Jonny Hobbs, a first year Doctoral Student, shares his experience of attending a SPARC event at the University of Salford.
It was a gorgeous day in Manchester as I stepped off the train. Immediately, I am awestruck by the modernity and vibrancy of this illustrious city. Quite quickly, upon departing from the Victoria Train Station, I found myself on one of the many buses that frequently scamper across the city. The bus journey provided some incredible (but sadly brief) views of a city in the midst of a physical transformation with new developments sprouting across this vast metropolitan area.
20 minutes later I arrived at the University of Salford and unfortunately, I was in the wrong location! However, after a brisk walk through Peel Park (which was stunning in the June sun), I arrived at the conference. The atmosphere on campus was electrifying. There were people everywhere, some from the SPARC, others for the University Open Day that was (rather conveniently) held on the same day as the conference.
SPARC brought together people from diverse backgrounds, all united by a common goal: to contribute to the ever-growing ocean of knowledge. While sustainability was the overarching theme, the presentations covered a wide array of topics, from nature-based solutions for urban areas to smart frameworks for managing food waste. As such, my presentation on ‘Exploring UK High Street Sustainability’ felt right at home amongst these discussions.
I attended this event on the first day (June 26) and whilst my time was somewhat limited, the experience on the other hand was anything but! The university staff, event holders and the other presenters were energetic, inspiring and thought-provoking, not to mention that everyone I met was kind and friendly. Comments provided by my peers at the conference were both helpful and constructive and, in my opinion, have further bolstered my overall academic and public speaking capabilities. Chilli beef con carne (with vegetarian options available too) served at lunch time followed by cheeky ice cream in the afternoon was, quite simply, the cherry on top.
In my view, the conference was a roaring success. There clearly seems to be a new wave of stimulating knowledge creeping around the corner that is being spurred by enthusiastic and aspiring academics. I wish all those that I met at this conference the very best and extend my heartfelt thanks to the University of Salford.
