in front of that, with the lights on above my head.....

Ahem.

As the host of a well known (but not entirely sustainable!) TV programme says.. "On that bombshell, it's time to end."

I'll jot down some more mind ramblings soon!

Cheers!

N