Sustainability in Higher Education:
Beyond the Green Mirror
Amy Walsh, Eleni Michalopoulou, Aisling Tierney, Hannah Tweddell,
Chris Preist and Chris Willmore
Abstract With living labs and co-production increasingly playing a vital role in
universities, the University of Bristol is taking significant and drastic steps in incorporating both of these themes into its strategic planning. This paper discusses how
the Bristol Futures integrated approach, and specifically its Sustainable Futures pathway, are taking sustainability beyond its obvious and most frequently used links to
connect it to subjects like homelessness and resilient cities, personal happiness and
wellbeing and a sense of purpose in life. The aim of this approach is to provide a
framework through which the learners can engage with other roles and disciplines,
while using sustainability as a lens to achieve this. The living lab model provides
us with the tools and approaches needed in order to use a new online Sustainable
A. Walsh (B)
Public Engagement Team, University of Bristol, Oldbury House
121 St Michaels Hill, Bristol BS2 8BS, UK
e-mail: amy.walsh@bristol.ac.uk
E. Michalopoulou (B)
Atmospheric Chemistry Research Group, School of Chemistry,
University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
e-mail: Em15151@bristol.ac.uk
A. Tierney
Academic Quality and Partnerships Office, Senate House,
Bristol BS8 1TH, UK
e-mail: a.tierney@bristol.ac.uk
H. Tweddell
Public Engagement Team, Oldbury House, 121 St Michaels Hill,
Bristol BS2 8BS, UK
e-mail: Hannah.Tweddell@bristol.ac.uk
C. Preist
Sustainability and Computer Systems, Department of Computer Science,
University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
e-mail: Chris.Preist@bristol.ac.uk
C. Willmore
Sustainability and Law, Wills Memorial Building, Queens Road,
Bristol BS8 1RJ, UK
e-mail: Chris.Willmore@bristol.ac.uk
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
W. Leal Filho et al. (eds.), Universities as Living Labs for Sustainable Development,
World Sustainability Series, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15604-6_12
183
Beyond the Green Mirror
Amy Walsh, Eleni Michalopoulou, Aisling Tierney, Hannah Tweddell,
Chris Preist and Chris Willmore
Abstract With living labs and co-production increasingly playing a vital role in
universities, the University of Bristol is taking significant and drastic steps in incorporating both of these themes into its strategic planning. This paper discusses how
the Bristol Futures integrated approach, and specifically its Sustainable Futures pathway, are taking sustainability beyond its obvious and most frequently used links to
connect it to subjects like homelessness and resilient cities, personal happiness and
wellbeing and a sense of purpose in life. The aim of this approach is to provide a
framework through which the learners can engage with other roles and disciplines,
while using sustainability as a lens to achieve this. The living lab model provides
us with the tools and approaches needed in order to use a new online Sustainable
A. Walsh (B)
Public Engagement Team, University of Bristol, Oldbury House
121 St Michaels Hill, Bristol BS2 8BS, UK
e-mail: amy.walsh@bristol.ac.uk
E. Michalopoulou (B)
Atmospheric Chemistry Research Group, School of Chemistry,
University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
e-mail: Em15151@bristol.ac.uk
A. Tierney
Academic Quality and Partnerships Office, Senate House,
Bristol BS8 1TH, UK
e-mail: a.tierney@bristol.ac.uk
H. Tweddell
Public Engagement Team, Oldbury House, 121 St Michaels Hill,
Bristol BS2 8BS, UK
e-mail: Hannah.Tweddell@bristol.ac.uk
C. Preist
Sustainability and Computer Systems, Department of Computer Science,
University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
e-mail: Chris.Preist@bristol.ac.uk
C. Willmore
Sustainability and Law, Wills Memorial Building, Queens Road,
Bristol BS8 1RJ, UK
e-mail: Chris.Willmore@bristol.ac.uk
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
W. Leal Filho et al. (eds.), Universities as Living Labs for Sustainable Development,
World Sustainability Series, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15604-6_12
183