A team of Bowland College students who took part in this year’s Eco Challenge are now beginning to turn their sustainability‑focused idea into reality. Their concept has been selected for a new University‑based internship designed to explore the feasibility of their pitch.

This year, the University partnered with LUSU Green, the organisers of Eco Challenge, to offer an internship to the team whose proposal best supported the University’s ambitions to cut carbon emissions and enhance sustainability. The internship is funded by donations from the Friends of Lancaster through the Don’t Ditch It, Donate project.

Four Bowland students were awarded the opportunity for their idea: a car‑sharing app that helps students arrange safe, convenient lifts to and from campus. Their pitch aims to reduce single‑occupancy car journeys and encourage more sustainable travel by addressing common barriers such as trust, convenience and cost.

The internship will allow the team to carry out an in‑depth feasibility study and develop a business case to present to the University over the summer. As part of this work, they will meet with key University stakeholders and external providers to explore how their idea could evolve and to understand the practical challenges the app would need to overcome.

Darren Wilkinson, Lancaster University’s Sustainability Projects Officer and project lead said “We wanted to give students the incentive and opportunity to develop a robust and actionable pitch during the competition and offering the internship opportunity did just that. This year we heard some incredible ideas that focused on real on-campus problems. The internship gives participants the opportunity to create more than just a pitch. They had the opportunity to bring their idea to life. To be inspired and encouraged to take action into their own hands and develop their idea with the support of the University.”

The University and LUSU Green hope this to be a permanent feature of the Eco Challenge in future years. The Don’t Ditch It Donate It project is set to launch in June and aims to raise sponsorship to fund future internships.

Find out more about the University’s sustainability ambitions on our webpages.