Sessions

Format: Interactive Panel and Q&A

Exploring solutions to deliver equitable education to all learners
The Sustainable Development Goals state that education is key to sustainable development, improving quality of life and the futures of children around the world. Yet the provision of education remains unequal for marginalised and/or minoritized groups, such as girls and women, people with disabilities and indigenous peoples. Well-intentioned efforts to deliver local education by external actors often bypass local decision-making agencies and the knowledge and power of local communities. This session explores systems, innovative solutions and technologies that aim to democratise decision making around education and deliver equitable and quality education for all learners.

	Co-Chair: Keren Coney	PhD candidate, School of Education, University of Birmgham
	Co-Chair: Mzwanele Ntshwanti	PhD candidate, Department of Economics, University of Birmgham
	Dr Rafael Mitchell	Lecturer in Comparative and International Education, University of Bristol, UK
	Tanya Popeau	Director, Live Synthesis
	Tanisha Hicks-Bereford	Lead Citizenship Teacher, Bristol Cathedral Choir School
Virtual Oral Presentation	Holly Randell-Moon	Cultural Responsivity in Cross-Cultural Indigenous Science Education

Format: Interactive Panel and Q&A

Exploring how conflicts between different stakeholders can be identified, understood and mitigated to achieve fair access to and sustainable protection of ecosystems and their services for all people.
Maintaining sustainable ecosystems is not without contestation. Multiple visions of and objectives for sustainability within ecosystems have implications for how ecosystems are managed and for the types of incentives developed for effective management. This session will examine competing demands on, and visions for, ecosystems, focusing in particular on river systems in different contexts: urbanisation in the UK, the semi-arid Deccan Plateau of India, and increasing global temperatures through climate change. The multiple contexts of competing demands on, and visions for, river system management illustrate wider lessons for how competing visions for sustainable ecosystems can be reconciled. 

	Chair: Professsor Iseult Lynch	Professor of Environmental Nanosciences, University of Birmingham, UK
	Chair: Professor David Hannah	UNESCO Chair in Water Science, University of Birmingham, UK
	Professor Angela Gurnell	Professor of Physical Geography, Queen Mary University of London, UK
Oral Presentation	David Hannah	Protecting rivers from high water temperatures under climate change
Oral Presentation	Stefan Krause	Identifying the drivers, pathways and impacts of global river microplastic pollution
Oral Presentation	Sami Ullah	Response of Forests to Climate Change at BIFoR-FACE
	Q&A Session

Format: Interactive Panel and Q&A

Exploring positive solutions to population growth through participatory rapid planning
The world’s urban population is set to increase dramatically in the next three decades with most of this rapid urbanisation occurring in secondary cities which face strained capacity and resources. The speed and scale of growth means that managing urban areas, and planning for sustainable urban extensions, will be one of the most important challenges facing cities and societies in the 21st century. This event, hosted by The Prince’s Foundation and in collaboration with a range of partners will present and explore positive solutions to population growth through participatory rapid planning with a focus on The Rapid Planning Toolkit for Urban Expansion.

	Chair: Leslie Ohomele	Senior Design Manager, The Prince's Foundation
	Alice Preston-Jones	Senior Programme Manager, The Princes Foundation, UK
	Haja Halimah Lukay	Development and Planning Officer Bo City Council, Sierra Leone
	Javier Torner Ruiz de Temino	Urban Development Specialist, Program Management Officer, UN-Habitat
	Ruth Grindey	Director of Development, University College Estate Management
	Bryce Julyan	Practice Lead - Community Shaping, Beca

	Anushma Sharma	Town Planner, Department of Town and Country Planning,  Fiji
	Abu Siddiki	British Bangladeshi Architect

Format: Interactive Panel and Q&A

Examining how Artificial Intelligence can be more inclusive and sustainable.

In an increasingly digital world, AI has the power to transform outcomes for people and the planet. But with the widening divide between those with and without technology, and potential biases against underrepresented groups, it also has the power to harm. Our panellists will explore the potential of AI as a solution to the global challenges, focussing on how to address the risks it poses to achieve inclusive and sustainable AI.  

	Chair: Antonio Zappulla	CEO, Thomson Reuters Foundation
	Professor John Shawe-Taylor	Director, International Research Centre on Artifical Intelligence
	Theo Blackwell	Chief Digital Officer for London, Greater London Authority
	Mariagrazia Squicciarini	Chief of Executive Office, Social and Human Sciences Sector, UNESCO, France
	Emma Wright	Director, Institute of AI, UK

 

Format: Interactive Panel and Q&A

Considering how mobility infrastructures can support social cohesion and urban diversity in cityscapes
Connecting people across urban spaces requires not only affordable transport options to be in place, but sufficient motivations for people to move, whether that be for housing, jobs or leisure. This session will bring together diverse perspectives to discuss how urban planning initiatives, particularly mobility planning, can contribute to urban diversity and the inclusion of different societal groups. It will draw on case studies from around the world to identify solutions that are sustainable and work for urban communities.  

