About Us
Meet our committee
Ida Caspary
She/her
President
Second Year Computing Science Undergraduate
I'm Ida, second year computing science student and super excited to start my work as president of SUSEE!
I joined this amazing society in the beginning of my first semester, happy to meet like-minded people curious about the future, learn about useful things for a change in society, exchange ideas and recipes and have actions together.
I am particularly interested in businesses and governments’ role in sustainability, in intercultural exchange, urban design and to hear about any new thoughts on the climate and environmental developments we have been observing – I love reading and debating about all sorts of different topics particularly of environment, politics and economics.
Even in the last year, when exclusively online, we managed to make Food Huddles fun, with interesting topics and guest speakers.
We also used to host workshops, for example for sustainable products. I am looking forward to launching more activities next year, back in real life.
We will have workshops for sustainable lifestyles, contribute energetically to the Stirling Climate Festival in October, push Hedgehog Friendly Campus to make our spiky little friends feel more home around again and have thought-provoking topics and speakers at our Food Huddles – getting some insights into government work for environmentalism, local businesses and initiatives, energy production, urban development & mobility, the Green Campus project, media and the environment, what our university has to commit itself to and much more, as well inviting other clubs/societies to collaborations for insights e.g. in Scottish politics, the marine environment, environmental law and the University of Sanctuary initiative. Let’s impact together!
‘Watch out world, we're here to change ya!’ Hal Elrod
Sammy Berninger
She/her
Hedgehog Officer
Second Year Psychology Undergraduate
Among the hurry and stress of life there is one thing that never rushes: nature. Whether it's an ant colony, the swans in the Airthrey loch or a hedgehog on its nightly food search, watching nature slows down time. Watching nature is therapeutic to me.
I'm a second year psychology student who has a love for birds, good music, and baking. I joined SUSEE and the Hedgehog Friendly Campus team in the middle of uncertain times. This past year (2020-2021) it has, at times, felt like sustainability and environmental action has taken the backseat in many organisations and governments. This frustrated me.
I turned the frustration into work towards a wildlife friendly campus. I learned about hedgehogs, about their diminishing numbers in the UK, but also about the positive impact we can have on this issue. Our world needs better environments for wildlife and this campus is the perfect place to start.
Rebecca Love
She/her
Publicity Manager
Second Year Heritage and Tourism
Undergraduate
Having grew up in Australia the climate is hard to ignore when there’s amazing thunderstorms, scorching hot days, drought and the threat of bushfires.
This was where I first learned about global warming, briefly taught to me as a small child in primary school 20 years ago.
In 2009, I remember watching An Inconvenient Truth at school and learning more about the impacts of global warming. Afterwards my friends and I thoroughly discussed it, worrying about the future before shortly moving on. We were just teenagers after all and this felt like a big problem the adults would solve.
For years this is what the climate change crisis has felt like for me, a massive problem that I was aware of but felt hopeless against, as it had been years when I had learned about it as a kid and it still wasn’t being taken seriously.
That was until 2020, the pandemic made me reflect and really understand the injustices of the world that I had always felt were present but couldn’t put into words. I came across online activists who made changes from small sustainable swaps to one who had changed the law.
I discovered a whole community of online activists who were each working for a different future, a better future.
I was inspired by these activists that were challenging the status quo, challenging overconsumption and challenging the damaging social and environmental impacts corporations have.
I learned from their effort and collaboration that change not only needs to happen but is possible.
This led me to the Environmental Enterprise society, a great community to learn from, discuss things with, share ideas and collaborate.
I look forward to now sharing everything the society has to offer in my new role as publicity manager.
“We are so done with waiting for society to change things for us, we literally are society” – Gina Martin
Uzma Ali
Secretary
Kay Galas
They/them
Vice President
Second Year Environmental Science Undergraduate
What originally got me into the environmentalism was veganism and the zero waste movement, and when I started helping on organic farms that showed me how much our connection to nature and Mother Earth in general matters and how important it is to conserve it.
