Foundation hosts summer school for young thinkers

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, in collaboration with Leadership in Global Change, has hosted the first summer school for 15-18 year olds wishing to learn about the circular economy.

Students learnt how the circular economy can be applied to various industries, including food, fashion, and the built environment. This culminated with the students then working in groups to design and build their own city based on circular economy principles.

The course challenged the participants to think beyond the take-make-waste model by exposing them to real-life case studies of the circular economy in practice, including the work of the London Waste and Recycling Board, and Christoper Raeburn’s fashion lab.

“The creativity and enthusiasm of the students was remarkable. These young people want to find solutions to our greatest challenges and they are ready and willing to push the envelope of what’s possible.” - Harrison Wavell, Schools & Colleges Programme Manager at the Foundation

“It’s very exciting, it’s very new, we’re in a generation that’s changing, in a world that’s changing as well.” - Mathys Reiss, one of the participants

The Oxford Summer School is part of the Foundation’s efforts to engage the next generation in becoming part of the transition to a circular economy. More information about the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Schools and Colleges programmes can be found on the website.