On the 9th of February from 9am to 5pm UCT's Khusela Ikamva Sustainable Campus Project will be chatting to students and sharing their vision for UCT's sustainability transition. Come visit the stand and have your say!

UCT launched the Khusela Ikamva “secure the future” sustainable campus project in 2020, as part of its vision 2030 Agenda. Sustainability is a core concern of UCT’s Vision 2030. The aim of the project is to catalyse the transformation of UCT into a sustainable campus by establishing a community of practice informed by:

  • leading research that incorporates UCT stakeholders from all spheres (students, academic and PASS staff)
  • extensive and inclusive engagement with the university community
  • exemplar Living Lab interventions on campus, that serve as a proof-of-concept

Have your say on UCT's sustainability transition by joining us on Plaza Day or by filling out the project survey, and stand a chance to win a solar jar!

Don't forget to visit UCT's new charging station for electric vehicles at the Jamie North Stop. A solar PV Carport which was installed to be used as living labs on campus for both students and staff.

 

Background to the Project

The project will consider environmental, financial and social impacts associated with five core themes in the UCT campus context, namely energy/carbon, water, waste, wildlife and social responsiveness. The project aims to support and build on UCT’s environmental sustainability strategy and will include research to determine the feasibility of particular elements. Certain solutions will be developed into a proof-of-concept to be tested on campus, in targeted areas on campus, through a Living Lab approach. The project will thereby become a key enabler to transform the institutional fabric of UCT to become a more sustainable campus, through not only the physical fabric of the campus but also through the social fabric which is the campus community.

The project focuses on these key themes, each with a dedicated research leader and team located in a UCT research institution, collaborating together:

  • energy/carbon footprint – Harro von Blottnitz (ESRG)
  • sustainable water – Kirsty Carden (Future Water)
  • waste/energy/food nexus – Thanos Kotsiopoulos (CeBER)
  • wildlife/waste/art nexus – Nicoli Nattrass (iCWild)
  • establishing a community of practice/social responsiveness – Britta Rennkamp (ACDI)

The work is coordinated by the Director for Environmental Sustainability in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, with support services from the Research Office, including a governance committee that will track the progress of the project over the course of this five-year project (2021 to 2026).

Don't forget to visit UCT's new charging station for electric vehicles at the Jamie North Stop.

Read more about the project here