Merton student named as Sustainability Photographer of the Year 2018

History and Modern Languages undergraduate Sofia Coelho has been named as Sustainability Photographer of the Year 2018 at the fifth Sustainability Showcase, which saw staff and students from across the University gather to recognise the contributions they have made towards making its operations more sustainable. Sofia's winning image is entitled 'Geese and rowers sharing the river at Christ Church Meadow'.

Sofia says:

"I love walking, and often take my camera with me to my favourite places: Christ Church Meadow for a quick walk, or Aston's Eyot, Port Meadow, Godstow, Wytham, University Parks… For me, the fact that Oxford is so close to the countryside is very important. I like noticing trees and birds, and avoiding the city noise."

Held at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History and hosted by Dr David Prout, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Planning and Resources, the Showcase attracted around 200 people from across the University, with just under 60 awards presented.

The event’s main focus was on two programmes: Student Switch Off, an awareness-raising initiative in which the University’s students once again had the best engagement figures in the country; and the Green Impact scheme, aimed at empowering people to make their workplaces more sustainable. These programmes are run by the Environmental Sustainability team within Estates Services, who thanked the many staff and students whose support is vital to their efforts to drive sustainability at the University.

Other awards recognised venues that have gained the nationally-recognised Green Tourism accreditation, and colleges whose students did most to raise awareness of environmental issues.