Over the past two weeks, After the Pandemic has hosted a series of exhibitions, workshops and performances at Strath Union, all imploring people to #GetOnWithIt to save our planet.
And people have listened, with primary school pupils, activists, academics, business leaders and politicians, including Barack Obama, all stopping by.
Ruth Cochrane is a Lecturer in Product Design here at Edinburgh Napier and she spearheaded the University’s involvement in the project, alongside the Development team.
“I realised universities in Scotland didn’t have a clear path for young people to engage with the conference.
“I’ve worked with After the Pandemic and our partners to give young people a platform to be heard at COP26, to encourage them to use creativity to tackle the climate crisis.”
The team set out to give everyone the same platform to share their ideas and unique perspective:
“I’m overawed by the fact that in the same building we had 5-year-old kids presenting their solutions to the climate crisis, and Barack Obama talking to young activists and engaging with their points of view.”
And with such a packed bill of inspiring talks and sessions, how will Ruth apply what she’s learned at the conference to her teaching at Edinburgh Napier?
“The more I get engaged with projects like this, the more I let go and try and let the students lead in the classroom.
“I’m going to do less and let them lead more. You have to trust them and they know what they’re interested in. When they’re engaged, it’s much more effective.”
Kirsty is the Project Manager for HCI Skills Gateway and she’s been helping out behind the scenes with funding for many of the programmes for schools and students, including the Human Habitats Challenge, INTER SGN and the keynote sessions.
She told us: “Not only was it amazing to see Edinburgh Napier Product Design students showcase their Human Habitat Challenge responses using LEGO and Trimble Sketch-Up software (another supporter I look after for Edinburgh Napier), it was even more incredible to do so with an audience of primary school children, many of whom will have never visited a university before, who also worked on the exact same challenge!”
Find out more about the After the Pandemic mission here.
All images by Edinburgh Napier Product Design student Henry Lo. See more of his work on Instagram @henry.lo.c.h.