My experience at the 2016 ACTS Conference
In November this year I had the privilege, courtesy of the TropEco Scholarship competition, to attend the conference for Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability. The conference was hosted at Sunshine Coast University and consisted of a range of keynote speakers, workshops and tours. This annual conference is a chance for university representatives from all across Australia to showcase their sustainable initiatives. It was the perfect opportunity for passionate professionals and skill-seeking students to share innovative ideas, projects, programs and plans that tackle the environmental issues facing each unique institution. This year's theme was 'Connect-Innovate-Ignite!' and it was certainly evident that it lived up to this motivating theme. I connected with a range of fascinating individuals, from inspired students looking to become leaders in the field of sustainability to current leaders and speakers looking to ignite and connect the minds of attendees. The true overarching purpose of the event was achieved before I even reached the conference venue. It was getting to know these people who want to create a meaningful and lasting change in the systems and motivations dominating today's world, and where it can be made sustainable for future generations. The moment I met these sustainability officers, environmental practitioners, scientists, researchers, and students, I immediately knew that these were dedicated individuals out there looking to leave the world in a better state than how they found it. Throughout the conference, we all worked together to share our thoughts and frustrations.
When entering the campus, I immediately noticed the presence of waste recovery stations at the side of each building. It was satisfying to see a smart waste system that easily encourages the public to dispose of waste responsibly with minimal effort. The compostable bins were transported to an On-Site Composting Apparatus, or "OSCA". The system works as a catalyst to speed up the decomposition of compostable waste produced on the campus, which is then used and sold within the community.
Finally, a big thank you to TropEco for this amazing opportunity, and most notably Kerryn O'Connor and Adam Connell who joined me for this conference.