LSESU Sustainable Futures Society
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find inspiration in previous years' winning projects!

This page shows you proposals for some of the winning projects of the Sustainable Projects Fund across the years. Projects differ in scope, scale and type of applicants. We hope this motivates you to apply regardless of your background.



2022-23 projects
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REPAIR WEEK ACTIVITIES

Applicants: Thea Hamilton and Katherine Veck
Department: LSE Sustainability Team
​
Funds awarded: £1200

Project description: The LSE sustainability team used the project funding to run a clothing Repair Café and Mending Workshop at LSE (in collaboration with Kings College London) and a bike repair workshop on campus.

BLANKETS FOR THE DISPLACED

​Applicants: Sherry Han
​

Funds awarded: £850

Project description: Undergraduate student Sherry Han formed a group of student and staff volunteers to sew together deadstock fabric, which would otherwise be classed as textile waste, into two-ply blankets to be sent to refugees. The Sustainable Projects funding covered the purchase of offcut textile and sewing materials.

THE GREAT FOOD FIGHT

Applicants: May-Ying Tang and Defne Ece Yavus
​

Funds awarded: £960

Project description: This student-led project collects unwanted food from students in all LSE-managed halls of residence, as they move out, and takes anything that meets the criteria to local food banks. The money from the fund will go towards paying for a representative in each hall of residence to help with the promotion and collection of food items, a trolley, and transport to the chosen food banks with the items.



2021-22 projects
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AU REUSABLE WATER BOTTLES

Applicant: Jorge Stevenson
​
Funds awarded: £2200

Project description: Supplying reusable water bottles to opt-in LSESU athletics clubs to reduce use of single use plastic water bottles by members at events.

LSE FASHION SHOW

Applicants: Victoria Tay, Thea Burguin, Angelina Juventia, Faline Wu
​
Funds awarded: £1000

Project description: The LSESU Fashion Society's Fashion Show will promote sustainable methods of creating fashion pieces and reach out to individuals in LSE to showcase their work. In addition it will highlight the importance of collaboration in the LSE community, not only to stand together against environmental concerns, but also towards persistent societal changes.

SUSTAINABLE PERIODS PROJECT

Applicant: Anushka Srivstava
​
Funds awarded: £1600

Project description: To facilitate education and awareness among female students on campus about the use of menstrual cups instead of single use menstrual products like tampons and sanitary pads. This will also reduce the amount of waste on campus and LSE student halls.



2020-21 projects
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BUILDING A SUSTAINABILITY CENTRE
: 
Using Behavioural Science to Enhance and Test LSE’s Sustainability E-module


Applicants: Anandita Sabherwal
Departments: Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment; Psychological and Behavioural Sciences        

Funds awarded: £1700
​        
Project Description: Modify the contents of the LSE sustainability e-module so that it not only educates, but also motivates students and staff to take sustainable action. Increase the reach of the module to the wider LSE community; and Quantitatively test the effects of the module on LSE’s sustainability culture and action, using 300 paid research participants.

EARTHRISE JOURNAL

Applicants: Saskia Straub, Emily Douglas, Yasmina O’Sullivan

Funds awarded: £357
​
Project Description: Earthrise Journal is a student-led environmental community and platform, founded at LSE. The journal is published four times a year, made up of contributions from students at LSE and other universities. These contributions can be poems, articles, photography, art, music playlists, and more. Their uniting feature is their expression of thoughts and feelings around the environment and environmental issues. The journal is included on school reading lists and active on social media.

THE GREAT FOOD FIGHT
​
Applicants: Kitty Thompson, Will Power, Ili Rahan, Johannes Rosebusch, Lucrezia Portigliatti

Funds awarded: £2800

Project Description: To focuses on cutting LSE’s food waste. By collaborating with key stakeholders at LSE and analysing current initiatives, this report suggests the following steps be taken: Engage in establishing external partnerships with sustainable, local organisations such as Too Good to Go and food waste conscious brands such as Square Root Soda. Strengthen existing protocol by formalising operations of LSE FoodCycle’s partnership with LSE Catering and LSE Volunteering.

