Students in the Grande Ecole Program at the Arts et Métiers campus Arts et Métiers have just created their own environmental association. Their goal is to raise awareness among students about acting in an eco-responsible manner, both in their studies and careers as well as in their personal lives.
Raise students' awareness of environmental and societal challenges
Tamaki and Jean lead a motivated team of around ten people. Committed to raising awareness among students about environmental issues and, more specifically, reducing their environmental footprint, they organize activities and communications tailored to student life.
Our initiative is not limited to establishing "green" habits, but attempts to awaken a more global consciousness by providing opportunities for reflection and concrete projects. Tamaki
Concrete projects in their local communities
A survey was circulated within their student residence, allowing everyone to express their views on their recycling practices and motivations.
This led to a number of actions, such as the installation of recycling bins (paper, cardboard, and glass) in the communal kitchens and the organization of collection rounds by the students themselves.
They also approached local farmers, enabling them to receive around 40 baskets every week at a very attractive price. These baskets of local, organic, and seasonal fruit and vegetables aim to improve students' diets while creating eco-responsible and locavore consumption habits. Students are free to order their baskets on a weekly basis. The products are delivered to their rooms by members of the Environment Association.
Outward-looking initiatives
These initiatives aim to be certified during Student Sustainable Development Week, a national awareness-raising period running from March 29 to April 16, 2021.
The association is also starting to forge other partnerships with local associations and organizations such as COP2 and the French Student Network for Sustainable Development (ReFEDD).
It also echoes the Arts et Métiers Environnement collective. Arts et Métiers (AME), which was founded in early 2020 and brings together students, staff, and alumni ofArts et Métiers.
Various initiatives have already been implemented:
- Teaching : consider ways to include environmental issues in training;
- Awareness : sharing information or events to better understand the impacts on the environment and the phenomena at play;
- Campus Actions : connecting the various campuses on these issues and supporting or accompanying local projects;
- Corporate relations : promoting companies with sustainable activities, connecting students and alumni on environmental issues;
I believe that it is now very important and necessary for prestigious engineering schools such as Arts et Métiers these issues seriously in order to train engineers who are sensitive to these problems and able to respond to the challenges of the 21st century. Tamaki
