This email is being sent to all taught undergraduate and postgraduate students
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Hello, There are some great opportunities coming up in the next week. I have highlighted a few here, but please do read through this update, including how Banana skins could be powering your smart phone!
I would like to welcome our new students who have joined this January. Please take advantage of a number of exciting welcome events, where you can meet other students and the staff and services to help you during your time at Sussex.
Looking ahead, next week is the start of Refreshers Week with many exciting events happening across campus and beyond. You can read the full list of events on the Students' Union website.
We are lucky to have our very own creative arts and performance space at Sussex, the Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts (ACCA) that will soon host a free event featuring Lord Peter Hain in conversation with the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil. Do not miss a rare opportunity to hear inspiring reflections on public life, leadership, and social change.
The University’s student Wellbeing team is travelling across campus this term, offering friendly guidance, practical support, and signposting to services in a range of campus locations. You can see where they will be visiting next.
I am very pleased to share the news that Sussex Professor Anil Seth has won the prestigious Berggruen Prize Essay Competition, a recognition of his influential work on consciousness and the mind. You can read more about his achievement.
As well as brilliant academics and researchers, like Professor Seth, you our students are also doing brilliant things, and in the case of Christopher, designing solutions to real world problems with the support of a University Elevate Grant (Ben Miller Award). Read about Christopher’s inspiring story on the Student Hub news section, and read about the excellent support our Careers and Entrepreneurship team have on offer for all Sussex students.
Lastly, I would like to remind all students, that as a place of learning and research, the University remains committed to supporting freedom of speech and academic freedom. Sussex is a place where diverse perspectives can be shared safely and respectfully, where open dialogue is encouraged as part of our academic culture. You can explore our approach in more detail and what it means for you.
Please read on for this week’s news including: | |
Banana skins can power a smartphone. Food waste recycling
When clearing up from mealtime, do you ever think about what happens to your food waste? Great news, your unwanted scraps create green energy. Recycling just one banana skin can charge a smartphone twice!
We think this amazing and so we have supplied food waste caddies in all student residences’ kitchens.
Food waste makes up around a third of all waste on campus. Using your food caddie means that your leftovers will be transformed via anaerobic digestion, a process that turns food waste into clean, renewable energy instead of sending it to incineration. Read more on the Student Hub. |
Get free food during Refreshers week
Sussex Uni Food are on hand to welcome you back to campus with an amazing selection of free food and drink samples during Refreshers week!
From Monday 26 January get something different every day, from delicious Argentinian empanadas to Singaporean Laksa and mini pizzas all in Eat Central. Find out more. | |
Join the race to Net Zero with the Bennett Symposium The Bennett Institute for Innovation and Policy Acceleration, in partnership with the Sussex Energy Group, invites you to the 2026 Bennett Symposium, taking place on Thursday 19 February.
This year’s theme, Zero Hour for Energy Policy, will explore the urgent challenges and opportunities in accelerating climate change policies and the global race to net zero. Discover the event. |
Holocaust Memorial Day 2026
Holocaust Memorial Day on Wednesday 4 February once again includes an open exhibition titled Remembering the Roma Holocaust, which will take place at the Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts on Thursday 5 February, 1pm to 3pm. Find out more on the Student Hub. You can read about last year's programme and join online for this year's event.
| Brush up on your academic skills with a workshop
During term, you can attend a workshop on campus or online, run by experienced academic skills consultants. We have a number of workshops including Study Smarter: Productivity Strategies for 2026 (On Campus), Wednesday 28 January, 1:30pm until 2:30pm. Study Smarter: Productivity Strategies for 2026 (Online), Wednesday 29 January, 2:00pm until 3:00pm.
For a full list of workshops, online academic skills support, and resources, please visit: Skills Hub: Academic Skills Workshops and Support. | |
Black at Sussex. Eat and Meet
Get ready for the very first Black at Sussex Eat and Meet. Enjoy a free two-course lunch while meeting staff and students who identify as part of the Black African diaspora heritage. This friendly mixing event takes place on Thursday 12 February from 12:15pm until 1:45pm in the Student Centre. It looks like it will be very popular, so find out more and get your ticket.
| Our commitment to freedom of speech
At Sussex we remain committed to supporting freedom of speech and academic freedom of speech, fostering a community where diverse perspectives can be shared safely and respectfully as part of our culture of open dialogue, this will always at be at the heart of the Sussex experience.
As a place of learning and research, we encourage thoughtful discussion, critical engagement, and the exchange of ideas that challenge, inspire, and broaden understanding.
We want every student to feel confident participating in conversations that shape our academic community, knowing that their contributions are valued and protected.Explore our approach in more detail and learn what this commitment means for you on our freedom of speech web page.
| Open Access for group for Masters students in the library
Calling all Masters students! The library is exploring how we can all make even greater use of Open Access (OA) and Open Educational Resources. These are free, high‑quality academic materials that anyone can use. These resources offer a brilliant alternative to traditional eTextbooks and eBooks. The aim is to help create a more accessible, flexible, and genuinely open learning experience for everyone. Discover more and get involved.
| With best wishes,
Kate Professor Kate O'Riordan
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education and Students) |
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The Student Centre in the sunshine.
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| Sent by
Internal Communications, University of Sussex |
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