From environmental tech to green design, find your way in sustainable innovation

Are you curious about how you can use technology to solve our climate crisis?

Sustainability is one of the most pressing cultural, societal, and planetary challenges of our time.

On this course, you’ll hear from a range of passionate experts from the UK including presenter and founder of GROW George Lamb alongside Dominique Palmer (Climate justice activist), Dwayne Fields (Adventurer and Explorer), and Joycelyn Longdon (Founder of Climate in Colour).

Explore what technological innovation could mean for sustainability

You’ll begin by taking a deep dive into what’s happening in the sustainability sector in the UK today and what an equitable sustainable future could look like. You will reflect on what is needed for our world to be more sustainable and be introduced to existing sustainable technology solutions and the impact they’re having on the UK’s sustainability efforts.

Learn about design-thinking and get inspired by sustainable design

Designing today comes with a responsibility to think of the environmental and sustainable impact of your efforts now and in the future.

Throughout this course, you’ll also get to grips with the fundamentals of Design Thinking- a non-linear and iterative process used by many technology companies like Samsung to solve problems and create innovative solutions.

By the end of the course, you’ll feel inspired and confident in identifying, planning, and articulating your own sustainable technology designs–using empathetic design thinking to bring your ideas to life.

Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow

This course forms part of Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow programme, offering young people a chance to explore the role tech can play in solving some of society’s biggest issues.

Design the future. No qualifications needed.

Syllabus

Week 1
Explore the world of sustainability
- Welcome to the course
  In this activity you’ll meet Samsung and the team of experts guiding you through this course including Solve for Tomorrow Sustainability Ambassador - George Lamb. You’ll also start to unpack the big theme of sustainability.
- Another world is possible - let’s make it happen
  In this activity, Dominique Palmer will draw on her experience as a global climate activist to give you an overview of some of the challenges within sustainability today and the opportunities young people have to drive change.
- Ecosystems of change
  In this activity, Dwayne Fields (adventurer, explorer and naturalist) shares the frameworks and the encouragement you need to get out into nature spaces and identify your local ecosystems.
Week 2
Ideation
- Design Thinking
  In this first activity you’ll be guided through an Introduction to Design Thinking, exploring what it means to have a Design Thinking mindset before mastering the process to help you bring your ideas to life.
- AI & Climate Change
  In this next activity you’ll learn how to unlock the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to design for a sustainable future with expert Joycelyn Longdon.
- Putting Design Thinking into practice
  In this final activity, you’ll be putting the Design Thinking principles you learnt about earlier into action.
- Congratulations!
  In this final activity you’ll recap on what you’ve covered in this course and find out about ways to continue your learning journey and #DesignTheFuture with Samsung’s #SolveForTomorrow.

Who is this accredited by?

The CPD Certification Service:

The content of the following course has been certified by the CPD Certification Service as conforming to continuing professional development principles.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

Reflect on how sustainability relates to you today.
Compare and discuss the state of sustainability in the UK today.
Identify and interpret opportunities and challenges when designing for a sustainable future.
Explore the opportunities that technology can bring when designing for a sustainable future.
Understand the fundamentals and importance of empathetic design thinking.
Identify and ideate your own tangible actions and solutions in response to the proposition: Designing for a sustainable future.

Who is the course for?

This course would appeal to young people aged 16-25 from across the UK who are passionate innovators and are keen to drive positive change for themselves, their communities and the world.

If you’re curious about the possibilities of technology in solving pressing world issues, this course is for you. No formal education experience is required.

Who developed the course?

Samsung

Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. Samsung is committed to Enabling People by empowering future generations to achieve their full potential through education.

What's included?

Samsung are offering everyone who joins this course a free digital upgrade, so that you can experience the full benefits of studying online for free. This means that you get:

Unlimited access to this course

Includes any articles, videos, peer reviews and quizzes

A PDF Certificate of Achievement to prove your success when you’re eligible

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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