At this event, The University of Manchester's Dr Alejandro Gallego Schmid and Dr Jenna Ashton, joined the Sustainable Futures Seminar Series to discuss circular economy in agriculture and community climate resilience. The event brought in over 70 internal and external attendees.
Dr Helen Holmes, Lecturer in Sociology, Faculty of Humanities | Sustainable Futures Inclusive and Prosperous Futures Challenge Lead, was the chair of the event.
Dr Alejandro Gallego Schmid, Senior Lecturer in Circular Economy and Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Environmental Research Institute presented first on "Life cycle assessment and circular economy principles applied to the agricultural sector".
Dr Schmid argued that “Nowadays, more than 90% of our economy is linear. This linear economy, based on take-make-use-dispose, is inefficient, vulnerable and wasteful. Related to this, the agricultural sector is still quite linear and is contributing significantly to surpassing several planetary boundaries (surplus nutrient flows into aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, excessive land-system change and biodiversity loss). Circular economy is a new paradigm based on the regeneration of natural capital, keeping products in use and designing out waste and pollution”.
Dr Schmid ended his segment by participating in a live Q&A session with the attendees.
Dr Jenna Ashton, Lecturer in Heritage Studies, Faculty of Humanities, Manchester Environmental Research Institute, was the next guest speaker. Her talk, “Community Climate Resilience in Manchester” offered a update on the project “Creative Climate Resilience” (full title: "Community Climate Resilience through Folk Pageantry") funded by the AHRC and Met Office, part of the UK Climate Resilience Programme (2020-2022).
This arts-led research project focuses on community knowledge and creativity to deliver a Manchester (UK) case study responding directly to its climate action policies and community contexts. The project builds on existing practices of the researchers across the areas of climate and social justice, geography, gardening, mapping, performance, puppetry, music, socially-engaged arts practices, and intangible and material heritages.
At the end of her presentation, Dr Ashton answered some questions from the attendees.
Our chair, Dr Helen Holmes thanked the attendees and our guest speakers and closed the event.
Watch the recording of the seminar here!
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