A small group of MCS pupils in U4th-L6th met with their counterparts in school sustainability groups from a range of Oxford schools, as part of the Oxford Schools Sustainability Network (OxSSN), set up earlier this year. They then attended a panel discussion in the atmospheric surroundings of the Oxford Museum of National History’s main gallery on using creative responses such as poetry, art and storytelling to combat the climate and nature crises.

 

 

Carol (Lower Sixth), had this to say of the event: “We had a wonderful time meeting up with students from all over Oxford at the Museum of Natural History on Wednesday, discussing issues such as fast fashion, carbon emissions from meat consumption, and possible ways to integrate the climate and environment into the school curriculum. Hearing about projects such as planting apple orchards, swap shops for second hand clothing, and even bee protection groups was both encouraging and incredibly inspiring.

We discussed issues such as fast fashion, carbon emissions from meat consumption, and possible ways to integrate the climate and environment into the school curriculum.

Carol (Lower Sixth)

 We also had the opportunity to attend a panel discussing ways in which we can bring attention to climate change through art. I was particularly impressed by the screening of a short animated film in which young people spoke of the effects of climate change from the perspective of their future selves, in which both the possible dystopian future in which mankind was slow to act on climate change, and the prospect of a brighter future in which we have left the climate crisis behind, were explored through the medium of digital storytelling.”

 

 

Rose (also Lower Sixth), enjoyed meeting like-minded students and hearing their perspectives: “I have definitely found chatting to students from other schools who are also involved in fighting climate change very inspiring. It was great to share ideas, and learn what other schools are doing for the environment in their schools. Although the same strategy may not apply to every school, but it was definitely helpful to see that there are lots of other passionate people of same age, focusing on the same issue.”

The school group conversations were partly facilitated by 4th year Biology undergraduates from Oxford University, who afterwards said this about meeting the students: “We had such a lovely time speaking with the students about their work in sustainability and it was incredibly inspiring to be around such passionate and informed young people. We were all very impressed by not only how driven they all are but by how informed and engaged they are with sustainability issues from biodiversity conservation to divestment to fast fashion. My school never had anything near as strong a push for sustainability among students so it was very exciting to see how much has changed in the last several years in terms of understanding the urgency of climate change and biodiversity loss.”