ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
AT YORK (ESAY)

INTRODUCING ESAY
Launched in October 2021, Environmental Sustainability at York (ESAY) is a University of York-based team that helps to connect the activities we are doing on environmental sustainability within teaching, research and campus operations to deliver new joined-up benefits and create impact within and beyond the University.
Through creating and leading collaborative activities, networking or providing resource support, ESAY aims to maximise our environmental sustainability impact with internal and external partners by working collaboratively.

OUR MISSION
Our mission is to help cohere and boost environmental sustainability teaching, research, policy development and operational practices across the University of York and its external partners.
OUR VISION
Our vision is for a strong collaborative approach to solving critical environmental sustainability challenges.
OUR
OBJECTIVES
STAFF & STUDENT ENGAGEMENT
Greater staff and student engagement in environmental sustainability opportunities.
RESEARCH ACTIVITY
Increased environmental sustainability research activity.
BETTER INTEGRATION
Better integration between teaching, research, policy and operations in the environmental sustainability space.
REACH AND IMPACT
Increased University of York profile, reach and impact in environmental sustainability.
MEET THE TEAM
ESAY is represented by individuals from teaching, research, policy and operations, along with a dedicated support team. The team includes:
- Dr Lynda Dunlop (ESAY Director of Teaching), Department of Education
- Professor Lindsay Stringer (ESAY research), Director of York Environmental Sustainability Institute (YESI)
- Professor Sarah West (ESAY policy), Director of Stockholm Environment Institute York (SEI-Y)
- Mark Clough (ESAY operations), Sustainability Manager, (DTEF)
- Daisy Kemp, ESAY Project Manager
- Anna Morfitt, ESAY Communications Officer
- Lucy Atkinson, YIMs and Sustainability Clinic Administrator
EXAMPLES OF OUR WORK
York Interdisciplinary Modules (YIMs)
Award-winning sustainability modules open to all students, encouraging collaborative, cross-disciplinary learning.
Play for the
Planet
(YESI network)
A creative community of game designers, researchers and educators using play to spark environmental action.
The
Sustainability
Clinic
Student teams work with organisations and SMEs to solve real-world sustainability challenges (part of our suite of YIMs).
Responsible
Futures
Programme
Collaborating with York Students’ Union and SOS-UK to embed sustainability throughout the University’s curriculum.
Climate
Fresk
workshops
Delivering interactive, IPCC-based workshops fostering climate action and emotional connection among staff and students.
Supporting the YESI Fellows scheme
Supporting short, impactful projects that grow environmental research and knowledge exchange across disciplines.

GET INVOLVED
Interested in contributing to environmental sustainability at York? Here are a few ways to participate in our initiatives:
1. Follow us on social media (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram).
2. Participate in a Climate Fresk workshop to learn about the causes and consequences of climate change and take action.
3. Tell us about a sustainability project you're working on for us to promote with the wider community (email esay@york.ac.uk).
4. Browse YESI's range of sustainability and climate-related networks, which are open to anyone with an interest in the topic.
5. Get in touch if you are keen to collaborate on the YESI Knowledge Exchange Fellowships.
6. Find out about student sustainability opportunities on our Student Sustainability Opportunities Hub.
7. Explore our staff opportunities hub to take part in sustainability initiatives, activities, groups and projects.

GET IN TOUCH
esay@york.ac.uk | tinyurl.com/ESAY-York