Research

1253 resources

Transferrable Student-Led Procurement Research: Partnering with Office Depot to Create Change at Willamette University

  • Willamette University (OR)
  • Office Depot, Inc. (TX)

The presenters discuss a student-led research project at Willamette University, transferrable to other universities buying supplies from Office Depot or similarly large suppliers that likely provide comprehensive data on institutional ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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The power of perception: evaluating sustainability contradictions as a tool for culture change

  • Princeton University (NJ)

For a variety of reasons, behind the scenes operational dimensions of sustainability are often prioritized on campuses above the more challenging social and cultural dimensions. But arguably the most important ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Sustainable Energy: Research and Innovation to Commercialization at the University of Missouri

  • University of Missouri (MO)

In addition to leading research and innovation in alternative energy, University of Missouri has demonstrated a commitment to sustainable energy by taking discoveries to applications in the real world. In ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Developing a Campus-wide Sustainability Assessment

  • Colorado State University (CO)

This presentation will describe a dissertation project from Colorado State University that examines individuals' knowledge of sustainability in relation to the concepts of the Triple Bottom Line; economic sustainability, environmental ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Making the Case for the Living, Learning Lab & Quantifying Ecosystem Services: IU Bloomington's Tree Inventory

  • Indiana University Bloomington (IN)

Indiana University Bloomington initiated a campus-wide geographic information systems tree inventory effort in the spring of 2015. The tree inventory data is housed through ArcGIS online and led primarily by ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Establishing a Sustainability Grant Fund to Promote Sustainability Related Research for Students and Faculty

  • Thompson Rivers University (BC)

Thompson Rivers University (TRU) established the Sustainability Grant Fund (SGF) to promote and encourage sustainability-related research at TRU and within the broader community. The SGF provides up to $100,000 ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Illustrating the 'Criterion Problem': How Starting With the End in Mind Gets us There

  • Missouri State University (MO)

Virtually every sustainability problem begins with human thinking and behavior. While this may seem obvious, psychologists are rarely involved in the conception, development, delivery, or evaluation of real world attempts ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Measuring Undergraduate Students' Learning Over Time

  • James Madison University (VA)

The Environmental Stewardship Reasoning and Knowledge Assessment (ESRKA), a validated, 50-question test with good reliability, is being used to measure undergraduate students' learning over time at a large, public university ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Integrating Resilience Across the Campus and the Curriculum: The Climate Change Risk and Resilience Open Lab

  • Plymouth State University (NH)

Within higher education sustainability efforts have integrated resiliency by creating a new generation of climate commitments that combine existing pledges to reduce carbon emissions with new frameworks for engaging stakeholders ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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HydroCats: Research and Citizen Science Applications for Water Harvesting

  • University of Arizona (AZ)

From its inception, University of Arizona HydroCats has been structured on community involvement and off-campus project development. This year, HydroCats interns have expanded the program's role in Tucson neighborhoods ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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The Africa Center for Sustainable Ecosystems and Societies Under Global Change

  • Colorado State University (CO)

The Africa Center for Sustainable Ecosystems and Societies Under Global Change invests in innovative and interdisciplinary research that cross-cut conventional disciplines in an attempt to tackle global environmental and sustainability ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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How Carbon and Nitrogen Footprints Can Inform Sustainability Practices at Colorado College

  • Colorado College (CO)

This case study analyzes the carbon and nitrogen savings associated with opportunities Colorado College, a small liberal arts school in the Rocky Mountains, has for sustainability. By analyzing the current ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Exploring Student Leaders for Sustainable Development: Components and Personal Practices

  • Baylor University (TX)

Presentation that shares research study structure, methodology, findings, and recommendations for future research regarding the cultivating of student leadership capabilities through personal practices focused on sustainability education. The purpose of ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Institutional Nitrogen Footprint: A Case Study at Oregon State University

  • Oregon State University (OR)

Many insitutions of higher education are measuring and consciously managing their impact on the environment, using metrics of energy use, recycling, alternative transporation or local foods. While the carbon footprint ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Advancing Sustainability - Green Grants Program

  • New York University (NY)

Since 2007 New York University's Green Grants program has awarded funding to students, faculty and staff with ideas or projects that advance sustainability. Improving the university's environmental performance ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Leveraging Campus Natural Areas for Urban Ecology Research, Education, and Management

  • University of Central Florida (FL)

The University of Central Florida (UCF) is a 1,415-acre urban campus, of which 876 acres (62%) is undeveloped green space that includes 337-acres (24%) of upland and wetland conservation ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Colloquium on Research Innovation in Food, Energy, Water Systems Nexus (INFEWS) AASHE 4TH Annual Workshop Research in Sustainability

