The Sustainable Transport Challenge

Can your students plan a sustainable and climate resilient journey?

The Sustainable Transport Challenge, created by Graphic Science, is a one of a kind challenge for schools in the South West of England. For this adventurous challenge students in KS2 or KS3 work in teams to create an eco-friendly journey, considering their environment and any climate challenges they may face along the way. The resources and booklets are free to download, and you can reach us on ambassadors@graphicscience.co.uk if you have any queries.

    • Getting Started – Sustainable Transport Challenge Resources

    There are 2 options for running a Sustainable Transport Challenge:

    1. As part of an Eco Club: over a few sessions students consider; their journey (plan a route, where are you going and why), the vehicle (how to travel sustainably) and climate challenges (how to adapt and overcome). Sessions can be delivered flexibly with a supporting challenge booklet that outlines considerations for your students.

    2. As a one-off STEM Day: For primary schools the project brief is to design and junk-model a sustainable vehicle. For secondary school students, on top of designing a vehicle, students are asked to work in teams to plan one section of a route across Devon and Cornwall (outlined in the challenge booklet), and consider how to adapt their vehicle to meet the climate challenges they may encounter on the way.

    All the information that teams need to participate is contained within the challenge booklet. The booklet is downloadable, printable, and completely free to access. If you have any queries about the Sustainable Transport Challenge, please contact us directly at: ambassadors@graphicscience.co.uk

    Sustainable Transport Challenge – Club Challenge BookletDownload
    Sustainable Transport Challenge in a day – Primary Challenge BookletDownload
    Sustainable Transport Challenge in a day – Secondary Challenge BookletDownload

    Further Project Support

    Request a STEM Ambassador

    We strongly encourage all participating schools to request a STEM Ambassador project mentor for their teams. STEM Ambassadors can help mentor the teams by encouraging them, providing feedback on their ideas and help them to understand the relevance of the challenge to the real world problems of sustainability.

    To request a STEM Ambassador you need to advertise an activity on stem.org.uk (you will need to log in). If you need some help doing this then we have created template activities that you can use. Please download the relevant template and then copy the information into a STEM Ambassador activity you create:

    Sustainable Transport Challenge – STEM AMBASSADOR REQUEST TEMPLATE (pdf)

    STEM Ambassador Videos

    Here is a collection of videos from STEM Ambassadors who work in the transport or civil engineering sector who are all working towards a more sustainable future. In each of these videos the STEM Ambassador’s explain who they work for, what they actually do and the sustainability aspects of their job role.

    Useful links and resources

    Practical Action Sustainable Development Goals resources: https://practicalaction.org/schools-sdgs/. Free STEM, science, design and technology resources that fit the UK curriculum and engage children in real world issues including climate change, renewable energy, food security and disaster preparedness.

    Sustainable Development Goals: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/development-agenda/. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are an urgent call for action by all countries to end poverty and improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests

    SDG 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-consumption-production/. Do more and better with less. Decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, increase resource efficiency and promote sustainable lifestyles.

    UNESCO SDG Resources for Educators: https://en.unesco.org/themes/education/sdgs/material. Ideas for classroom activities and multimedia resources detailing how best to integrate education for sustainable development into teaching and learning, from early childhood through to secondary education.

    IMechE’s Top 5 Solar-Powered Tansport Innovations: https://www.imeche.org/news/news-article/top-5-solar-powered-transport-innovations. With rapid advancements in solar power technology, engineers all over the world have been testing their solar-powered transport innovations on the road, in the sky, and even out at sea.

    The Renewable Energy Hub Wind Powered Cars: https://www.renewableenergyhub.co.uk/blog/wind-powered-cars-a-possibility-or-crackpot-philosophy/. A wind powered car might be the answer to problems regarding transport and the pollution it causes.

    Ecotricity Innovation: https://www.ecotricity.co.uk/our-story/ecotricity-innovation. From record-breaking green vehicles to more efficient wind turbines and on to battery storage and smart grids, Ecotricity is developing smarter solutions for a greener future.

    Marine Insight Top 7 Green Ship Concepts: https://www.marineinsight.com/green-shipping/top-7-green-ship-concepts-using-wind-energy/. Major green ship concepts and technologies which are expected to produce good results for the shipping industry.

    Eco Friend’s Amazing Human Powered Cars: https://ecofriend.com/10-amazing-human-powered-cars.html. The invention of bicycle has prompted many to think of ways to make maximum use of the human muscle power. Now, many innovative designers are building human powered cars.

    Solar Transport Systems: https://www.solartransportsystems.com/. SPV1, the UK’s first road-legal solar powered vehicle.

    Unusual urban transport systems: https://www.theguardian.com/cities/gallery/2014/apr/08/crazy-commutes-10-weirdest-urban-transport-in-pictures. A newspapers guide to unusual modes of inner city transport

    Wind power for shipping: March: Wings for ships | News and features | University of Bristol. Research at Bristol University exploring innovative propulsion system for commercial shipping

    Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET): https://education.theiet.org/

    Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE): https://www.imeche.org/careers-education/inspiring-future-engineers

    Other sources of engineering inspiration:

    Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng): https://www.raeng.org.uk/education/schools/teaching-and-learning-resources/curriculum-resources. Resources to enrich the STEM Curriculum.

    Tomorrow’s Engineers: https://www.tomorrowsengineers.org.uk/. Tomorrow’s Engineers provides guidance and information to help you get the most from you engineering egagement activity.

