Green Week events at UHI Inverness to focus on food waste and conservation

UHI Inverness is hosting a series of events as part of Green Week to promote sustainable living and wellbeing.

Green Week, organised by the UHI partnership and Highlands and Islands Students’ Association, will run from Monday 30 January to Friday 3 February. It will provide an opportunity for students, staff and the public to find out how to live more sustainably, helping both the planet and their pockets.

A free screening of the feature-length documentary, Riverwoods, narrated by Peter Capaldi, will be held at the UHI Inverness Lecture Theatre, on Wednesday, 1 February at 6pm. Afterwards, guest speakers will talk about positive environmental projects, career routes and the local opportunities. This screening event is open to the public, but places should be booked via Eventbrite.

The speakers will be Sam Hesling, Environmental Contracts Manager, McGowan Environmental Engineering Ltd; Robert Laughton, Nairn and Lossie Fisheries Trust; Elise Cox, project officer of the Scottish Invasive Species Initiative; Ben Ross, Head of Protected Areas, Innovation and Data of Nature Scot; Kristen Liptrot, Environmental and Ecological Manager, RWE Renewables and Richard Lockett, Re-meandering the Peffrey Project.

Riverwoods, filmed and produced by rewilding charity, SCOTLAND: The Big Picture, reveals how Scotland’s rivers have been greatly diminished, but crucially how they could be rejuvenated through a shared vision of restoration and recovery.

The screening has been organised by Education and Applied Sciences lecturer Karen Marshall. She said: “After watching Riverwoods I immediately wanted everyone I know to watch it too, especially our students. 

“UHI Inverness embeds sustainability in its science courses and aims to open routes for our students to be part of tackling the defining issues of our time. This screening of Riverwoods is a way for students and public alike to come together and watch this visionary film. 

“Our guest speakers will talk about their positive environmental sector careers and projects, sharing ideas and opportunities to become involved and we are delighted to have Chris Conroy from the Atlantic Salmon Trust, introducing the film, so it’s an evening not to be missed.”

The Foundation Apprenticeship Business Skills students will be holding two events on Friday, 3 February, as part of a sustainable development project, to allow fellow students to explore manageable ways to reduce food waste.

A Food Waste Workshop, in Room 115 at 11am, will feature tips on reducing food waste, meal planning and how to hunt out bargains when food shopping. It will be followed by a cookery demonstration at The Sheiling Restaurant from 1pm to 3pm

Professional Cookery lecturer Saurav Kumar will demonstrate how to make one dish and turn the leftovers into another meal. There will be an opportunity to sample the results. 

Nicola Macdonald, Head of School, Business, Computing and Hospitality, said: “These two fantastic events are created by students for students and will help encourage sustainable cookery practices such as making most of leftovers and using every part of the ingredients. The sustainable development project is a trial for a new further education programme being developed by the business and computing team in sustainable business.” 

To book a place at the Riverwoods screening click here. To book your place for the cooking demonstration and food waste workshop, please visit here.