Architecture students feel ill prepared to tackle the climate crisis

‘Fundamentally, students feel they are currently being let down by their architectural education,’ explained Megan Coe, a coordinator at ACAN.

With 70% of participants claiming they either weren’t aware, or had nowhere to voice their concerns within their institutions, she is driving to galvanise independent student action at universities across the country.

Launching StuCAN in 2020, a dedicated campaign to lead a cultural revolution around ‘climate literacy’ in construction courses, Coe aims to instil a sense of optimism in Gen Z architects and their future ambitions.

We are the most eco-conscious demographic ever, after all.

Speaking on the power of student bodies, Coe highlighted: ‘These groups allow students to discover they have more agency than they are told, help them to gain confidence in addressing the inadequacies of their education, and through collective action, are providing a multitude of mental health benefits, particularly in a time of uncertainty and isolation.’

In the last month alone, we’ve written about a multitude of sustainable projects with the potential to shake up the construction industry in the future.

Whether we’re talking 3D printed houses made from recycled materials, art installations created using plant waste, clever solutions for Covid friendly venues, or even Stefano Boeri’s bold vision for an entire ‘smart forest city’ in the heart of Cancun, there is promise to suggest we can cut the industry’s carbon footprint down if we champion new ideas.

If you’re currently studying at an institution failing to bring about climate literacy in its modules, you can download template letters created by ACAN here, and request to form your own student body.