LSE CYCLING INITIATIVE

Applicants: Jamie Riddick, Julia Schoenfeld, Jessica Smith, Jan Mlynarczyk

Funds awarded: £645

Project Description: To increase sustainability and cut Scope 3 emissions by encouraging LSE students to cycle to campus. As well as significantly reducing carbon footprint, another key aim is to improve student mental health. Free cycling lessons to be offered to LSE students who lack the confidence to cycle around the busy streets of London. Free branded merchandise and a social event would also be offered alongside these lessons. The team would like to create route maps to help students travel safely to campus. Branded merchandise would be provided at lessons, at events and in the LSESU Shop, some given free.

FRESHERS FAIR PROJECT

Applicants: Michelle Soh, Nicole Jin, Fiona Tan

Funds awarded: £5000

Project Description: to increase sustainability at the LSE through the freshers’ fair initiative by reducing waste by going plastic- and paper-free by: Eliminating sales gimmicks and promotional flyers, recycling previous fairs’ materials, cancelling the contract with dig-in boxes for LSE halls, introducing guidelines for societies and external organisations to follow (to have a booth at the fair).



2019-20 projects
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LSESU MARINE SOCIETY EXPEDITION
​: Exploring Environmental Policies for The Blue New Deal


Applicants: Grace Chapman, Alice Bessonnet, Julius Koschnick

Funds awarded: £2514
​
Project Description: During a sustainable sailing expedition of one week in Scotland, in collaboration with Sail Britain, an interdisciplinary arts/science project working towards positive change for the oceans, we want to understand the local implications of climate change for the ocean in order to inform policy proposals. A ‘think tank’ for the ocean made on the ocean, titled “The Blue New Deal”. 

LSE ENACTUS VITA NOVA TOTE BAGS

Applicant: Saachin Sivakumar

Funds awarded: £530

Project Description: To tackle the issue of waste reduction and fast fashion by collecting unwanted/wasted t-shirts and starting an upcycling project in which, these clothes are turned into tote bags. We then aim to sell the bags to students, local communities, retailers to reduce plastic consumption.

LSE SUSTAINABILITY RESEARCH PODCASTS
​
Applicant: Felix Koninx

Funds awarded: £385
​
Project Description: To produce and release LSE Sustainability Research Podcasts that showcase the cutting-edge sustainability research undertaken by LSE departments and its affiliate organisations (consisting 20-30 min interviews with Dept/Inst researchers).  

SUSTAINABILITY FOR EVERYONE
​ 

Applicant: Rhys Clarke (PSS Staff)
Department: LSE Human Resources/Finance Divisions

Funds awarded: £1000

Project Description: HR/Finance Green Impact Team are looking to encompass the ‘LSE for Everyone’ theme from 2030 Strategy into their NUS Green Impact project. They plan to arrange a charity day of planting trees and bushes in a local public space (Stave Hill, Rotherhithe). Working with LSE Student Volunteering Service, 10 students and 10 members of HR/Finance staff will come together for this sustainable cause.  The staff working in these divisions would not normally have any student interaction, so this is also an added benefit to engage with other members of the School community. ​



2018-19 projects
​
GREEN IMPACT PROJECTS
​ 

Applicant: Katie Rees
Department: LSE Sustainability Team 

Funds awarded: £3000

Project Description: The project aims to enable the creation of staff initiatives within LSE departments to improve the sustainability of their operations. The projects are to go through an evaluation process similar to the Sustainable Futures Fund - overseen by the qualified sustainability team - and be allocated the funds earmarked for such projects by the fund. 

