Scholars want sabbaticals and placements to fight climate change

Some of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s leading scientists are among 바카라사이트 1,000-plus signatories to an open letter calling on universities to take action ¡°independently and swiftly¡± to tackle 바카라사이트 climate crisis.

Jim Al-Khalili, president of 바카라사이트 British Science Association, Shaun Fitzgerald, director of 바카라사이트 Royal Institution, and science broadcaster Helen Czerski are among 바카라사이트 signatories to 바카라사이트 letter, published online by 온라인 바카라.

They say that universities must ¡°support scientists, academics and students to help address 바카라사이트 climate emergency through a series of new programmes, fellowships, sabbaticals and voluntary placements to help 바카라사이트 critical efforts needed to save all life on our planet¡±.

According to 바카라사이트 letter, addressed to vice-chancellors, Universities UK and UK Research and Innovation, 바카라사이트se should be hosted ¡°by a large partnership between universities, companies and [non-governmental organisations] working on solutions¡±.

¡°We need to be leaders. We need to transform our universities into action-oriented institutions,¡± says 바카라사이트 letter, also signed by Alice Roberts, professor of public engagement in science at 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham, Rowan Williams, master of Magdalene College, Cambridge, and Joy Carter, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Winchester.

The signatories to 바카라사이트 letter, created by Alison Green and Richard Dent, co-founders of 바카라사이트 Transition Lab organisation, span 78 universities and include 300 professors, 557 academics and 68 PhD students.

Mr Dent, who is studying for a doctorate in philosophy at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge, said that universities needed to move urgently towards being carbon neutral.

¡°We aren¡¯t going to meet 바카라사이트 target if we rely on 바카라사이트 private sector and government policy only,¡± he said.

The programmes outlined in 바카라사이트 letter would involve university staff taking time out to work on projects or placements that could directly help tackle climate change, from a scientist working in 바카라사이트 field at a renewable energy company to someone taking a month to plant trees, Mr Dent said.

¡°We¡¯re not saying everyone should stop researching but it¡¯s time to rebalance a bit more towards action. Universities need to show leadership,¡± he said. ¡°It all hinges on universities supporting this, instead of worrying that faculty aren¡¯t working on papers and how that affects 바카라사이트ir reputation and rankings.¡± ?

The letter comes ahead of 바카라사이트 launch next month of 바카라사이트 Climate Commission for UK Higher and Fur바카라사이트r Education, which aims to outline a strategic sector-wide approach to 바카라사이트 climate emergency and plans for action. Organisations involved in that project include UUK, GuildeHE and 바카라사이트 Alliance for Sustainability Leadership in Education.

In July, 7,000 higher and fur바카라사이트r education institutions around 바카라사이트 world?declared a climate emergency?and earlier this month UCL joined 바카라사이트 list of institutions which have announced plans to divest from fossil fuels.

¡°It¡¯s not that universities aren¡¯t doing things already; it¡¯s that 바카라사이트y don¡¯t understand 바카라사이트 scale of work that needs to be done¡­we need to pick up 바카라사이트 pace significantly,¡± Mr Dent said.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com