Co-written by Chris Girdler and Scott Britcher
Global Goals Month celebrates the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and UTS’s contribution to them. Near the UTS Building 1 entrance, a Global Goals Month exhibition space was also the gathering point for a series of ‘Chats for the Goals’ presentations. The Education Express team report back on the highlights.
1. Keeping cool in the city with green roofs
For this Chat, Dr Peter Irga, Ralph Fares and Gabby Duani discussed the implementation and benefits of green roofs and walls in urban Sydney. Their approach integrates living infrastructure with nature-based design to reduce urban heat, support biodiversity and improve public wellbeing. An example of this is the green roof of Daramu House in Barangaroo, which was designed to encourage biodiversity and has demonstrated significant cooling effects.
2. Solutions to Tuvalu’s rising challenge
UTS student Cooper Crellin presented on his year-long (and continuing, remotely) involvement in the Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project, which aims to reclaim land against sea-level rise on this remote, seldom-visited set of islands. Cooper discussed challenges that the project faced, including having to import all materials, the limited skilled labour and the island’s environmental constraints. Despite these hurdles, the work is vital for Tuvalu’s long-term survival, with the project also offering valuable insights for Australia’s own coastal resilience.
3. Pathways to a career in Sustainability
Business School academic Rosemary Sainty moderated a panel of UTS graduates who are now working in a variety of sustainability roles. The group shared the diverse, non-linear career paths that led them to this point. Each speaker’s story illustrated how sustainability careers often emerge from unexpected opportunities, shaped by personal values and a willingness to pivot. The discussion also underscored the value of having transdisciplinary skills and following the pursuit of meaningful work.
4. Transforming the global food system
Dr Dana Cordell from the UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures highlighted the urgent need to transform our food systems to meet the targets in SDG 2: Zero Hunger. She revealed that 10–30% of Australians face food insecurity, despite high levels of food waste and diet-related diseases. Dr Cordell emphasised the importance of circular economy models, renewable fertilisers and sustainable diets to reduce emissions and improve resilience. Without addressing food system emissions, Australia will struggle to meet its net-zero targets by 2050.
5. Democratising STEM education
UTS student Nahyan Farooq shared an inspiring story of how an underprivileged region in Pakistan experienced hands-on, interactive STEM learning. Nahyan is a co-founder of the Pi Space Science Education Centre and advocate for SDG 4, which addresses inclusive and accessible education. His work with the Thar Foundation culminated in a Maker & Science Expo, where students explored real-world challenges like water filtration and soil testing using recyclable materials and design thinking. The initiative overcame language barriers and introduced technology to classrooms, while helping upskill teachers to lead culturally relevant lessons.
Don’t miss these events in the final weeks of Global Goals Month
- Wednesday 24 September: Climate Fresk Workshop
- Thursday 25 September: Chats for the Goals: Algenie – unlocking the potential of algae
- Friday 26 September: Make your own beeswax wrap
- Tuesday 30 September: Making Change Together – Growing sustainable cities from the ground up
Global Goals Month is brought to you by UTS Sustainability and UTS BUILD.
Feature image: Rosemary Sainty, Harriet Smith, Chris Briggs, Hannah Mullen, Heather Pym and Talia Smith