  • University of Arkansas (AR)

This colloquium focuses on the direct interdependencies and connections that exist related to the production, extraction, generation and use, between food, energy, and water and the impacts at the nexus ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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SULITEST, the sustainability literacy test

  • KEDGE Business School (Bordeaux)

Sustainability literacy as a learning outcome through the Sulitest. Feedback of the pilot phase includes 430 universities, with 44,000 students from 48 countries. Includes testimonial from users and addresses ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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The Total Energy Output of Global Fisheries and Aquaculture Production From 1950--2013

  • University of Arkansas (AR)

Total production and estimated total energy output of global fisheries/aquaculture from 1950-2013 was investigated. This was accomplished by quantifying the output of fisheries/aquaculture using production data (tonnes per ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Promoting and Assessing Sustainability As A Learning Outcome in Education Abroad

  • The Education Abroad Network (IL)

Drawing upon the definition and content of global learning within the AAC&U Global Learning Rubric, this poster reveals why the issues of sustainability & climate change must result in student ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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A Water Quality Argument for Vegetated Roofs in Charleston, South Carolina

  • College of Charleston (SC)

As part of the College of Charleston's Green Roofs initiative, we investigated the potential benefits of employing vegetated roof technology, specifically on the quality of Charleston's waterways. Using ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Coastal Resiliency Planning: Linking Online Student Research to City Sustainability Planning

  • Arizona State University (AZ)

To address the special challenges of coastal cities, sustainability planning has depends on research from disciplines as diverse as climatology, ecology, social science, economics, political science, and urban planning. While ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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How Universities can Create Sustainable Communities: A Place-Based Framework for Research, Planning, and Action

  • Audubon International (NY)

Can the movement for campus sustainability catalyze local governments into creating their own more sustainable futures? With guidance and tools from a national non-profit, sustainability advocates and university researchers are ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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The Heart of the Matter: A Candid Conversation about Campus Sustainability

  • Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (IL)

For the purpose of my research, my grounded theory addressed the intersections of interactions that impact an individual's ability to develop the core beliefs that cultivate environmental ethics and ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Opening Keynote - Marc Edwards

  • Virginia Tech (VA)

Marc Edwards is the Charles Lunsford Professor of Civil Engineering at Virginia Tech. A renowned expert on water contamination and MacArthur 'genius' grant recipient, Dr. Edwards led the research teams ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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From 'What if?' to 'What's next?'

  • United States Department of Energy (DC)

Inspired by the power of asking 'what if', the Additive Manufacturing Integrated Energy (AMIE) project (www.ornl.gov/amie) showcases an innovation platform to develop, integrate, and demonstrate energy solutions ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Innovations at the Nexus of Food, Energy, and Water Systems: National Science Foundation (NSF) Initiative to Examine Critical Issues in Today's World

  • National Science Foundation

At the end of 2015, the NSF put out its first request for proposals for the INFEWS program. Over the next five years the program plans to fund interdisciplinary projects ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Colloquium on FEWS Research Needs and Opportunities

  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (DC)

Regardless of all the devoted investments, too often, good, nutritious food ends up getting wasted. In the United States, food is the largest stream of discarded materials, accounting for 21 ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Research and Opportunities at USDA at the Nexus of Food, Energy, and Water Systems

  • U.S. Department of Agriculture (DC)

There is a critical need for research and researchers that enables new means of adapting to these challenges, and USDA, through the intramural research it conducts and the extramural research ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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The Energy Output of World Agriculture 1961-2013

  • University of Arkansas (AR)

The global agricultural system is an energy transfer system converting solar radiation to stored chemical energy in the biosphere through photosynthesis and animal metabolism. Stored energy in the agricultural system ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Outlooks for a More Sustainable Building Stock

  • University of Arkansas (AR)

Despite all progress made in this domain, the building stock is still at its infancy when it comes to achieving zero environmental impact and zero fossil fuels utilization. The harnessing ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Transdisciplinary Research and Practice for Sustainability Outcomes

  • University of Technology Sydney
  • University of Southern Queensland

This book examines the role of transdisciplinarity - a form of research and practice that synthesises knowledge from a range of academic disciplines and from the community - in the transformations needed ...

  • Posted Nov. 17, 2016
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Obama, Bill Gates to lead major effort to spur spending on climate research

  • The Washington Post (DC)

This article describes the launch of two separate initiatives to invest billions of dollars in clean energy research and development. "Mission Innovation” is a commitment by countries - including United States ...

