On Monday 28 November, Senior Lecturer Helen McGhie accompanied three recent BA (Hons) Photography graduates – Tom Holloway, Cain Newell and Marcus Grange (Class of 2025) – to the House of Commons, where they were invited to present their photographic work highlighting the growing issue of electronic waste (e-waste).

The well-attended event, hosted by Marsha De Cordova MP in partnership with Virgin Media O2 and environmental charity Hubbub, drew national attention to the urgent need for more sustainable practices around electronic consumption, recycling and repair. The graduates were selected to exhibit and talk about their work after taking part in a School of Digital Arts (SODA) live brief last academic year, which challenged students to create compelling visual narratives promoting refurbished technology and circular solutions.

The project, led by Senior Lecturers Helen McGhie and Sian Macfarlane, saw first and third-year students work in interdisciplinary teams to research and creatively respond to the environmental and human impacts of e-waste. Their work culminated in a hackathon pitch session to industry professionals, including from Virgin Media O2, Climate Outreach and Recycle for Greater Manchester.

Students’ photographic outputs were also showcased during a digital screen takeover in the SODA building, alongside their presentations to an industry panel. The project also led to a specially produced e-zine , and selected student work featured on Hubbub’s social media channels.

The House of Commons presentation marks a significant milestone for the graduates, demonstrating how creative practice can influence public conversations and inspire real-world change. Through sustained collaboration with industry partners, students gained valuable experience of professional expectations while contributing to an important national dialogue on sustainability.

Holly Smith, Creative Partner at Hubbub, said: “I was blown away by the standard of work from the SODA students and how they got stuck into the circularity and recycling economy around electricals in Manchester. Judging from a behaviour change perspective, there were so many eye-catching final pieces to make people stop and think about the larger environmental and human implications of e-waste.”

Dr Helen McGhie added: “This thought-provoking live brief provided photography students with a powerful opportunity to raise awareness about the critical issue of e-waste through creative image-making. Their work demonstrates how imagery can tell vital stories and promote more sustainable practices in our increasingly digital world.”