The British Council curated the first-ever GREAT Talk sessions in Bangladesh to discuss and explore discourse aimed at tackling the pressing challenges of climate change. The GREAT Talks sessions on climate change were part of a series that started in India on 24 August and closed in Bangladesh on 31 August.
GREAT Talk is a lecture series that celebrates UK professionals from diverse areas, including technology, arts, film, scientists, science communicators, environment, design and creative industries, sports, space, and politics. It is a part of the GREAT Campaign, the UK government’s initiative to promote the UK internationally as a GREAT place to visit, study and do business.
In Bangladesh the GREAT Talk sessions were held at the North South University and the British Council’s auditorium in Dhaka.
The speaker at the event was Professor Alison Greig, Director of Education for Sustainability at Anglia Ruskin University. Alison leads the Education for Sustainability (EfS) research at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU)’s Global Sustainability Institute, focusing on ways education can prepare younger generations to develop a more sustainable future. She is also the Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (currently known as AdvanceHE) and was awarded the National Teaching Fellowship in 2019 for the highest peer-reviewed indicator of being an established leader in learning and teaching. Alison regularly presents her work to academic and professional audiences at workshops, conferences, and sessions.
During the GREAT Talks in Dhaka, she emphasised the impact of climate change, what can be done, how it can be done, and ways to prepare the younger generation, especially those affected most, to address and manage the world they will inherit. The topics were crucial for the current times when South Asia is witnessing record-breaking temperatures with Bangladesh being one of the worst affected countries in South Asia due to the climate crisis. During her talk, Alison replied to attendee’s queries regarding the climate crisis, educated them about the crisis and inspired and encouraged the audience to reflect on the best way forward.
Professor Alison Greig said, ‘Climate change is clearly an issue close to the hearts of the people I met in Bangladesh. My talk was intended to plant a seed in the minds of young people, to ask them to reflect on the contribution they can make to a sustainable world through their education and career.’
David Knox, Cultural Engagement Director Bangladesh, British Council, said, ‘We are delighted to welcome Professor Alison Grieg to Bangladesh to deliver Great Talks. She has challenged audiences to think differently about responding to the climate emergency in her talk. She has certainly inspired me to look at the questions from new perspectives, which I hope will inspire us all to come up with new answers. We look forward to continuing discussions with the Government of Bangladesh on greening education through our contribution through Climate Connections.’
Students, academicians and researchers, high-level government officials and representatives from NGOs and the private sector attended the programme.