9.2.1 Education
Learning and education are a key first step in confronting sustainability. By keeping yourself well informed about the problems that are happening to the world and society you are better equipped to have the creativity and innovation required to produce solutions. As mentioned in the first chapter, exponential growth of consumption of resources means that everything is changing at a fast rate. The statistics presented in this module will soon be out of date, so it is essential to stay informed and be up to date with the current worldwide situation.
Centre for Alternative Technology Graduate School of the Environment
MSc Renewable Energy and the Built Environment (REBE)
MSc Architecture: Advanced Environmental and Energy Studies (AEES)
MSc Sustainable Horticulture and Food Production
Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology, Loughborough University
Renewable Energy Systems Technology (MSc)
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/el/research/centres/crest/
Water, Engineering and Development Centre, Loughborough University
Water and Environmental Management
Water and Waste Engineering
Infrastructure in Emergencies
University of Nottingham
MSc Sustainable Building Technology
Sustainable Energy Engineering Masters (MSc)
http://pgstudy.nottingham.ac.uk/
Formalised academic education is not necessarily the best path for everyone, and knowledge, experience and skills can be gained through other informal routes, such as reading books, peer learning and
internet research. Many organisations run practical courses for those wishing to gain a more hands on approach of learning; some of these are listed below:
Low Impact Living Initiative
LILI offer practical short courses on a range of topics related to sustainability
http://www.lowimpact.org/courses.htm
Schumacher College
An educational institute based on the ideas of E.F. Schumacher that offers a range of courses for anyone interested in sustainability
http://www.schumachercollege.org.uk/courses/short-courses
Centre for Alternative Technology
CAT also offer short courses of a practical nature on a range of subjects
http://www2.cat.org.uk/shortcourses/