As COP26 takes place, Newnham is marking Green Week from 8th – 14th November. College Societies, co-ordinated by Newnham College Environmental Justice Society, and supporters have put together an exciting range of events, and all are welcome to take part.
Further information will be shared via the Facebook page.
Documenting Climate Change with Photographer Veejay Villafranca
12pm Monday 8th November and 12pm Tuesday 9th November
Documentary photographer Veejay Villafranca returns to Newnham to speak on his work capturing the human impacts of the climate crisis, and to run an interactive workshop.
See his remarkable photography in this 30-min film, ‘To Calm the Pig Inside’, a reflection on a typhoon on a seaside city.
On 8 November 12-2pm, Villafranca will be giving an online lecture on visual storytelling and on the technical and emotional practice of reporting on the climate crisis.
His interactive workshop, on 9 November at 12pm, offers the chance to create a short report/documentary using Villafranca’s archive and years of experience.
This event is organised by the Newnham Environmental Justice Society and the Cambridge University Film Photography Society but is open to anyone.
Vegan Potluck and COP26 Screening
5pm Monday 8th November. Clough JCR and The Iris
To kick off green week we are running a screening of some COP26 highlights led by Scottish climate activists in Clough JCR, in collaboration with Cambridge Zero. Afterwards, we’ll move to a potluck in the Iris at Newnham!
The bar will be selling drinks and hopefully we’ll be able to meet like-minded people and have some good discussions about climate activism and COP26!
To bring food, please put your name and the dish you’re making and any allergy info on this google doc, and make sure your food is clearly marked with allergy info on the day
Clothes Swap: the best way to dress!
1-4pm Tuesday 9th November, Cynthia Beerbower Room
Drop in between 1 and 4pm to swap your clothes for something new in the Cynthia Beerbower room at Newnham!
This is a collaboration between Newnham, Queens, and Selwyn, so hopefully there will be plenty of choice. If you come to the potluck the night before, feel free to drop off clothes there so that there’s a selection to start off with, or bring your clothes on the day!
Rat tales: The success story of a rodent eradication conservation programme on South Georgia
2pm Wednesday 10th November, Sidgwick Hall
Following last Friday’s popular Pudding Seminar (see photo above), gardener and conservationist Jerome Viard will explore his remarkable work in South Georgia in depth.
The sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia is an extraordinary and magical place. It is known for its dramatic landscapes, abundant fauna, unique flora and an interesting history. But these last ten years or so South Georgia has become internationally renowned for being a leader in environmental protection and habitat restoration.
This talk will be a short story of an incredible achievement, that saw a small UK charity called South Georgia Heritage Trust taking on the largest rodent eradication in the world so far, removing a devastating invasive species and restoring a fragile habitat for millions of birds.
Jerome will talk about the problem, the methodology and the result of this incredible habitat restoration project. He will also give a more personal view of his time on South Georgia and what it was like to work, live and socialise on such a remote island.
Open Meeting and Crafts Night
7pm, Wednesday 10th November, Cynthia Beerbower
Come to the NEJS open meeting and crafts night for a great chance for anyone who wants to get more involved with the society to come and find out what we do and how the society is run.
We’re going to be making beeswax wraps as a more sustainable alternative to clingfilm, and we’ll also be offering hot drinks and snacks!
Come along whether you’re more interested in environmentalism or crafts for a chill night in!
Houseplant Sale
12-4pm Thursday 11th November, Marquee
Drop into the marquee in Newnham gardens to buy some very reasonably priced houseplants for a good cause! All the plants have come from the Newnham gardeners and are being sold in aid of Paid to Pollute, a campaign trying to end UK government support of the fossil fuel industry, so come along and see what catches your eye!
Seed swap, skill share and seasonal bakes!
Friday 12 November, 10am-12pm, Permaculture garden
Next Friday 12 November at 10am-12pm the Garden Club is putting on a ‘seed swap, skill share and seasonal bakes’ event for Newnham Green Week – a chance to show how Newnham is really leading the charge at Cambridge when it comes to student gardening and permaculture.
Come down to Newnham’s permaculture garden from 10am till 12pm – the garden is behind the Pightle building on Newnham Walk, with signing from Plodge and some members of the garden club meeting there at 10am to guide anyone down who hasn’t visited before!
Vegan Cooking Demo with Zara Guppy
6:30, Friday 12th November, Dorothy Garrod Building
Do you catch yourself always cooking the same old recipes? Would you like to eat more plant-based but don’t know where to start? Do the fancy, complicated recipes you find online overwhelm you? We’ve got the prefect event for you! We are excited to announce that we are collaborating with Zara Guppy from @aspoonofpeanutbutter, a food blogger and Cambridge student who will be demonstrating the cooking of a quick, easy, budget-friendly vegan recipe.
The event will be held in one of the newly-refurbished Dorothy Garrod kitchens. You can expect a fun, interactive evening where you will have the chance to help with the cooking and at the end have a taste. Places are limited so sign up quickly
Sustainable Finance Talk with alumna Sarah Breeden
3pm, Saturday 13th November, Barbara White Room and online
Newnham alumna Sarah Breeden will be running an event on sustainable finance! Anyone interested in finance, investment and economics as well as the environment should come along to this interactive workshop to find out more.
It will be hosted in person in the Barbara White Room, Old Hall, with the option to attend online.
Closing event: Documentary The Salt In Our Waters and pizza night
8pm Sunday 14th November, Cynthia Beerbower Room
For the last event of Green Week, we are watching the documentary The Salt In Our Waters.
Join us to watch this unmissable film about the impact of the climate crisis on a Hilsha seaside village in Bangladesh. We’ll also be serving free pizza.
The film is the critically acclaimed debut of filmmaker Rezwan Shahriar Sumit and was made with support from Spike Lee.