    Neon: https://neonfutures.org.uk/. Find brilliant experiences, inspiring careers resources and stories that showcase modern engineering.

    STEM Learning Resource Library: Hundreds of engineering activitys, including https://www.stem.org.uk/resources/elibrary/resource/500752/saving-planet-one-journey-time Saving the planet one journey at a time

    Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel: https://bigwalkandwheel.org.uk/. The UK’s biggest inter-school walking, wheeling, scooting and cycling to school competition.

    Practical Action Technical Briefs: https://practicalaction.org/schools/technical-briefs-transport/. This set of technical briefs include technical information on the use and construction of cycle trailers, improved bicycles for load carrying, and aerial ropeways.

    WWF Sustainable Mobility: https://wwf.panda.org/projects/one_planet_cities/sustainable_mobility/. Discover the most effective strategies cities are employing in case studies that highlight everything from bike sharing to busing.

    Mobilizing Sustainable Transport for Development: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/2375Mobilizing%20Sustainable%20Transport.pdf. How the transport sector can advance sustainable development with poverty eradication at its core, promote economic growth, and bolster the fight against climate change.

    Limit Less – Discovering Our World: https://www.iop.org/sites/default/files/2021-12/Limit-Less-Discovering-Our-World-Digital-Pack.pdf Discovering Our World is in three parts: Under the Sea, On the Ground and Leaving the Ground, with experiments and activities, interesting articles and puzzles.

    Met Office: https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/climate/climate-explained/index Weather and climate are not the same – find out everything you need to know about climate and how it works.

    Met Office: https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/climate/solutions/climate-change-adaptation what is climate change adaptation?

    UK Climate Risk: https://www.ukclimaterisk.org/publications/factsheet-for-children-young-people/#section-17-how-to-learn-and-do-more Fact sheet for children and young people on climate change adaptation

    Practical Action: https://practicalaction.org/our-aims/resilience-that-protects/adapting-to-climate-change/. The impact of climate change is devastating for people in poor areasm but ingenuity can help them adapt and thrive.

    Global Centre on Adaptation: https://gca.org/what-is-climate-adaptation/ Climate adaptation means taking action to prepare for and adjust to the current and projected impacts of climate change. 

    Ellen MacArthur Foundation: https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/topics/circular-economy-introduction/overview. A charity committed to creating a circular economy, which is designed to eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials (at their highest value), and regenerate nature.

    Arup and the Circular Economy: https://www.arup.com/services/climate-and-sustainability-services/circular-economy-services/the-circular-economy.  The built environment and its influence on the circular economy.

    Eco Schools: https://www.ecoschools.global/resources-1. Curricular Framework for Advancing Circular Economy.

    National Geographic for Kids: https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/discover/science/general-science/all-about-the-circular-economy/. Learn about how we can all be more sustainable through the circular economic model.

    UK Government education strategy: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sustainability-and-climate-change-strategy/sustainability-and-climate-change-a-strategy-for-the-education-and-childrens-services-systems. Sustainability and climate change: a strategy for the education and children’s services systems.

    Bath University Climate Action Strategy: https://www.bath.ac.uk/topics/climate-change-and-the-university-of-bath/.  The whole institution response to climate change

    United Nations: https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/net-zero-coalition.    Net Zero commitments for a liveable climate.

    Royal Academy of Engineering: https://raeng.org.uk/media/4axn0u00/2910-01-net-zero-infographic_web.pdf. Net Zero by 2050, infographic looking at how we can achieve it.

    Energy Saving Trust: https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/what-is-net-zero-and-how-can-we-get-there/. What is Net Zero and how can we get there?

    WWF: https://footprint.wwf.org.uk/#/. A UK based environmental footprint calculator for individuals.

    Sustainable Travel: https://sustainabletravel.org/our-work/carbon-offsets/. To calculate the carbon footprint for a range of different travel options.

    Chapter Zero: https://chapterzero.org.uk/carbon-offsetting-explained/. Carbon offsetting explained, example projects and how they work.

    Friends of the Earth: https://friendsoftheearth.uk/climate/does-carbon-offsetting-work.  What is carbon offsetting and does it work?

    United Nations: https://offset.climateneutralnow.org/. Certified projects that reduce, avoid or remove greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere.

    Our Green Skills: A3 Green Careers Posters

    Career Pilot: Student Area – see the job profiles or search green jobs here https://www.careerpilot.org.uk/job-sectors

    Career Pilot: Green career posters and short lesson activities aimed at secondary/SEND school/college in the South West. To access the resources you will need to set-up an account on career pilot by emailing careerpilot@bath.ac.uk

    STEM Ambassadors working in sustainability: Request a careers talk for your school https://www.stem.org.uk/stem-ambassadors/how-to-request-stem-ambassador

    WWF Sustainable Futures: free careers programme for UK secondary schools and colleges that equips young people to thrive in a future green economy, regardless of their career path. https://www.wwf.org.uk/get-involved/schools/sustainable-futures

    STEM Ambassador Videos: a collection of short interviews with STEM Ambassadors whose work includes sustainability and transport considerations. https://www.graphicscience.co.uk/stem-support/sustainable-transport-challenge/stc-video-profiles

    For more resources relating to the challenge, useful links can be found on the Sustainable Transport Challenge padlet: https://padlet.com/rhona3/STC