Our environmentally-friendly Symposium venue University College Dublin became the first third-level organisation in Ireland to achieve ISO 50001 certification for both water and energy management in 2016. The O’Brien Centre for Science enjoys a BREEAM Excellent rating (an environmental standard), also a first in Ireland. A new rain-water harvesting system was installed on the roof of the UCD O’Brien Centre for Science and was part of the initiatives that helped UCD to achieve the BREEAM Excellent rating for this building.
Management practices over the last 30 years on the 330-acre campus have led to the development of biodiversity paths through woodland areas. Pollinator friendly planting and wildflower meadows provide opportunities for wild pollinator nesting habitats as part of the UCD Campus Pollinator Plan. The UCD Sustainable Energy Community is a group of professionals, students and staff members at UCD whose goal is to engage and educate the UCD community on sustainable energy practices and research, with a view to reducing carbon emissions in the local area.
In keeping with our philosophy of conservation and sustainability, we have ensured that EMBS54 benefits from the following:
- Close proximity to transportation hubs, public transport, hire bikes
- Close proximity to accommodation, restaurants, activities
- Local catering companies used to reduce transportation miles
- Reusable tableware, no plastic bottles
- Venue employs natural light
- Recycling/composting facilities on campus
- Minimal use of plastic – paper name badges, BYO lanyards
- Digital alternatives to paper used wherever possible