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Cambridge is strongest when staff and students work together. That’s true for all aspects of University life and never more so than for the Cambridge Green Challenge.  The Department of Materials Science strongly supports endeavours by staff and students to reduce their environmental impact and make the University a more sustainable place.  Many are already contributing to 'local' green initiatives through the work of the Department of Materials Science Green Impact team.     

The Department of Materials Science benefits from a number of energy and water saving features incorporated into its building including a mixed-mode ventilation system that provides natural ventilation for non-laboratory areas, a large photovoltaic array mounted at roof level to provide 3% of the total energy use of the building, an intensive green roof, planted with wild flowers, rain water harvesting and motion-sensing lighting features in many areas of the building.

Additionally, staff and students actively recycle by participating in some of Terracycle's schemes such as the used writing instrument and crisp packet recycling initiatives, as well as separating day-to-day waste for general recycling using the dedicated bins located around the department (e.g. paper, cans, cardboard, etc.).  There are also dedicated collection points for recycling print/toner cartridges, batteries and also electrical waste (such as old PCs, cables, keyboards, mice, etc.).  Our Servery staff also contribute to our green initiatives by sourcing recyclable items where possible, such as disposable cornstarch or compostable paper cups for event catering, ordering our milk to be delivered in glass bottles, and we provide a dedicated drinking water tap and glasses in our Common Room as well as only stocking bottled water from Eco for Life for purchase at the Servery.

The University provides lots of advice and suggestions on how staff and students can get further involved and gives details of green intiatives across the wider Cambridge community - https://www.environment.admin.cam.ac.uk. The University also offers a self-taught induction module on the environment and sustainability at work - https://training.cam.ac.uk/envenergy/event/2537398.

You can contact the Department of Materials Science Green Impact team using: green@msm.cam.ac.uk.