	Chair: Professor Nando Sigona	Chair of International Migration and Forced Displacement, Director of IRiS, University of Birmingham
	Ivana D'Alessandro	Head of Unit, Intercultural cities, Council of Europe, Italy
	Dr Lela Rekhviashvili	Researcher, Leibniz-Institut für Länderkunde, Germany
	Matthew Pencharz	Head of Policy for UK, Ireland & Benelux, Voi Scooters, UK

Format: Interactive Panel and Q&A

What could ‘value’ look like in a green economy and how will the circular economy encourage change in how value is created?
A green economy requires businesses, governments and people to think differently about how we use, reuse and dispose of products. This session will explain what challenges are presented by the need to radically change our production, consumption and disposal practices, and how the concept of the ‘circular economy’ offers solutions. The panel will give examples of innovation in action, across cities, communities and businesses, to ‘close the loop’ and rethink how value is generated and shared in a green economy. The discussion will demonstrate that the green economy can create value

	Chair: Professor Mercedes Maroto-Valer	Associate Principal (Global Sustainability) and Director, Research Centre for Carbon Solutions, Heriot-Watt University
	Professor Fiona Charnley	Associate Professor of Circular Economy and Co-Director Exeter Centre for the Circular Economy, UK
	Soukeyna Gueye	Project Manager, Insights and Analysis, Ellen Macarthur Foundation, UK
	Kevin Kung	Co-founder Takachar, Earthshot Prize Winner, Canada
	Olugbenga Olubanjo	Founder and CEO of Reeddi, Earthshot Prize finalist, Canada
	Dr Ndidi Nnoli-Edozien	Chair, Circular Economy Innovation Partnership and Managing Partner Afrikairos GmBH, Germany
	Vonjy Rajakoba	Chief Executive, Bosch
Oral Presentation	Jonathan Seville	For plastic the future is circular: a sustainable plan for recycling plastic waste
Oral Presentation	Peter Braithwaite	Value from waste: developing innovative and low carbon solutions
Virtual Oral Presentation	Noah Peters	The Missing Link to Close the Loop: Moving from Circular Economy to Circular Society
	Q&A Session

Format: Interactive Panel and Q&A

Reflecting on the effectiveness of food strategies to provide nutritious, healthy food for all
The increasing urbanisation of the global population presents multiple challenges to securing reliable, healthy and good quality food for diverse populations. This panel will reflect on the challenges of building resilience in cities for securing reliable and effective food supply chains that encourage fair access to healthy food that is good for the planet. The panel will identify and share examples of good practice, including the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nation’s Urban Food Agenda, the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact and Nutrition Smart Cities.

	Professor Alice Roberts	Biological anthropologist, biologist, television presenter and author
	Shaleen Meelu	The Food Foundation UK
	Councillor Paulette Hamilton	Councillor for the Holyhead Ward, Birmingham, and Member of Parliment for Erdington Birmingham
	Andrea Magarini	Food Policy Coordinator of Milan; a member of the winning team of the Earthsot Prize 2021 for 'Build a Waste-free World'
	Professor Roberta Sonnino	Professor of Sustainable Food Systems, Centre for Environment and Sustainability, University of Surrey
	Q&A Session

Format: Interactive Panel and Q&A

Exploring ways to overcome the barriers to provision and deliver the right care in the community 
We live in an uncertain, changing world. A wide-reaching impact of Covid-19 and the climate crisis is the exacerbation of mental health issues, which in turn has highlighted the critical importance of mental health care, particularly for young people. But where should this care be located and how can it be delivered? Our panellists will present solutions and interventions to reimagine mental health provision within the community, which empower the public, organisations, primary carers and health services to support mental wellbeing for all. 

	Chair: Dr Afzal Javed	Consultant Psychiatrist (UK and Pakistan), Honorary Professor. Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, UK
	Professor Matthew Broome	University of Birmingham, School of Psychology, Professor of Psychiatry and Youth Mental Health, Director of the Institute for Mental Health, UK

	Professor Norman Sartorius	President, Association for the Improvement of Mental Health Programmes (AMH), Geneva
	Professor Gabriel Ivbijaro	Medical Director, The Wood Street Medical Centre, London; Professor, NOVA University, Lisbon Portugal

	Professor Aida Sylla	Professor of Psychiatry, Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar, Senegal
Oral Presentation	Samantha Ford	Taking responsibility: The power of figurative communication in sports advertising and its role in tackling social issues of equality and mental health
Virtual Oral Presentation	Shireen Yachu	Making Mental Health a Priority- Addressing Adolescent Well-being
	Q&A Session

Join us for our Programme of in-person activities during the break 

1005 - Meet the Keynote Speaker 

Join us for an informal Q&A with: 

• Vaitea Cowan, Head of Enapter, Earthshot Prize Winner – Silent Theatre, Exhibition Hall 

These sessions are limited to 15 delegates, first-come first-served 

 

 

Format: Interactive Panel and Q&A

Reviewing different mechanisms and opportunities for supporting ecosystem restoration considering sustainability, equity and fairness
There is no doubt about the need for greater protection and restoration of nature, and global recognition and commitment to act is encouraging. Several policy commitments and measures dominate solutions to the loss of biodiversity and ecosystems, including the commitment to protect 30% of the area of land and water by 2030, major tree-planting campaigns and the promotion of nature-based solutions to climate change. These solutions share a common critique that they fail to adequately recognise the experience, knowledge and rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities. This panel reflects on this critique and puts forward informed solutions that are more effective, sustainable and fair.

	Chair: Professor Alice Roberts	Anatomist, Author and Broadcaster
	Pooven Moodley	Executive Director, Natural Justice, South Africa
	Dilys Roe	Principal Researcher, International Institute for Environment and Development
	Akshay Vishwanath	Portfolio Manager, East Africa, Maliasili
Oral Presentaiton	Jackson Kenya Njoka	A biodiversity conservation protocol: an integrated community-based model
	Q&A Session