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Australia | May 04, 2007
Eco-minded young stars selected as United Nations youth ambassadors
Three environmentally focused university students have today been announced as delegates to represent Australia at Eco-Minds, an Asia Pacific youth forum on sustainable development, to be held in Bangkok, Thailand at the end of May.
Rachel Cain (Hectorville, SA), Laura Joseph (Kellyville, NSW) and Eric Knight (Five Dock, NSW) will join students from across the Asia Pacific region to take part in Eco-Minds, an initiative resulting from a unique partnership between the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) and Bayer. The forum aims to foster awareness and knowledge of environmental issues by providing opportunities for cross cultural activities and knowledge sharing.
According to Ian Kiernan AO, Eco-Minds ambassador and founder of Clean Up Australia and Clean Up the World, “Eco-Minds is a unique opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience of some of the major environmental challenges facing our planet and equip them with the skills to find solutions to them.
“Sustainable development is a crucial challenge for the future health and prosperity of many countries and already these students are well placed to contribute.
“This year applicants were asked to write an essay on ‘a sustainable river basin’ and they rose to the challenge. A lack of fresh water is a life-threatening reality for tens of millions of people in the developing world, but it gives me confidence to know that Australian students are ready for the challenge to find solutions,” said Mr Kiernan, who is also an international guest speaker at the forum.
Eco-Minds recognises contributions from students across all disciplines from science and technology to law, as is evident from the selected Eco-Minds delegates:
Rachel Cain (University of Adelaide- Fourth year, Bachelor of Law and Environmental Studies). Rachel has completed voluntary work in Central America and has been involved with the Youth Environment Council of South Australia (SA) as both a member and mentor.
Laura Joseph (University of Western Sydney- Final year, Bachelor of Business (Management), Bachelor of Laws, Honours, Bachelor of Business and Commerce). Laura is a Greenpeace volunteer and has worked to reduce carbon consumption around her home. For her Honours degree, Laura is currently researching corporate social responsibility from a perspective of sustainability.
Eric Knight (University Sydney- Final year, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws). Co-founder of The Australian Youth Climate Coalition, an organisation which conducts education seminars in high schools and universities nationally, Eric has also volunteered in Alice Springs on issues relating to land management and in Costa Rica where he worked to encourage sustainable development.
Entrants of Eco-Minds were assessed on their involvement in environmental projects, and the innovation and understanding demonstrated in their solutions to current environmental challenges.
According to Sam Howard, Managing Director of Bayer Australia and New Zealand, "Bayer places great emphasis on promoting science for a better life. Supporting youth forums such as Eco-Minds is a major focus of Bayer's social commitment and forms part of our three-year partnership with UNEP as the Official Partner for Youth and the Environment”.
The other entrants that completed the top ten were:
Ellie Gilna - Flinders University, Floreat WA
Deirdre Wilcock - Macquarie, Harbord, NSW
Anna Seidel - Flinders University, Melrose Park, WA
Clare Easton - Latrobe University, Bendigo, VIC
Rowena Cunningham, University Western Sydney, Carlingford, NSW
Daniel Barber, University Western Sydney, Arcadia, NSW
Sarah Arnold, University Western Australia, Darlington, WA
The Eco-Minds forum will take place in Bangkok, Thailand from 30 May - 3 June 2007.
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According to Ian Kiernan AO, Eco-Minds ambassador and founder of Clean Up Australia and Clean Up the World, “Eco-Minds is a unique opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience of some of the major environmental challenges facing our planet and equip them with the skills to find solutions to them.
“Sustainable development is a crucial challenge for the future health and prosperity of many countries and already these students are well placed to contribute.
“This year applicants were asked to write an essay on ‘a sustainable river basin’ and they rose to the challenge. A lack of fresh water is a life-threatening reality for tens of millions of people in the developing world, but it gives me confidence to know that Australian students are ready for the challenge to find solutions,” said Mr Kiernan, who is also an international guest speaker at the forum.
Eco-Minds recognises contributions from students across all disciplines from science and technology to law, as is evident from the selected Eco-Minds delegates:
Rachel Cain (University of Adelaide- Fourth year, Bachelor of Law and Environmental Studies). Rachel has completed voluntary work in Central America and has been involved with the Youth Environment Council of South Australia (SA) as both a member and mentor.
Laura Joseph (University of Western Sydney- Final year, Bachelor of Business (Management), Bachelor of Laws, Honours, Bachelor of Business and Commerce). Laura is a Greenpeace volunteer and has worked to reduce carbon consumption around her home. For her Honours degree, Laura is currently researching corporate social responsibility from a perspective of sustainability.
Eric Knight (University Sydney- Final year, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws). Co-founder of The Australian Youth Climate Coalition, an organisation which conducts education seminars in high schools and universities nationally, Eric has also volunteered in Alice Springs on issues relating to land management and in Costa Rica where he worked to encourage sustainable development.
Entrants of Eco-Minds were assessed on their involvement in environmental projects, and the innovation and understanding demonstrated in their solutions to current environmental challenges.
According to Sam Howard, Managing Director of Bayer Australia and New Zealand, "Bayer places great emphasis on promoting science for a better life. Supporting youth forums such as Eco-Minds is a major focus of Bayer's social commitment and forms part of our three-year partnership with UNEP as the Official Partner for Youth and the Environment”.
The other entrants that completed the top ten were:
Ellie Gilna - Flinders University, Floreat WA
Deirdre Wilcock - Macquarie, Harbord, NSW
Anna Seidel - Flinders University, Melrose Park, WA
Clare Easton - Latrobe University, Bendigo, VIC
Rowena Cunningham, University Western Sydney, Carlingford, NSW
Daniel Barber, University Western Sydney, Arcadia, NSW
Sarah Arnold, University Western Australia, Darlington, WA
The Eco-Minds forum will take place in Bangkok, Thailand from 30 May - 3 June 2007.
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