We caught up with Kate Ma, Sustainability Ambassador for the UCL Division of Psychology and Language Sciences to learn more about the projects she’s been involved in and her excitement about being nominated in the upcoming UCL Sustainability Awards 2025.

What does Sustainability mean to you?

I resonate with Kate Raworth’s definition of sustainability: “to meet the needs of all within the means of the planet.” In other words, sustainability is about creating positive social value for all whilst respecting and operating within the Earth’s ecological limits. Achieving this calls for cross-disciplinary collaboration, ongoing learning, and a shared commitment to collective action.

How did you find out about becoming a Sustainability Ambassador, and what made you want to apply?

I first learned about Sustainable UCL and the Sustainability Ambassadors Programme during Welcome Week. As an MSc student in Business and Sustainability, I was immediately drawn to the opportunity to accelerate my learning and apply what I was studying in the classroom to real-world contexts across the university, all while contributing to UCL’s sustainability goals.

What has been your highlight during your time as Green Impact Student Ambassador for the Division of Psychology and Language Sciences?

One of the highlights of my experience has been meeting and collaborating with other members of the PALS Green Impact Team. It’s inspiring to see how motivated everyone is to contribute and to make PALS– and the wider UCL community– as sustainable as possible. For example, the team hosts an annual PALS Green Day, and this year welcomed students across the university to come to 26 Bedford Way to plant seeds, decorate flower pots, take part in sustainability talks, etc. The event perfectly showcased how the Green Impact Team brings sustainability to life in a way that is fun, engaging, inclusive, and impactful.

If you’re interested in making a difference, I highly recommend joining the PALS Green Impact Team! To get involved, please email our fantastic chair, John Draper.

Can you tell us about any projects that you have led or been involved with as part of your role? How have they made an impact?

One of the projects I worked on was the Take the Stairs initiative. Jake Fairnie helped us design a set of eye-catching posters that highlighted the environmental impact of small, everyday choices– like taking the stairs instead of the lift. We placed the posters next to the lifts on every floor of 26 Bedford Way and later surveyed building occupants to assess their impact.

The results were encouraging: 90% of respondents had seen the posters, and while many were already using the stairs, 30% said the posters influenced them to take the stairs more often. Respondents described them as a “good reminder to take the stairs” and said they made them “think consciously about the environment.”

In terms of expanding our impact, several other departments have already expressed interest in borrowing the poster design and we’d love to see this initiative expand across UCL’s campus!

Another project I’ve been involved in is a Grand Challenges Living Lab focused on accelerating a data-driven, collaborative approach to reducing energy use across the university. This summer, we’re using 26 Bedford Way as a pilot building to test some of our ideas in practice. Based on the outcomes, we’ll then propose ways to scale these approaches across UCL’s buildings and departments. Stay tuned– more to come!

Congratulations on being nominated for a Student Sustainability Award, how do you feel about that?

I’m really honoured and grateful. UCL is a special place, and it’s a privilege to contribute to and be part of such a diverse and inclusive community. I’ve met so many passionate and dedicated people working hard to make UCL more sustainable. It’s been a true collective effort, and I’ve learned so much from everyone around me. Thank you!