Posts Tagged ‘education’
Advanced Permaculture Principles and Planning Tools
Posted in Events, Movements by Holmgren Design Services on August 19th, 2010
This four-day residential course is designed to deepen understanding of permaculture principles, and improve conceptual skills and planning tools for permaculture practitioners, designers, activists and teachers. A Permaculture Design Certificate and prior reading of Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability are highly desirable for participants to successfully gain from the course, and contribute to it. The core of these courses is the presentation and workshopping in groups of the format of design principles from Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability. Additional presentations and group work focus on Reading Landscape, Landscape Mapping, Energy Descent Scenarios and Community Mapping. David Holmgren presents permaculture ideas through practical projects and personal example, providing a refreshing and unorthodox approach to the environmental issues of our time.
Saturday 18th to Tuesday 21st September 2010
Hepburn Primary School, Main Road, HEPBURN VIC 3461
Cost $530, includes meals and camping on-site.
For more info email info@holmgren.com.au or phone 03 5348 3636. www.holmgren.com.au
—
Life Pscycle-ology: The Secret Life of Things
Posted in Models by Kate Archdeacon on July 29th, 2010
“Life Pscycle-ology” is a humorous look at the life story of an unhappy mobile phone, who seeks therapy after his owner dumps him in favour of a new model. This animation is the first in a series called The Secret Life of Things (SLOT), which explores the hidden environmental impacts of everyday things and includes free learning resources for educators.
“It’s about taking a fun approach to a serious subject. I want to inspire people to become part of the solution, rather than the problem,” says project developer Leyla Acaroglu. “Every day, thousands of products roll off the production line, and very few have been designed with sustainability in mind. We forget about what happens behind the scenes – and I hope SLOT will help to change that.” Telling a funny story is a great way to engage the general public, says Acaroglu, but she also wants to take things a step further by empowering designers – the people who create the “stuff” we buy every day.
Each video in the SLOT series comes with a free pack of educational resources aimed at young designers. “Ecodesign is often wrongly seen as complex and costly, but in fact it’s simply good design that offers financial, social and environmental benefits,” says Acaroglu, who runs Melbourne-based eco design consultancy Eco Innovators. “If designers embrace sustainability, we can create consumer goods with the smallest possible ecological footprint.” The film and learning resources, set to be tested by six Australian universities, can be accessed free from the project website from 22 July. International research shows that by using a life cycle approach, exploring the impacts of each stage a product goes through, designers can make informed decisions that lead to more socially and environmentally responsible products with lower carbon impacts.
“Life Pscycle-ology” was launched as part of the State of Design Festival in Melbourne, Australia.
—
Green Growth Markets: Design Victoria at the State of Design Festival
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on July 7th, 2010
Design Victoria: Green Growth Markets
Green and sustainable are the buzz words of the moment, but what is behind these trends? What products and initiatives are truly green? Shifting consumer patterns and legislative requirements are driving new local and international markets for green products, materials, systems and services. Product designers, graphic designers, architects and interior designers will need to understand how to access and interpret this shifting marketplace for the future of their business. Learn from our expert panel what is “green wash”, what’s coming up and how you can gear your business to be sustainable.
Thursday 15 July, 2010 Time: 1.30pm – 3.00pm Cost: $42.00
Royal Exhibition Building
9 Nicholson St
Carlton VIC 3053
The End of the Line: Film Screening
Posted in Events, Movements by Kate Archdeacon on July 6th, 2010
Ethical Consumer’s upcoming meal and movie night will be held at Wendy’s home in Blackburn. We’ll be screening The End of the Line, on Thursday 8th July. ‘Imagine an ocean without fish. Imagine your meals without seafood. Imagine the global consequences. This is the future if we do not stop, think and act.’ See more at http://endoftheline.com
What you can do? Come see the movie of course – but also think about the seafood you buy. Four species that are considered a ‘better buy’ by the Australian Marine Conservation Society are Whiting, Bream, Flathead and Calamari. (Four – I can remember four).
Dinner: Thursday July 8, 6.30 – 7.30pm – byo ‘food and thoughts’ to share >> movie 8pm – 10.30pm.
RSVP nick@ethical.org.au or 0417 114 492
Upcoming nights – 12th August – screening Michael Moore’s Capitalism – A Love Story
Read more about Meal & Movie nights.
—
Panorama School Holiday Workshops at the Eco-Centre
Posted in Events by ecoApril on July 5th, 2010
Making Birdnests
Workshops for creative and curious families at Port Phillip EcoCentre!
panorama: (noun) vision in all directions
This week, Port Phillip EcoCentre is hosting eco-savvy school holiday workshops for the whole family. Lively sessions will send you home with a project in hand and heaps of inspiration.
Each weekday features a different hands-on activity, from sprout farming to eco-friendly graffiti, with lessons and games linking environmental and creativity themes. The sessions are recommended for ages 4-12, with wee siblings welcome and adult accompaniment required – we’ll tempt you to join in the fun.
1 July – Plantable Pots ($10)
2 July – DIY Weather Station ($10)
5 July – Build an Eco-City ($10)
6 July – Eco-Graffiti I ($15)
7 July – Eco-Graffiti II ($15) (take independently or in addition to the first session)
8 July – Felt Making ($15)
9 July – Flower Presses and Printmaking ($15)
No booking necessary! Register on the day. Sessions run approximately one hour, at 10 am, 11 am, 12 noon, and 1 pm. Cost is per child. All materials provided.
