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Piloting circular economy initiatives in an educational maker space
La Rosa, Andrea Grech Simpson, Peter Peach, Thomas
La Rosa, Andrea Grech
Simpson, Peter
Peach, Thomas
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EESD2025_#44_LaRosa.pdf
Adobe PDF, 486.88 KB
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Editors
Date
2025
Educational Level
ISCED Level 5 Batchelor's or equivalent
ISCED Level 6 Master's or equivalent
ISCED Level 6 Master's or equivalent
Curriculum Area
Geographical Setting
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Abstract
The UCL MechSpace is a versatile workshop and creative space located at University College London (UCL). It is designed to support hands-on learning, innovation, and collaboration among students, researchers, and staff. The MechSpace is equipped with a variety of tools and equipment, including 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC's and other fabrication tools, to facilitate the creation and prototyping of projects. The workspace supports numerous taught and research driven modules as well as student-led initiatives focused on engineering competitions such as Formula student, hydrogen vehicles, Mars Rover, drones, and rockets. Noting the global drive to be more sustainable, an opportunity was identified to utilise the UCL MechSpace as a test bed for circular economy initiatives. The aim was to make the UCL MechSpace more sustainable, influence students' thinking through example, and evaluate whether similar initiatives can be implemented across the University. This allowed for practical experimentation with sustainable practices that will be discussed in this paper. After considering the use case of the UCL MechSpace, three pilot projects were identified and trialled. These were a free repair shop, a waste to resource system and finally a library of things. Wherever possible, the products of this work was for the benefit of students, staff and the local community. These circular economy initiatives at the UCL MechSpace have been academically led but primarily student-driven. While the degree of implementation varies across each of these projects, the impact on students has already been noted. Those who participated directly gained hands-on experience in sustainable practices, enhancing their skills in repair and resource management. Students supported the running of repair shops, transforming waste into resources for various projects, and promoted sustainable practices in the workspace. Their active involvement not only provided valuable project management experience but also fostered a sense of ownership and responsibility towards environmental sustainability which has led to some students deciding to dedicate their individual and/or group project to.
Description
Keywords (free text)
circular economy, workshops, community partnerships, engineering education, engineering for sustainable development, education for sustainabilty, sustainability in engineering