How to Engage Young People in Sustainable Urban Design

What are the best ways to work with children and young people specifically around environmentally sustainable buildings and spaces?

29th November at 5pm online. Free - Book through Eventbrite

Panel discussion chaired by Hattie Hartman, Sustainability Editor, The Architects' Journal.

Young people today are coming of age in the climate emergency, and around the world they are spearheading action to try to halt the destructive effects of the climate crisis. The need to make buildings greener is universally accepted, but jargon still often dominates the language of environmentally sustainable architecture.

How can professionals engage children and young people specifically in discussions around sustainability in design, building and placemaking, so that as future clients and citizens they can demand a greener future from the built environment industry – and encourage their elders to do so?

This event will feature expert-led presentations, with a chaired panel discussion and interactive Q&A from those leading the way in innovative methods of engagement around sustainable design and buildings.

Speakers

Neil Onions, Founder + CEO, Beyond the Box

As Founder of Beyond The Box, Neil designs and delivers Social Value strategies, methodologies and projects, connecting to regeneration, redevelopment and placemaking projects. Neil’s dynamic approach to community and youth engagement places young people at the very centre of communities, ensuring we build a society that is inclusive of every citizen and every voice.

Beyond the Box has recently worked with young ‘Content Producers’ who were commissioned to produce a range of multi-media content aimed primarily at a youth audience. This explored what Net Zero Carbon is, tackling big questions such as ‘who do young people feel is to blame?’, and what role they can play in ‘righting the wrongs’.

Simeon Shtebunaev, Doctoral Researcher, School of Engineering and the Built Environment, Birmingham City University

Simeon and Claudia Carter, researchers based in the Property, Planning and Policies research group at Birmingham City University, have launched the Built Climate Action Game project which works with young people in the Balsall Heath area of Birmingham. The team employs various art and design methods to develop a ‘climate action board game’, to engage young people and showcase how the built environment sector can make a positive contribution.

Sumita Singha OBE RIBA, Director, Ecologic Architects

Sumita is an architect, teacher and writer with awards including the UIA:UNESCO, Women In Business and Atkins Inspire. Sumita founded Architects For Change, the Equality forum at RIBA and is past Chair of Women In Architecture. She has also taught sustainable design for over 25 years, is visiting Professor at the Politecnico di Milano, lecturer and external examiner at several universities. Sumita is the author of several books on architecture and sustainable design.

Sumita promotes sustainability and community participation as part of her practice. She set up Charushila, a registered environmental design charity, which works with young people on community projects using reclaimed materials in Palestine, Venezuela, India and the UK.

What are TET Dialogues?

TET Dialogues is a monthly programme of online events and masterclasses created by the Thornton Education Trust (TET). The programme provides an independent space for built environment practitioners to share ideas on how to build capacity in engaging young people in urban design.