The EcoCentre is in the St Kilda Botanic Gardens on the corner of Herbert and Blessington Street, St Kilda 3182. (MEL 58 B11) We’re a short walk from the 96 or 16 trams, close to Balaclava train station, and we have bike parking. For more info, call the EcoCentre on (03) 9534 0670 or email April at april@ecocentre.com.
—
Burnley Gardens Open Day
Posted in Events, Research by land-environment on July 1st, 2010
Burnley students of the 1950s show off their pruning style.
Burnley Gardens Open Day offers a stellar program for the whole family in sustainable gardening and horticultural practice, at the heritage-listed Burnley Gardens.
Delivered in partnership by the University of Melbourne’s School of Land and Environment and Friends of Burnley Gardens, horticultural experts will present you with free lectures and paid workshops, kids’ activities, forums and seminars on leading sustainable gardening practice, including pruning, pest and disease control, watering and fertilisers, and setting up a veggie plot. There will be tours taking you back in time through the lush and historic gardens, and University course advice for budding horticulturists.
So come along with your gardening friends and family and winter woolies, and learn about gardening to your heart’s content!
For further information, visit www.land-environment.unimelb.edu.au.
—
Sustainability in Action: VECCI Resource Efficiency Training
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on June 17th, 2010
Environmentally-friendly businesses are those that make a conscious decision to choose sustainable practices. Customers, staff and suppliers increasingly want to work with and for these businesses. Sustainability in the workplace is fast becoming essential to give businesses the competitive edge. This one day workshop was developed in response to the needs of small and medium-sized businesses that wish to adopt more sustainable practices.
What will be covered
- A brief overview of relevant environmental legislation.
- Opportunities that can lead to reduced resource use, cost savings and reputational gains.
- An introduction to easy-to-use tools to help you successfully measure water, energy use and waste disposal.
- Communicating your business’s environmental goals to staff and customers.
- Expert assistance with the development of a draft Action Plan to reduce water, waste and energy use.
- A resource pack that includes case studies, information on grants and funding, and useful contacts for future assistance.
Next Event: June 30
Visit the website for bookings and more information.
—
What Can I Do Right Now: Online Support for Businesses
Posted in Movements by Kate Archdeacon on June 3rd, 2010
What can I do right now, an initiative of Carbon Down, provides a selection of quick, easy to implement and practical carbon reducing options to businesses. The initiative supports existing motivation from SMEs who want to take action, but may not know where to start, or who to trust. Research shows many businesses would like to reduce their carbon footprint, but feel like they don’t have the time or resources. Carbon Down saw the opportunity to create a resource to meet these needs and offer support.
With statistics from VECCI’s Knowledge, Attitude and Behaviours report identifying that 60% of businesses surveyed would use to internet to find out more about sustainability, What can I do right now encourages the increased use of online communications. Join the sustainability conversation, and expand your network by visiting What can I do right now on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
What can I do right now allows users to sign up to a monthly email newsletter, providing ongoing support, offering hints and tips, as well as helping to maintain motivation and focus on practical actions.
—
Being Water Wise: Using your water twice
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on May 28th, 2010
Source: Climate Action Calendar
HAUT House Image, NY Times
Join Rory Fort, to discuss using, re-using and cleaning our precious water when it is dirty. Rory will talk about these things and answer your questions about what works, what doesn’t work, what works well, and why. Rory Fort is an inventor and sustainability enthusiast. Over the years he has built Earth Sheltered houses, designed clever gizmos and worked out how to do more with less. He is currently best known as a designer of the super-efficient “Root Zone” system of waste-water reuse and an expert Green Plumber.
Tue, 8 June, 6pm – 8pm
$5 entry including a tea or coffee.
The Conversations About Living Sustainably series invites community discussion on issues of environmental solutions, local food production and community resilience. All conversations are held at the ELTHAM College Professional Learning Centre, 1660 Main Road, Research.
For bookings or more information visit the website, or contact us: ects@elthamcollege.vic.edu.au (03 9433 9859)
—
Planning for Environmentally Sustainable Development
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on May 12th, 2010
Source: Climate Action Calendar
A Planning Institute Australia (PIA) Victoria Professional Development Seminar
Technical and practical perspective on the relevance and application of the principles of Environmentally Sustainable Development (ESD). An expert panel with a broad range of experiences will provide a comprehensive look at how planners may achieve ESD outcomes. Russell Kennedy will then provide a practical illustration of how the principles apply.
Presenters:
- Stephen Ingrouille – Principal, Going Solar
- Craig Czarny, FPIA CPP – Director, Hansen Partnership
- Brenda Kingston – Associate, Built Ecology
- David Vorchheimer, MPIA CPP – Senior Associate – Government, Planning and Environment, Russell Kennedy
Tue 25 May 5.30pm – 7.30pm
Russell Kennedy Solicitors, Level 12, 469 Latrobe St
$40 PIA Members, $50 ISV/VPELA Members, $55 Non-Members
RSVP by Friday May 21
More Info: http://planning.org.au/vic/images/stories/events/esd_250510.pdf
—