GMIoT Student Conference on Sustainability +
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GMIoT Student Conference 2025: A Celebration of Sustainability
On December 3, 2024, the University of Salford, a lead partner of GMIoT, hosted our highly anticipated annual student conference. This year’s theme focused on one of the most urgent challenges of our time—sustainability.
The event brought together around 250 students and course leaders from across our educational partnership, including Wigan & Leigh College, Ada, Bury College, Tameside College, and the University of Salford. We also opened up invitations to colleges from Lancashire and Cumbria Institute of Technology, ensuring a collaborative and diverse group of participants. Together, they connected, shared knowledge, and explored sustainable solutions for the future.
As part of the GMIoT student enrichment offering, the conference delivered a packed agenda of insightful talks, interactive activities, and networking opportunities, leaving attendees inspired to take meaningful action.
Expert Insights and Inspiring Stories
The conference showcased an impressive line-up of speakers who brought expertise, passion, and innovation to the stage:
• Tony Heslop from BASF, the world’s largest chemical provider, highlighted their pivotal role in driving circular economies.
• Ian Akil Johnson explored the intersection of technology and fashion, unveiling advancements that combine innovation with sustainability.
• Aviad Bessler, Senior Data Scientist and PhD candidate at Salford University, discussed how Artificial Intelligence can enable sustainable practices to address ecological crises.
• Binita Dcruz, a recent graduate in Fashion Business and Marketing from the University of Salford, shared her inspiring vision for rethinking fashion education to prioritise sustainability.
The keynote speaker, Emily Penn, captivated the audience with her remarkable two-year journey tackling ocean waste. Her efforts, which brought together 300 women to study and combat the ocean plastics crisis, offered a powerful blend of inspiration and actionable solutions.
Hands-On Sustainability Learning
In addition to thought-provoking talks, students had the opportunity to engage in interactive STEM activities that combined education and fun.
• Lego robot challenges, organised by Wigan & Leigh College University Centre, fostered teamwork and problem-solving.
• Speed ramp challenges by CreativeHUT demonstrated sustainable engineering principles in action.
• VR immersive experiences, led by Professor Andy Miah and Anthony Stephens, transported students into futuristic, sustainable worlds.
“We really enjoyed it, and it worked really well embedding some of the information we learned at the conference into our lessons today.”
It was inspiring to see around 250 GMIoT students and course leaders unite to explore solutions for a sustainable future. We hope everyone left the conference with new ideas, strengthened connections, and a renewed commitment to creating a greener, better world. Together, we can make a lasting difference.
If you’re interested in getting involved with the Greater Manchester Institute of Technology, please email info@gmiot.ac.uk
