Robert Gordon University (RGU) is hosting a week-long symposium to explore sustainability in the creative and cultural industries as part of its commitment to delivering the knowledge and skills to ensure a sustainable future for all.
A programme of live-streamed and pre-recorded events addresses issues of sustainability across a variety of subjects such as architecture, art, communications, computing, data, design, events, fashion and more.
Academics from across a number of RGU’s schools, including the School of Creative and Cultural Business, Gray’s School of Art, Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment and the School of Computing, will be exploring both subject-specific and collaborative perspectives. There will be a variety of events looking at various issues including student and alumni engagement around issues of sustainability in the fashion sector, the Emerging Stronger project which focuses on developing academic and student understanding of sustainability in relation to RGU’s Net Zero actions and the UN’s SDGs to support embedding of sustainability narratives within RGU courses, as well as an online photography exhibition.
The free symposium is part of RGU’s wider ‘Creative Conversations’ for the COP26 initiative and will also feature: a live talk examining the potential of supernatural stories in a contemporary world to challenge our understanding of landscapes and cultural heritage; a live conversation with Kevin Keane, BBC Scotland’s Environment, Energy & Rural Affairs Correspondent; an exploration of the possible sustainability impacts of virtual try-on technologies, in relation to the behaviours of people returning clothes purchased online after trying them on them at home, and a number of other events looking at Tourism, Constructing the Environment Sustainably and Ethically, and issues around open data, digital platform design and the circular economy.
Dr Jo Royle, head of the school of creative and cultural business at RGU said it is key that sustainability goals are core to business development plans.
“Higher education has a very significant responsibility in contributing to economic recovery and creating graduates who are empowered with the appropriate skills and knowledge to harness sustainability mindsets and ‘Build Back Better’.
“It’s vital that our students graduate with a sustainability mindset and leadership qualities that ensure their creative ideas shape a sustainable future.
“Within RGU, we are collaborating between schools and subjects to not only spark these creative conversations but to have a positive impact and build a sustainable future for all.”
The Sustainability in the Creative and Cultural Industries Symposium will be held online from Monday, October 4 to Friday, October 8. It is part of the new contemporary arts programme, ‘Beyond BAS9’, that launches in Aberdeen tomorrow (Friday, October 1) to celebrate the landmark British Art Show 9’s visit to the city.
For more information, and for a full programme of events, please visit: www.rgu.ac.uk/creativity-sustainability