KEEP CUP

Applicant: Karen Agathe-Hilton 
Department: LSE Catering

​Funds awarded: £5000

Project Description: Continuing the existing Keepcup initiative of the catering department that has already yielded important reductions in disposable cup usage. The funding would help sustain the scheme during the 2019-2020 academic year and likely enable the expansion of reusable cups at the LSE. The scheme would build on an existing initiative that has a proven track-record. 

LSE REUSE KITS

Applicant: Alex Davis, Ahsan Syed

​Funds awarded: £500

​Project Description: Including re-usable items in the introductory bags that incoming undergraduates receive. This project aims to expose students early to more sustainable behaviour, hoping that this will increase the likelihood of them sustaining such behaviour throughout their time at LSE.  

BOG STANDARD

Applicant: Harriet Freeman 

​Funds awarded: £3000

​Project Description: Organising a campaign at LSE and its Halls of Residence to raise awareness around the implications of having plastic debris in our oceans. The campaign would focus on consequences of 'toilet disposal of the Unflushables' and would give a concert advice to students on how to avoid this harmful behaviour. The campaign would consist of research, workshops and screenings. 

SAILING EXPEDITION: SOCIAL SCIENCES MEETS SAILING - AN INVESTIGATION INTO PLASTIC POLLUTION

Applicant: LSESU Marine Society 

​Funds awarded: £1500

​Project Description: Organising a zero carbon expedition format in collaboration with Sail Britain to conduct an investigation on Plastic Pollution along the British Coastlines. Aim is to provide students with a first-hand understanding of the impact of climate change and plastic pollution on the local environment. 



2014-15 projects
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LSEATS

​Applicants: James King, Suyin Chalmin-Pui and Regina Vetter

Funds awarded: £700

​Project Description: 
LSEats is a cook book and food recipe guide for LSE students by students. Chapters on food sustainability, locally sourced food, organic food, eating seasonally, merit of low-carbon diet and buying sustainable food. They propose 500 copies and imagine this publication being distributed free of charge at the LSE and at LSE Halls of Residence. The project is sustainable because the PDF should be freely accessible online. Cooking and eating sustainably is one of the most environmental actions we can take on as individuals as our diet ties us intimately to issues of social and environmental justice. 

BIOCHAR

Applicant: Chris Burt
​
Funds awarded: £350

​Project Description: ​Proposal to implement the use of Biochar on campus and advertise the use of Biochar on campus through banners (for awareness) that will have multiple uses on multiple events. Adding Biochar will be to increase the fertility of the soil in the planters, and improve the water usage efficiency of the soil. Biochar works as a soil amendment, and can be applied on top of existing soil. Locations: John Hopkins Plaza, outside the NAB, outside Saw See Hock, and outside Towers 1&2, as well as on the sixth floor roof terrace in Saw See Hock, the roof terrace on the NAB, and the fourth floor terrace in the Old Building. The biochar would be applied using volunteers gathered from the student body at LSE, with specific courses and societies targeted.



2013-14 projects
​
SCULPTURAL DRINKING FOUNTAIN, 2013-2014​

Applicant: LSE Catering Group
​

Funds awarded: £2000

​Project Description: ​The LSE catering group proposed encouraging increased use of reusable water bottles on campus by offering an additional drinking fountain on campus. In addition to discouraging the use of bottled water, the fountain will also be an educational piece. Environmental and water use issues will be incorporated into the designs of the fountain. The fountain will be sculptural and will serve as a centerpiece for the new campus courtyard, outside of the soon-to-be-constructed LSE Global Centre for the Social Sciences.

Funds awarded from the SPF will go towards proper design and siting of the fountain.  Designs should be in place by December 2014. Additional funding for final construction and delivery of the piece may come from Estates and the site development budget.

THE CYCLE RECYCLE INITIATIVE
​​
Applicants: Oliver Norman, Alex Readford, Indo Vickerson, Alex Fyfe, Hary Doe, Adriana Melchor, Jakub Pawlowski, Ranny Wei, and Alex Leung

Funds awarded: £2725

​Project Description: ​​The Cycle Recycle Initiative involves purchasing second-hand bikes to create a shared pool of bicycles that can be loaned to the students at Rosebury Hall. The initiative calls for the purchasing of 20 bikes, D-locks, coil locks, lights, and helmets as well as a communal toolkit and pump for repairing bicycles. Funding will also go towards proper bike proficiency and safety training.

