Learning to live more sustainably

The workshop builds skills and interest in sustainable living and the environment among UTAR staff and students

A two-hour workshop called “Green your home workshop” was conducted at UTAR Sungai Long Campus on 4 October 2019. The goal of the workshop was to share ideas and knowledge about growing hassle-free greens at home or in the office as well as to create awareness and cultivate interest in growing greens among UTAR students and staff.

The workshop covered various activities ranging from workshops to sharing of knowledge sessions which included demonstrations on how to grow indoor plants and other greeneries. It was organised by lecturers and University Green Campus Committee representatives from the Centre for Foundation Studies (CFS) with the participation of 28 students of which 20 were from Science stream (Stream S) and the remaining from Arts stream (Stream Y). The organising committees comprises as follows:-

Advisor: Ling Kock Sheng

Chairperson: Goy Ling Ling

Vice Chair: Ngo Siau Woon

Secretary: Patricia Liang Chooi Ling

Deputy Secretary: Nalini Panneer Selvan

Treasurer: Ang Chin Ing

Deputy Treasurer: Haslina Ahmad Fauzi

Green Campus Committee CFS Representative: Lee Cin Dee

Front row, from left: Ang, Nalini, Ngo, Haslina, CFS asst lecturer Danielle Yee, Patricia Liang, Goy and Ling

Back row, from left: Lee and CFS lecturer Abdolrasool Taghvaee

The workshop started with serving some light refreshment, sandwiches and mulberry tea which paved opportunities for participants to get to know each other. After a short introduction by Goy, Ling began the briefing by highlighting the benefits and importance of growing greens at home and in the office with the aim to harness the interest of the participants to green their home as well as preserving the environment and encouraging sustainable lifestyle. He also shared the popular indoor plants which have exceptional air purifying properties and the simple steps on how to maintain and keep the plants fresh and healthy. In addition, he also pointed out the several methods that can be used to propagate the plants and explained the types of soils that can be mixed to attain the pH composition suitable for different types of plants.

Students mingling and enjoying the light refreshment

Ling giving a briefing about greeneries

The event was then followed by demonstrations on how to mix the soil, propagate and grow the plants using recycled items such as plastic bottles and tin cans. During the demonstration, the students were very attentive and excited to adopt the plants as these were their first experiences for some of them. It was a hands-on and interactive session where the participants were free to mingle with friends and other lecturers to seek and share their knowledge and experiences. Lee took many by surprise when she shared how the germination of dragon fruits’ seeds can be grown into ornamental plants. Every participant from the workshop adopted a plant each and some adopted more than one with the hope that they will share them with their families, friends and neighbours in spreading the awareness about green environment.

Danielle Yee (centre) shared with students on how to turn recycled items into decorative pots

Patricia Liang (left) and Haslina mixed the soil to plant mulberry tree

Nalini (left) and Ngo propagating the snake plants

Towards the end of the session, a student committee was formed to ensure the continuity of the programme and to provide guidance to students on how to organise events. Overall, the workshop earned a positive response and the organising committee will initiate more efforts through various activities to educate and promote the awareness to a wider group of people on the ease of growing own greeneries.

Students helping each other to adopt and plant greeneries

Students asked questions about growing plants