On 5 March 2025, the Student Sustainability Research Conference welcomed students from across the Yorkshire & Humber region to showcase their sustainability-themed research, projects and installations. Over 100 students, from the twelve member institutions of Yorkshire Universities (YU), had the opportunity to present their research in a professional conference setting and learn from their student peers. This approach enabled cross-institutional collaboration, supporting greater knowledge sharing between students of all levels and disciplines.
A diverse collection of sessions took place during the day, bringing together 129 presenters and 285 attendees. Activities included student-led research presentations, a student panel, a poster exhibition, sustainability partner stalls and interactive displays. You can see more from attendees across social media, using the hashtag #SSRC25.
The conference, which was hosted at the University of Leeds, welcomed research covering six key themes: rapid emissions deduction; climate adaptation and resilience; nature restoration; a just transition; and education for sustainable development and industry, innovation and infrastructure. These themes reflect the Yorkshire & Humber Climate Commission’s (YHCC) Climate Action Plan.
This year, the YHCC and YU collaborated on a joint stall which aimed to determine top priorities for attendees. To do so, an exercise encouraged participants to vote on what mattered most to them. The four key themes presented on the day corresponded to those in the YHCC Climate Action Plan:
- Making good decisions easier
- Managing our land and water so it benefits us all
- Redesigning places for long term wellbeing
- Enabling fair and inclusive climate action
Each of these themes had nine priorities to choose from and indicate how to measure success in those areas. This exercise will be utilised to inform the future work of YHCC’s Regional Picture and Evidence Group.
