Digital sustainability to take centre stage at the University in October
Posted on: 1 September, 2025

The University of the Built Environment is inviting you to step into the future of sustainability, not only in buildings but also in the digital world we use every day.
From 20 to 31 October 2025, the University will host its sixth series of Climate and Social Action (CASA) activities, bringing together students, alumni, staff and prospective students for an inspiring line-up of events focused on digital sustainability.
Monday 20 October |
Mapathon Challenge & Briefing |
Join our Mapathon Challenge and see how many maps you can swipe to help support communities across the globe. More details about the Challenge will be circulated in a pre-recorded briefing. |
What is Responsible Futures? |
The University is part of the Responsible Futures programme and will be working towards its fifth accreditation this academic year. Find out what Responsible Futures is and what it looks like for our university. This session will be pre-recorded and circulated as part of CASA. |
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Tuesday 21 October |
11.30am-12pm |
Join Lauren (Welfare Officer) and Charlotte (Outreach and Inclusion Lead) for a game of ‘Digital Detox Bingo’. This is Bingo with benefits: from hitting unsubscribe to hunting down happy headlines, each square brings you a step closer to a lighter, brighter digital life. |
Can AI really build greener, healthier cities? 2pm-2.30pm |
Dr Pippa Boyd (Senior Lecturer) shares her research on the digitalisation of regenerative cities, looking at what the opportunities and challenges are for the built environment. |
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Thursday 23 October |
Mapathon Challenge with cake! (Staff only) 10am-10.30am |
Working at Horizons? Come along for your usual cake from 10am with a quick Mapathon Challenge swipe! |
Debating the Pros and Cons of AI 12pm-12.30pm |
Join some of our Student Officers for Sustainability as they debate the pros and cons of AI. |
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Monday 27 October |
Working sustainability post Covid-19 1pm-1.45pm |
Jordan Turner (Senior Lecturer) will discuss ways of working post Covid-19, looking at employee wellbeing, social value and the footprint impact of home vs. office working. |
Tuesday 28 October |
11am-12pm |
Join University of the Built Environment Alumni and Associate Fellow, Jason Ratcliffe, and Jessica (Sustainability Officer) for ‘Mission: Home Possible’. You will be tasked with a top-secret mission to discover how home design and habits can affect mental, physical, financial, and sustainable wellbeing. |
Wednesday 29 October |
Student Officer Q&A – Tools and Technologies 11am-11.30am |
Join our Student Officers for Sustainability as they quiz some of our academic colleagues on the real-world application of tools and technologies in the built environment and how this relates to sustainability. |
Thursday 30 October |
Mapathon Challenge with cake! (Staff only) 10am-10.30am |
Join some of our Student Officers for Sustainability as they debate the pros and cons of AI. |
Friday 31 October |
Are smart building systems being fully utilised in UK offices? 12pm-12.30pm |
One of our recent MSc Real Estate graduates, Alice Blaxland, will be sharing her findings and experiences of her final year project. |
What is digital sustainability?
Digital technology is transforming the way we live, study and work, but it also has an environmental impact.
Digital sustainability is about making sure the technology we use every day – like phones, apps, and the internet – doesn’t harm the planet or society in the long run. It covers everything from lowering the carbon footprint of data centres and cloud services to developing ethical AI, responsible data practices, and digital tools that are accessible to all.
This year’s CASA will shine a light on how we can balance innovation with responsibility.
Whether you are already part of the University of the Built Environment community or are curious about joining us, CASA is a chance to learn, debate and discover how the digital choices we make can shape a greener tomorrow.
Digital sustainability is about making sure the technology we use every day – like phones, apps, and the internet – doesn’t harm the planet or society in the long run. It covers everything from lowering the carbon footprint of data centres and cloud services to developing ethical AI, responsible data practices, and digital tools that are accessible to all.
Jessica Gordon-Calvert, the University’s Sustainability Officer, said: “I love the time of year that is CASA and seeing our University community come together to learn more about sustainability, climate change and taking action.
“This October, we will be going on an adventure into the realms of digital sustainability, potentially exploring topics such as artificial intelligence, digital wellbeing, and digital carbon footprint.”
The full programme will be released soon, so keep an eye on our website and social channels.