farida with university of leeds lecturer

Student-celebrating plaques installed on campus

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Last updated on 9 July 2024

Staff, students, and visitors to campus may notice some new additions alongside the University’s blue plaques – with one key difference.

The first group of new green plaques, which recognise the influential role students have played in developing important campus projects, have been installed at four University locations.

Student-led projects being celebrated include the accessible lift in the Parkinson building, the Postgraduate Research Lounge, the Women in STEM Conference and a common lounge for commuter students.

Improving campus for everyone

Similar in style to the well-established blue plaque initiative, each details the role individual students have made towards getting a project off the ground, whether through activism, campaigning or by working with Leeds University Union.

The scheme has been developed by the Estates team and Leeds University Union to recognise the contributions students are making to the future development of campus.

Ann Allen, Director of Campus Innovation & Development said:

“Our campus is only relevant because of all the amazing things our students and staff undertake here at Leeds. Celebrating the successes through the Green Plaques is so exciting as it makes both people and place relevant.

“As we reshape the campus through Campus Reimagined we want to keep learning from all our University communities to make sure we are achieving our aim of creating amazing spaces on campus that are sustainable, inclusive, and innovative.”

Where can I find the plaques?

The first plaque is located at the entrance of the new Postgraduate Research Lounge on the second floor of the Refectory.

It marks the work carried out by Polly Galis, Abiha Khan, Vicky Zhuo and Rimsha to lobby for a dedicated space for postgraduate researchers.

green plaque located at Postgraduate Research Lounge

The second plaque is located in EC Stoner.

It recognises Susan Preston’s work in campaigning for more inclusion for commuter students, include the creation of a specialised common lounge.

green plaque at EC Stoner

Another plaque has been installed outside of the Mechanical Engineering Building.

It details Farida Al Wakeel’s work to create the Women in STEM Conference.

green plaque at Mechanical Engineering Building

The final plaque is located outside of the Parkinson Building,.

It celebrates Gem Turner’s successful campaign to install an accessible lift outside of the building.

green plaque outside Parkinson building

Read more about the green plaque initiative.

geothermal worksite at Henry Price

Geothermal drilling wraps up on campus

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Last updated on 16 July 2024

After over five months of work on eight boreholes across campus, scheduled drilling on the University’s landmark geothermal energy project has been completed.

The work, co-led by Estates and the Sustainability Service, is testing the potential to use underground heat to contribute to our heating systems.

Specialists in the Estates team have been working alongside contractors from ANTS Group and engineering firm Buro Happold to complete borehole drilling to depths of 150m to 250m.

Findings set to be revealed

Researchers from the University’s Geosolutions Leeds centre are now analysing the data collected and will reveal their findings later this summer.

Early testing of open and closed-loop boreholes has shown positive indications of the potential to develop a geothermal heat pump system on campus.

If successful, it could provide an approach which can be used across the region and the rest of the UK.

Drilling work began in February at locations around campus, including the Henry Price hall of residence, and the Maurice Keyworth and Mechanical Engineering buildings.

Working on Net Zero

The work forms part of the Net Zero Delivery Plan, which sets out the key projects that will help achieve the University’s target of reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

David Oldroyd, Deputy Director of Development at the University of Leeds, said: “Colleagues in Estates have worked alongside specialist contractors to keep disruption to a minimum and allow experts from Geosolutions Leeds speedy access to the data they need to determine the project’s success.

“This work has the potential to provide a more sustainable way of heating campus in line with the University’s Net Zero goals and set an example for future energy innovation.”

The sites where work is taking place will be restored to normal use by mid-summer.

Find out more by visiting our project page and the Sustainability Services’s website.