This is also why I’m studying Environmental Science, I wanted to learn how to understand the processes going on around us and what we can do to battle climate change.
I was really happy to meet so many other eco-friendly people who also care about our planet at SUSEE, and the society is one of the reason why this campus feels like a home to me.
SUSEE is full of positivity and I hope I can give back in some way. I really believe in taking action for what I believe in, and I want to create opportunities for our members to get more involved, in things like fundraising, climate strikes, raising awareness about climate justice, rewilding, and much more 😃 I’m excited for next year and I hope we can keep up the welcoming and accepting vibes in our society!
Aneke Janentzky
She/her
Impact Officer
Second Year Environmental Geography Undergraduate
The anthropogenic climate change is one of the biggest threats to all living beings and the environment and an issue I am particularly passionate about.
We already have so many solutions, but still haven’t tackled this global problem. Coming from Germany where the Fridays for Future Movement is very big, showed me that we are stronger together and that even a small group can make a difference.
This is why I joined the society last September, to meet like-minded people, have the occasional discussion and get to know different views and opinions.
Next semester I am going to be a second Year studying Environmental Geography and your new Impact Officer. I hope we as a Society can continue to make a difference for students and in the wider Stirling community, while also being a place where we deeply care for the students who join us.
Beside Uni, I enjoy reading, being in nature or spending time with friends. Scotland is my home away from home and in this society I found an amazing community which welcomed me with open arms. I hope it can do the same for you.
Anastasia Mendini
She/her
Events Coordinator
Third Year Sustainable Events Management Undergraduate
When I was little, I used to run down in the green fields in front of my house and climb up on old and beautiful apple trees. My brother had always to chase after me and try to get me down those trees as, eventually, I was getting stuck up there.
Being on top of trees too big for me, feeling the breeze and the sun on my skin was just therapeutic, especially when the only thing that I could see from the top was a sea of green.
I am from North Italy, precisely from a really small village with more apples than inhabitants – seriously – where everyone knows the entire generation of most families but they all really care about having the most efficient apple production in the Valley.
Although this sounds quite sad, I need to thank such an environment for discovering my passion in nature and my desire to care for it. My dad is an apple farmer – of course – so I grew up in direct contact with nature, learning to treat each plant as a person, if not even more fragile.
As I was getting older I could see the environmental balance getting altered as humans were crossing more and more boundaries exploiting nature till the last drop. I started to really care about the impact that we have on Earth and how bad humans could be, however at the same time I fell in love with them.
Travelling opened my eyes and made me consider so many things from different perspectives, realising how beautiful the diversity between us all is and the strong connection that links us together.
I am now studying sustainable events management here in Stirling and I am so grateful for the choice I made. The beautiful landscapes of Scotland remind me of home and the international community of students gives me a piece of all those countries that I can’t wait to visit next.
I joined the society last year and I am still strongly committed to it as it reflects all my passions and it makes me feel actively part of a beautiful community which I hope will get bigger and bigger over time!
Anna Rossen
She/her
Treasurer
Second Year Conservation Biology and Management Undergraduate
Like many others, I grew up watching BBC documentaries full of jaw-dropping landscapes and wondrous animals against the backdrop of David Attenborough's soothing voice, so I don't remember a time where I haven't been fascinated by animals and nature. My academic strengths were mainly in the humanities, so I never thought it could be more than a hobby. This all changed during a volunteering stint in South Africa where I was introduced to the world of conservation work out in the field with people who have the outdoors as an office. I was sold immediately. From then on, I decided to completely change my path in life and pursue a science degree.
Coming to Stirling in the middle of a pandemic was obviously not how I had imagined my first year of university, but we are so fortunate to have a beautiful campus with plenty of walks to explore. I joined Environmental Enterprises with a desire to take care of our planet and that starts by taking care of our local environment.
I suspect most of us have found comfort in nature during this pandemic and used it as a place to relax and unwind, so let us show our appreciation by keeping our campus clean and create room for our native wildlife.