Hello! My name is Oliver Yu Hurst and I’m in the final year of my part-time MSc Climate Change: Environment, Science and Policy at King’s. I’m a Nature-lover, passionate about transdisciplinary approaches to tackling social, environmental, and multispecies justice and sustainability issues.

I had loads of spare time during the summer holidays in my first year and wanted to use it wisely. I came across the KEATS Sustainability and Climate pilot module via the King’s Sustainability newsletter and will never regret enrolling on this fabulous module.

Why I loved volunteering?

Aside from the engaging webinars and learning about topics that don’t receive much attention (e.g., digital sustainability and the multitude of stuff King’s is doing regarding sustainability), after completing the module, I gained the opportunity to volunteer with the Sustainability team on improving the module for this academic year, 2022 - 2023. You can enrol on the KEATS Sustainability & Climate module here and gain a Sustainability Award by completing it before the 8th of June 2023.

Working with the very welcoming Climate & Sustainability team and other students, I led on three sections:

• What is Sustainability?
• Climate Crisis
• Social Sustainability

In total, I contributed at least 12,000 words of content and gained experience in creating podcasts and organising different in-person/online events to complement the module. It was a pleasure to apply what I’ve learnt so far at King’s and my BSc Geography with Business Management at Queen Mary University of London, to diversify how sustainability is understood, as it is too often framed around a Western-anthropocentric worldview.

Why should you volunteer?

Making the most of extra-curricular activities on offer at King’s is one of the best ways to expand your skills and experience, network, and ultimately, make a lasting difference. Likewise, this opportunity (and I’m sure others) helped me feel ‘closer’ to the university, meeting/working with the staff ‘behind the scenes’ – something which I think all students should have the chance to do.

Want to volunteer, but don’t know how or where to start?

• Sign up to the Sustainability newsletter.
• Browse volunteering opportunities at King’s Volunteering online.
• Get the King’s Edge and discover a range of extra-curricular activities and events at King’s.
• Visit KCLSU online.
• Ask your friends! Or university supervisors/staff.