| Description | Minutes of a Committee set up with the aim of working towards the establishment and development of a Centre on Environmental Studies at the University, following the submission of the report of a Working Party on Environmental Studies which had been set up by Senate in 1973 on the recommendation of the Committee of Principals and Deans to consider how the University might develop the field of Environmental Studies.
The main activity of the Committee was to produce an inventory of work going on in the University on environmental topics; and to identify funds available to finance projects and bring together workers who could formulate a project which could attract funds
Its terms of reference were to work on detailed plans for the development of a Centre for Environmental Studies; to act as the point of reference for environmental topics in the University, and to establish ad-hoc working parties to look at particular areas; to act as a focal point for attracting outside funds; and to co-operate, as appropriate, with Faculty and other University bodies
Membership consisted of academic staff nominated by each of the Faculties and the School of Education, and a member of staff nominated by the Research Staff Association
Minutes of the first meeting, held on 18 March 1975, include a copy of the report of the Working Party to Senate, dated May 1974 and and explanation of the Working Party's method of operation. Minutes of the next meeting, held on 8 May 1975, include a table giving information about current involvement with Environmental Studies across academic departments. The next meeting, held on 20 October 1976, considered the appointment of a Co-ordinator of Environmental Studies and a paper setting out preliminary ideas about the possible form and organisation of a Centre for Environmental Studies at the University. No meetings appear to have been held in 1977, and papers for the next meeting, held on 7 June 1978, include a copy of the report of the Co-ordinator of Environmental Studies for 1977-1978 which contains information about current activities in the field of Environmental Studies, and future developments. This report states that little work had so far been done to implement the recommendations of the Senate Working Party on Environmental Studies and also refers to the financial commitments involved in setting up a Centre. The final meeting of the Committee was held on 5 December 1978, and papers include a discussion paper on the development of a Centre for Environmental Studies for inclusion in the submission of the University to the University Grants Committee Visitation in 1979 which set out the possible structure and scope of a Centre, but concluded that without the available funds it would not be possible to establish one |