27 Jun 2020|Noida | Amity University, Noida
Sustainability Narratives for Sustainable Built Environments in Post Covid-19 Conditions
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A webinar on ‘Sustainability Narratives for Sustainable Built Environments in Post Covid-19 Conditions’ was conducted by Dr. Sandeep Sankat - Associate Professor - SPA Bhopal. He shared that humans are unable to save their own habitat, forget saving the birds (sparrows and crows) and their nests. He averred that humans need to make their habitat sustainable to further save the birds and their home. The question of sustainability arises as we are dealing with a range of people in numbers, climatic conditions, flora & fauna etc in our built environment and involves a vast variety of people trying to make an effort to bring sustainability. He averred that the built environment is plagued with a host of issues including reducing increasing urbanization, reduced forest cover, increased population densities et al and how consumption by humans leads to depletion. It was also discussed how covid has taught us to live with less of every resource and services including food, shopping, travelling etc and how sustainability is a probably a solution to a number of issues. An approach of local to global and vice versa could result in achieving sustainability in the built environment and will have product designers, interior designers, architects, urban designers and planners as narrators.
Dr. Sankat shared that sustainability should not be seen in isolation or with piecemeal approach since things at local has global impact. For instance the Freon gas causing stratospheric O3, ozone layer depletion). “A comprehensive, holistic approach to cover all but not leave the essential is important which details out locally but refrain impacts, globally. The quest is how to deal with such huge content simultaneously, which seems to be a mammoth task and how to prioritize the areas of research from this huge range and apply intervention in design to achieve sustainability,” said Dr. Sankat.
A lecture by Mr. Venkatesh Balasubramanian - Group CEO - Compunet Connections was delivered on ‘Personal Brand Building Through LinkedIn’. While addressing the gathering, Mr Venkatesh advised students to join LinkedIn now because it is at a position now where Facebook was 6 years ago. “We are in the beginning and should join LinkedIn because we can do personal branding, seek job, generate leads for your business and look for target audience. These will lead to purpose, target, action and then results. Your profile, content and sales process should look attractive like it’s a personal website. Use the right key words in your profile. Your name, details will be forever so if you want to give freshness then always create good content,” said Mr. Balasubramanian. He suggested students to make content that HR may easily get to know about their expertise. He shared with students that LinkedIn is a platform where you will be evaluated and they need to make their profile pop up as the profile being designed is not for them but for their target audience.
A Lecture by Dr. Sylvia Christine Almeida - Senior Lecturer - Monash University, Australia was delivered on ‘Education for Sustainability’. While addressing the virtual audience, Dr Sylvia said that Education for Sustainability means Living and Behaving in a more sustainable way and “the process of coming to terms with sustainability in all its deeply rich, ecological, social, ethical and economic dimensions”. Education for Sustainable Development is a need of the present times without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Dr. Almeida averred that many adults think it is unfair to burden young children with the knowledge about sustainability and the need to develop more sustainable practices. “Sustainable futures through education is critical in promoting awareness and creating an informed citizenry. Education is also a key in helping us build our future using our past as a strong foundation,” shared Dr. Almeida. It was also stated how Covid 19 affected millions and hundreds of thousands have lost their lives. “We have broken the barriers between human and wildlife but we also have destroyed wildlife. There is conflict between human and environment and it can lead to serious disease like ebola, corona virus and we all are not equipped to fight against this virus. Education can help in spreading the message, creating awareness, breaking myths said Dr. Almeida. She further added that pandemic is very good for environment as rivers and beaches are clean due to lockdown and pollution level have reduced. “We need to stay vigilant and aware - not be fooled by the externalities. Recognise that while environmental and sustainability education may include mostly outdoors it also includes immediate surroundings- health and sanitation,” said Dr. Almeida.
A Lecture by Mr Steve Ahern, Chief Executive Officer, AMT Py Ltd. Sydney Australia was delivered on ‘Careers in Media, International Media Trends, Virtual Recruitment Process’. Mr Ahern said that people who think differently can get job in any sector. Covid has affected everything and there are no jobs. “There will be job after the end of this pandemic. Make contacts, put your job profile more visibly on social media platform, build and improve your skills as there will be new jobs in market. There are many different types of jobs in the field of media as it is a very exciting sector and full of energy,” said Mr. Ahern. He suggested students to focus on marks and also on practical knowledge as that is what industries look for. He asked students to work on communication; language and use the opportunity you get as audience have changed. Earlier newspaper and television was the only medium for news or information but now they get info from different social media platforms. He encouraged students to study the audience and know how they consume the information. “Fake news is everywhere, has been for a long time. But modern media technologies have increased spread and reach. Be responsible when you go to join a media and you should be aware about fake news,” said Mr. Ahern.