Hayley Hill

University of Plymouth

Environmental issues affect every aspect of life on Earth, and younger children will experience their impacts longer than most. With that in mind, I conceived a project as part of my BSc (Hons) Environmental Science degree to identify how best to engage primary school children with environmental issues. I worked with an established extracurricular eco club and found it to be an excellent way to foster interest in environmental issues. Published in December 2023, my project report includes recommendations for schools and teachers.

The initial project involved a small group of children from one school, but through my current work with Cornwall Climate Care, I have used my experiences to create and run free workshops across Cornwall and Devon.

To date, these have been delivered to more than 2,500 children, engaging them with some of the key challenges facing our planet and highlighting their role in helping address them.

What the Judges Thought

An insightful project that has significant potential to shape the future by sparking curiosity and creativity in children. The work carried out by Hayley is based on clear and purposeful research into clear communication and active engagement.  Overall the project is a fascinating demonstration of wider societal benefit and reach.

What it Means to Win

“We pride ourselves on inspiring our students and graduates to use their knowledge and enthusiasm to positively impact the planet. Hayley’s project is a perfect example of that, and this award is deserved recognition for her work to engage young people and address one of society’s most pressing challenges.”

Professor John Curnow, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education and Student Experience)

Top 3 Learnings

1. During my workshops, I achieved high levels of engagement by offering multiple activity choices.
2. Simple task lists give children ideas about how to show what they learned.
3. Children are already acting on environmental issues but are keen to do more.