Climathon Sheffield – an ideathon to tackle e-waste and digital deprivation in the region
The UK is one of the biggest producers of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) in the world. We consume 1.8 million electronic items every year, yet we recycle less than 20% of our e-waste. Meanwhile, over 30% of parents with school-age children report their child does not have access to an internet device for online learning.
On 13 November, BetterPoints is bringing together a multi-disciplinary group of people for Climathon Sheffield, to take on this challenge: ‘How can Sheffield turn electrical waste into practical tools for people that need them?’
A diverse group of participants – from hackers to policymakers, entrepreneurs to academics, students to business leaders – will meet online to tackle the challenge of local WEEE and its impact on the environment.
They will be joined by a number of experts, including Chris Dymond from Sheffield Digital, Dr Hywel Jones from Sheffield Hallam University, Professor Lenny Koh from The University of Sheffield and Robert Walker from Sheffield City Council.
Climathon is a global movement that organises locally; a city-based programme that offers a clear pathway to climate action. At its core is a yearly ideathon that takes place in hundreds of cities across the world.
The Sheffield Climathon will be preceded by preparatory webinars on 10 and 12 November. The first will set out the circular economy of e-waste and its impact on the environment; the second will look at the issues and challenges faced by those residents in Sheffield who do not have access to technology, skills or confidence to get online, or who are unable to gain access to services due to having no connectivity.
Interested in joining us? There are still places. Simply register here – it’s free!
Whether you’re a student, business leader, policymaker, charity worker, or local resident interested in fighting climate change in Sheffield, your contribution is welcome.