This project will encourage more sustainable transport options for the residents of Rosebury Hall and will also discourage students from discarding unwanted bikes at the end of their studies. This project will be used as a pilot project and, if successful, may eventually be extended to all LSE halls.


​
​2012-13 projects
​

SUSTAINABLE MATH CURRICULUM

Applicants: David Scott, Tugkan Batu, Jackie Everid, Rebecca Lumb, Mathieu Dubois, James Ward and James Abdey
Department: Staff of Mathematics and Statistics Department

​Funds awarded: £3085

​Project Description: ​The sustainable math curriculum introduces environmental sustainability into some of the largest Mathematics and Statistics course modules, to better ensure that students in these two departments, and across LSE, become more aware of, and knowledgeable about, the importance of sustainability.

On top of the engagement of lecturers and GTA’s to research, develop and teach a “greener” math curriculum, there will be a competition in each course where students themselves are asked to identify potential applications of the mathematics and statistics they’ve learnt to green or environmental situations.

The project aims to tackle education and awareness of sustainability, by  improving engagement of the LSE community with sustainability issues.  By gently and regularly reminding students about a variety of green issues and ideas, in a context where they might not expect to find these mentioned, and connecting these with some concrete scientific theory, the founders hope to educate students on the importance of these matters, and raise their awareness and understanding of them.


PASSFIELD HALL GARDEN

Applicants: Richard Perkins, Laura Ehrich, Margaux Wehr, Clementine Starling and Jodie Brown
Department: Passfield Hall (Staff and Students)

Funds awarded: £6316.80

​Project Description: ​The Sustainability Team at Passfield Hall, consisting of the Warden and 4 students plan to enhance the existing garden at Passfield. The aim is to make the garden more bio-diverse and attractive for current and future residents.

The plan is to create a better environment for the existing bees and to attract additional wildlife such as birds and insects. The herb garden(s) and raised bed will be a shared resource for both staff and students alike, with an informal community garden club allowing for individuals to gain insights into gardening and enable them to contemplate and preserve wildlife collectively.

Passfield Hall is ideal for this type of project. As well as the existing population of bees, the configuration of Passfield (where a central courtyard garden is encased by the three main residential blocs) means that all residents will pass through the garden on a daily basis and enjoy its smells, colours and (where bees and birds are involved) their sounds.

Beyond the environmental benefits of improving the garden, the project will also help to create a strong sense of community within the residence. It provides an example of an environmental “win-win” project. As well as the environmental benefits, it would be popular with holiday guests at Passfield and should help to attract yet more booking for the Hall, helping to subsidize students’ rents.

BIN THERE DONE THAT

Applicant: Ed Stevens

​Funds awarded: £390

​Project Description: How can we improve day-to-day recycling behaviour on campus ? This project will thoroughly research campus users’ use of Communal Recycling Points over a designated time period, and make straightforward recommendations’ for improving campus users’ bin use, with the aim of reducing the amount of recyclable waste found in ‘general waste’ bins to no more than 5%.

The founders of the project will carry out a carefully planned collaborative study into why some campus users sometimes do not use the right bins. The study will observe and investigate (with them) how to best change this behaviour. Based on the evidence, different interventions will be tested, and recommendations for practical measures will be put forward.
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  • About
    • The Committee
    • Alumni
  • Projects
    • Embedding Sustainability
    • The Zero Waste Project
    • Alumni in Sustainability
  • Sustainable Projects Fund
    • Small Bids Fund
    • Application Forms
    • Previous Projects & Winners
  • Previous work
    • Alternative Packaging
    • The SFS Podcast
    • The Sustainable Investment Club