Unimelb wins at Green Gown Awards

The University won the ‘Creating Impact’ category for the Bees@Unimelb initiative, while student Raveena Grace received Highly Commended in the ACTS Award of Excellence—student category, at the 2019 ACTS Green Gown Awards.

The Green Gown Awards recognise achievements in sustainability across tertiary institutions. Winners are announced at the annual ACTS conference, this year co-hosted by the University of Otago and Otago Polytechnic in Dunedin, New Zealand from 13 to 15 November.

The awards ceremony was held at Larnach Castle on Thursday 14 November, where the University of Melbourne was one of many institutions commended for its leadership and commitment to sustainability.

The ‘Creating Impact’ category recognises institutions that have achieved sustainable outcomes with limited resources and maximum broader impact.

Bees@Unimelb is an initiative coordinated by Professor Jean-Pierre Scheerlinck and run by a group of passionate volunteers across two campuses. The program maintains and utilises seven beehives for teaching and research purposes, wider community engagement, and pollination to neighbouring inner-city gardens. The hives are managed sustainably by volunteers and funded by income generated via honey sales.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Duncan Maskell congratulated the passionate researchers and beekeepers involved with the program.

“As a living laboratory, Bees@Unimelb demonstrates the importance of a sustainable ecosystem.  This Green Gown award is fantastic recognition of a dedicated group of colleagues and students keen to share their knowledge and skills with the community.”

The ACTS Award of Excellence—student category is awarded to a tertiary student who has worked diligently to implement sustainability initiatives and positively influence their peers and communities.

Raveena Grace is a current Master of Environment student at the University of Melbourne, who is an active member of multiple University committees and student groups. She was selected and trained as a Climate Reality Leader in 2019, has been a Green Impact Project assistant in 2017 and 2018, and currently works to deliver the Green Impact program University-wide in her role as Engagement Officer in the Sustainability Team, Campus Services.

Staff member Helen Lamb, from Medley Hall, was a finalist in the ACTS Award of Excellence—staff category for demonstrating leadership and embedding sustainable thinking into her everyday actions at the University.

The ceremony was part of a three-day conference where tertiary institutions from across Australasia shared knowledge in sustainability in engagement, research, teaching and operations.