Businesses will discover how they can support young people and the environment – including helping to remove plastic pollution from the River Soar – during an inspirational free talk at Space Park Leicester.
UOCEAN 2050 Global Project Director Chris Desai and Aerosparx display pilot Rob Barsby will talk about two initiatives – UOCEAN 2050 and Heights of Possibility – which combine conservation, education and aerospace careers.
UOCEAN 2050 is working to stop ocean plastics and bring ocean literacy, climate education and sustainability learning into schools, communities and businesses.
Heights of Possibility, delivered by UOCEAN 2050 in partnership with the internationally acclaimed Aerosparx display team, uses eco-friendly gliders and motor-gliders to inspire young people from diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds to explore careers in aviation, STEM and conservation.
Chris said: “This talk will show businesses how they can inspire the next generation and create a tangible environmental impact.
“I will highlight the practical ways businesses can support measurable local impact, such as removing plastic pollution from the River Soar, and explain how UOCEAN became the first ocean conservation organisation to start an aviation programme.
“We’ll also discuss Heights of Possibility which is about opening minds and showing young people how aviation and conservation can come together.
“Heights of Possibility creates pilots for conservation – young people who contribute to environmental monitoring, spot degradation, conduct nature surveys, count wildlife, drop supplies to nature conservation sites, carry out nature photography and report threats to ecosystems — while developing skills for future careers.
“From above, they see the world differently and can imagine meaningful career paths that protect the planet.”
Businesses attending the talk will also learn how they can take part in a fundraising challenge to win a free eco-flight in one of the gliders, with all proceeds going to UOCEAN Leicester’s local conservation work. Each participating company will be invited to raise £500.
Chris’ talk will be part of the Space Park Conservations series of free talks and will take place at 2pm on Thursday, May 14, at Space Park Leicester, the University of Leicester’s £100m space research, innovation and teaching hub.
To explore Space Park Leicester partnerships, missions, residents, facilities, training programmes and innovation products, visit https://www.space-park.co.uk or to learn more about the University of Leicester, visit https://le.ac.uk/.
