A new programme for young people in Southampton is helping teenagers discover how their lifestyle choices influence not only their own health but also the health of the planet.
The LifeLab programme is bringing the arts and science together for the new initiative.
Speakers from across the University of Southampton are running teenage workshops this winter. Working with Theatre for Life and environmentalists, the sessions explore the impact of climate change in our communities.
The programme will examine themes such as air pollution, coastal erosion and habitat restoration. The insights are being related to the New Forest National Park, Weston Shore Beach and city of Southampton.
The young people will work as a theatre company to devise, write and perform impactful theatre around the imminent climate crisis.
Learning through LifeLab
LifeLab is a unique educational programme created by the University of Southampton in collaboration with the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre and University Hospital Southampton (UHS). It engages young people with the science behind health messages and empowers them to take ownership of their own choices.
The project has a purpose-built education facility in UHS with state-of-the-art equipment and a dedicated team of educators.
The new programme stems from LifeLab’s work with secondary schools before the pandemic, looking at how lifestyle choices affect the environment.
Through the Cultivate! project, young people had the opportunity to take part in activities such as an escape room. These helped them consider what changes to their own lifestyles would positively impact the world around them.
This was developed into a programme for primary schools to help children think about their food choices as they transition to secondary school, considering the health factors and sustainability of what they eat.
Making positive changes
The new arts and science programme launched in November. It included an interactive workshop in University greenhouses with Dr Mark Chapman of Biological Sciences.
A future session will build understanding in developing policy around climate change with the Head of University’s Public Policy Unit.
LifeLab programme lead Dr Kath Woods-Townsend said: “Climate change is front and centre of the agenda, particularly for young people, so enhancing their understanding of how they can directly impact the health of their planet as well as their own is a fascinating new direction for us.
“We are excited to see how the partnership with Theatre for Life can combine the arts and science in a new way of engaging young people in making positive changes.”
Michelle Smith, Artistic Director for Theatre for Life, added: “The collaborative nature of this project is enabling all the organisations involved to use science, art and culture as a platform to influence and lead public engagement on climate and the environment.
“It will create a legacy and sustainability beyond the project and provide a tool for social change."
The new programme is funded by the University’s Public Engagement with Research unit (PERu).