Sustainability Conference 2023

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Booking Closed

Primary Sponsor

Date

15 June 2023

Book Before

8 June 2023

Reading

Park House, Whiteknights Campus, University of Reading

About the Event

Sustainability Conference 2023: Digitally sustainable – Data, devices, and durable solutions for our planet

Have you wondered how green your digital solutions are? Considered how friendly your data storage is to the environment? Been questioned how reusable, upgradeable, and recyclable your laptops are?

We will bring these themes, and more, into focus at the inaugural Sustainability Group Conference 2023, the first UCISA conference to bring sustainability in our digital workplace onto the centre stage. With growing global concern for our environment, from ever increasing pollution of our surroundings, loss of biodiversity and greenhouse gas emissions heating up our planet, we know action is needed. Technology can be part of the solution, but we also need to recognise it as part of the problem with E-waste being the fastest growing waste problem in the world.

In this conference we will explore:

  • Strategies for sustainable data storage
  • Carbon accounting for procurement
  • Managing your devices in a greener way
  • Sustainable learnings from the pandemic

You will hear from inspirational speakers who are passionate about making the technology solutions we help create, support, change and enhance, better for our physical environment and our societies whilst, of course, ensuring whatever we do stack up financially. The conference aims to inspire you with great stories, thought provoking facts and useful tips, helping you to make sustainability a core theme for all the services you provide for your organisation.

Have a good tale to tell about your now greener data centre? A great description of your more environmentally friendly device management? How you are procuring services from suppliers with sustainable credentials? Share your story with colleagues at the conference by presenting (15-20 mins) or by being part of a panel, contact us at events@ucisa.ac.uk.

Join us for a UCISA first – The Sustainability conference in June 2023!

Joining us for the night before? Plan on staying over the night after? Don't miss Gaia, Luke Gerram's world famous Earth artwork!

Created from NASA imagery, this iconic installation will be available to visit for £2 in Reading Town Hall as part of the Reading Climate Festival 2023.

Speakers

person looking at the camera

Polly Mackenzie

Chief Social Purpose Officer

University of the Arts London

headshot of Professor Richard Allan

Professor Richard Allan

Professor of Climate Science

University of Reading

Lise Foster

Lise Foster

Director Technology

University of the Arts London

headshot of Lydia Painter

Lydia Painter

UX Designer

Jisc

Event Schedule

Thursday

09:30

Registration Opens

10:00

Welcome by Conference Chair

Henrik Brogger, Conference Chair and Director of Digital Operations and Service Delivery, University of Reading
10:10

The Physical Science Basis for Climate Change: Causes and Consequences

Professor Richard Allan, Professor of Climate Science, University of Reading
10:40

Scope 3 emissions – what do they mean for IT?

Paul Rock, IT Architect, Cardiff University
11:00

Refreshments

11:50

Cloud vs. Data Centre Panel Session

Chaired by Trevor Baxter, Director of IT Innovation, King's College London
  • Kevin Mortimer, Head of Operations, University of Reading
  • James Smith, CIO, Birkbeck University
  • Lise Foster, Director of Technology, University of the Arts
12:20

Lunch

13:20

Green IT: The transition to a more sustainable and responsible model

Rob MacEachern, Account Executive - UK Public Sector, Pure Storage
13:40

Going Beyond Hardware: Sustainable Product Design

Lydia Painter, UX Designer, Jisc
14:20

Refreshments

14:50

Achieving a Circular Approach to IT Procurement

David Barrett, Head of DPS, University of York and Craig Campion, Director of ITAD Services, Stone Group
15:20

University of Reading - Student Sustainability Award Showcase

Kolatat Phaiboonnukulkij, Student, University of Reading
16:00

Closing Remarks

Henrik Brogger, Conference Chair and Director of Digital Operations and Service Delivery, University of Reading
16:15

Conference Close