Focus on Environmental Sustainability in Business - The Courier 11/11/11

5 January 2012 - article 11 November 2011

The importance of environmental sustainability will be debated at Dundee University next week.

Patrick Harvie, MSP, co-convener of the Scottish Green Party, will discuss the meaning of sustainability with leading business figures including Tony Banks and Chris van der Kuyl at the conference next week.

The Dundee Student and Sustainability Showcase Conference (DS3C) takes place at the Dalhousie Building on Monday.

Dr Keith Skene of the BioSphere research Institute will examine scientific aspects of sustainability in his presentation 'Sustainable Design: Why the Pharaohs has it right' and Geoffrey Wood, a PhD candidate at Dundee will discuss the challenges to growing a sustainable energy system in the UK.

Mr Harvie will deliver the keynote speech focusing on the political use and misuse of the language of sustainability, before entering into a debate on the question 'Is sustainability a cover for business as usual?' with several top entrepreneurs.

The business people taking part are Tony Banks, owner of Balhousie Care Homes. Chris van der Kuyl, chief executive of brightsolid, Amanda Boyle from Bloom VC, Tim Allan from Unicorn Property and Alan Rae from Copyright Scotland.

DS3C is the opening event in the university's Green Week 2011, which will see a series of workshops and awareness-raising sessions taking place from November 14 to 18.

Transport, energy, waste and shopping are the themes of this year's programme.

The conference will also see the winners of the Sustainable Business Ideas Competition receive their prizes.

Three prizes of £250 each will be presented to the students who come up with the best business ideas relating to energy, transport and general sustainability.

Organiser Neil Bowie, enterprise educator at the E-Gym said: "This conference is one of the highlights in our annual programme of events, and we are delighted to be welcoming Patrick Harvie, along with some leading names from the Scottish business community."

"I think it is fair to say that their definition of sustainability differs to Partick's so it will be very interesting to see them debate this hugely important topic."

Mr Harvie said he was looking forward to the event, and the opportunity to encourage students to think about the meaning of sustainability.

More information is available by visiting www.ds3c.co.uk

Places can be booked via this website and enquiries made by calling 01382 385568.