Environmentalist activist and presenter of the long running etlevision show, Eco Eye on RTE, Duncan Stewart, has been announced as the keynote speaker for the Arcadia Creative Climate Awards Exhibition Event.
The inaugural Arcadia Creative Climate awards, with its central theme of ‘giving young people a voice’, is hosted in conjunction with the ‘Junior Mayor’ initiative, the brainchild of Town Mayor, Cllr. Frankie Keena.
Thirteen schools from the Athlone and Moate area have entered the competition with almost one hundred and fifty students participating in an initiative which will culminate in a public exhibition and awards ceremony to take place on Saturday, March 28.
Pertaining to primary schools, the task is to develop an idea with regard to reducing harm to the environment or to create positive environmental change and awareness of climate change. The initiative will seek to involve parents, school teachers and the wider local community.
Relating to secondary schools, the task is more forward thinking and has two criteria. Firstly, from a broad perspective, the secondary school initiative will invite students to think what Athlone as a town and, in particular, Arcadia Retail Park will look like in 2050 in terms of environmental/climate change differences (for example, what way do the students think that everyday life will be changed in environmental terms, will there be electric cars only, will plastic still be in use, how will people shop in 2050? ).
Secondly, the students will be invited to make submissions on how the owners of Arcadia Retail Park should prepare in the next five to ten years for these environmental changes which appear to be imminent.
Fiachra McLoughlin, Director of Arcadia Retail Park thrilled to announce Duncan Stewart as the keynote speaker.
“The Arcadia Creative Climate Awards is in its inaugural year and we wanted a speaker who is passionate about helping the environment. What Duncan has achieved in terms of environmental activism is inspiring and his passion for the subject is contagious. He will add an extra attraction for people to visit and see the school’s projects on the exhibition day,” Fiachra remarked.
The Arcadia Creative Climate awards will have a two day duration. On Monday, March 23, in a reception event will take place in Arcadia Retail Park where students and teachers will be welcomed with their projects from 11am–2pm. The judging panel will also be in attendance and the judging will take place on this day.
The exhibition event will be held at the same location on Saturday, March 28 from 12–2.30pm. This will be an exhibition day for the students to showcase their projects to the public to which all members of the public are welcome to attend.
