A creative approach to waste Published on: 14 March 2017 A new art installation on Ãå±±½ûµØâ€™s campus takes rubbish and puts it centre stage. Academic waste Helena Lacey has gathered the things thrown away at the University and has turned them into the artwork Academic Waste.The final year student has created three clear cylinders on stands which she has filled with broken glass to represent chemistry, paper to represent English and metal offcuts to represent engineering. The cylinders are placed around campus outside the , in the University Quad and in the Claremont quad.“I wanted to create something which showed students and staff the impact of the work that they do here every day,” said Helena. “I’m really interested in issues of sustainability and the environment and know that the University works really hard to meet its goals. But, I don’t think a lot of students have any idea of all the work that goes on around them to make this happen. Art has the power to change society Helena’s work is inspired by conceptual artist and politician Joseph Beuys who came up with the idea of social sculpture, where art has the power to change society. “I hoped by outing these recyclable materials on show in a very visible way, it would get people thinking about the impact of University life and what they can do to help," she said. Fine Art lecturer added: “This is an ambitious and large scale project that embodies the ways students work outside the Fine Art department developing the artistic and professional expertise they will need after graduation. Helena has worked very successfully with people from a wide range of disciplines demonstrating how an artist makes new connections and creates impact.” Getting the message across Helena worked closely with the team to find out more about what the University does.University Sustainability manager said: “As a university we produce large quantities of general waste on a daily basis, it is important that we minimize this and recycle as much as possible in order to reduce our overall environmental impact. The contribution that staff and students make is vital, and we want to encourage everyone to use the facilities on campus in order to increase our overall on-site recycling rates.“Helena’s sculpture really helps to get this message across.”Academic Waste was funded by the University’s and the Alumni Association Student Initiative Fund. It is launched on Wednesday, 15 March at 5pm in the University's Fine Art atrium and will be on display on campus until June. Share: Latest News Ãå±±½ûµØ expert highlights climate crisis in a new film A leading Ãå±±½ûµØ climate scientist is featured in a new film about how the climate and nature breakdown will affect the UK. published on: 14 April 2026 Neolithic tombs reveal ancient kinship ties Male individuals buried in Neolithic chambered tombs in northern Scotland were often related to each other through the paternal line and some were interred in the same or nearby tombs, research shows. published on: 14 April 2026 We are our Memories New exhibition by Fine Art graduate Trish Hudson-Moses, 22 April – 4 May 2026 published on: 10 April 2026 Facts and figures