Envisioning a Better Ecological Future: Visions and Achievements of Female Environmentalists, with Dr Cecilia Skordilis

'Envisioning a Better Ecological Future: Visions and Achievements of Female Environmentalists'

This talk will highlight the critical role of women in shaping sustainable, just futures. Drawing on insights from the Women in Environmental Sciences (WiES) network, and the role this network played in embedding environmental sustainability across a large educational institution, Dr Cecilia Skordilis will showcase how women’s experiences, mentorship, and collaborative networks influence research, policy, and community action. By emphasising inclusive leadership, co-produced knowledge, and equitable environmental solutions, the talk will demonstrate how supporting women’s voices is essential for advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and building a thriving ecological future.

Biography

Dr Cecilia Skordilis is a Reader at the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Manchester, UK. Cecilia carries out impactful research which strongly links environmental sciences with sustainability in education through her initiatives of Communities of Practice (CoP) in higher education i.e. the Women In Environmental Sciences (WiES) and Connectivity and Inclusivity (C & I) in higher education. She was a Co-Investigator on the Engaging Environments programme (2019-2023). Cecilia is an ecologist with an extremely diverse professional background. Having completed a BSc degree in Biochemistry at Bayero University in Kano, Nigeria, she then spent several years in industry, environmental regulation and consulting working for various organisations focused on environmental sustainability and development and, was a lecturer in environmental sciences at the National Open University of Nigeria before joining the University of Manchester. Cecilia’s interests are in understanding and managing water quality and ecology of urban watercourses. She has also carried out many public engagement activities within the UK and abroad. Dr Skordilis is a member of the British Ecological Society, a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and the Institute of Teaching and Learning.

Header image: Photo by Vas Soshnikov on Unsplash

Please note: Parking for this event is available on the Campus. Accessible parking is available immediately outside the venue, with step free access and accessible toilets.