  • Posted Nov. 14, 2016
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Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2016

  • United Nations Environment Programme

This report tracks private and public investments in renewable energy, including research and development funding. Key findings in relation to R&D funding include:

  • Research and development spending on renewable energy ...
  • Posted Nov. 14, 2016
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Sustainable university research and development: inspecting sustainability in higher education research

  • Leuphana University of Lüneburg

Sustainability in higher education is dominated by practical ‘greening the campus’ programs and initiatives. This paper examines sustainable university research and development projects as part of the ‘greening the campus ...

  • Posted Nov. 14, 2016
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Sustainability Science in a Global Landscape

This report describes a bibliometric analysis of the sustainability science research landscape between 2009 and 2013. Key findings include:

  1. Research on sustainability has grown almost twice as fast as research ...

Sustainable Advanced Manufacturing Center

  • Alfred State College (NY)

The $5 million, 16,000-square-foot facility will help the college continue to produce more job-ready graduates for manufacturers who want to find well-trained workers. Within the SAMC, which is located ...

  • Posted Nov. 1, 2016
  • Research Centers & Institutes
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The interrelations between competences for sustainable development and research competences

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to explore how competences for sustainable development and research interrelate within a context of competence-based higher education. Specific focus is oriented towards strengthening ...


Urban & Environmental Policy Institute

  • Occidental College (CA)

The Urban & Environmental Policy Institute (UEPI) is a research, policy, and advocacy, organization at Occidental College committed to bringing about social change and a more just, livable and green ...

  • Posted Oct. 26, 2016
  • Research Centers & Institutes
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Ultra-Low Temperature Freezer Performance and Energy Use Tests

  • University of California, Riverside (CA)

During fall 2015 and winter 2016, staff and students from the University of California , Riverside Office of Sustainability evaluated three energy efficient Ultra Low Temperature Freezers. This study tested the ...


Stanford Photos for Top Performer Categories

  • Stanford University (CA)

Below are some photos that capture sustainability on Stanford's campus in the four categories in Research, Buildings, Water, and Diversity & Affordability.

  • Posted Sept. 20, 2016
  • Photographs
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State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry sustainability and research photos

  • State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (NY)

ESF is unique among colleges and universities in that all educational and research programs are oriented toward natural resources, and toward the natural and designed environments. All that ESF is ...

  • Posted Sept. 20, 2016
  • Photographs
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ESF Sustainability

  • State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (NY)

ESF is unique among colleges and universities in that all educational and research programs are oriented toward natural resources, and toward the natural and designed environments. All that ESF is ...

  • Posted Sept. 16, 2016
  • Photographs
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UConn Reserach Gathers Critical Information Needed in Fight to Save Wildlife

  • University of Connecticut (CT)

An international group of top biologists led by UConn ecologist Mark Urban is calling for a coordinated effort to gather important species information that is urgently needed to improve predictions ...

  • Posted Sept. 14, 2016
  • Photographs
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VA-NC Alliance Summer Research Program

  • University of Virginia (VA)

The VA-NC Alliance summer research program's goal is to increase the quantity and quality of underrepresented minority students who pursue degrees and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics ...

  • Posted Sept. 14, 2016
  • Photographs
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Columbia University Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Ocean Research

  • Columbia University (NY)

The World Surf League is investing $1.5 million in first-year funding for ocean science at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory as part of an innovative new philanthropy called ...

  • Posted Sept. 12, 2016
  • Photographs
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Columbia University: Tree-Ring Extraction

  • Columbia University (NY)

Williams and the others set to work extracting tree rings, by which they can gauge how various species have reacted to past swings in precipitation and temperature. The basic tool ...

  • Posted Sept. 12, 2016
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Renewable Energy Projects at UC Santa Cruz

  • University of California, Santa Cruz (CA)

At the University of California, Santa Cruz, a cross-disciplinary group of engineering undergraduates--the "Green Wharf Renewable Energy Project" team--shows off its senior capstone design project, a low-impact marine microgrid energy ...

  • Posted Sept. 12, 2016
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Climate Ready BU - Assessing the Campus for the Impacts of Climate Change

  • Boston University (MA)

Much of the Boston University campuses are located less than five feet above today's high tide. With projections for sea level rise a cause for concern this century, the ...

  • Posted Sept. 12, 2016
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Energy Initiatives at Mohawk College

  • Mohawk College (ON)

Applied wind and solar energy projects at the Fennell Campus of Mohawk College support teaching, learning and research on campus.

PV Solar panels on the roof of the David Braley ...

  • Posted Sept. 12, 2016
  • Photographs
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This tab provides access to data collected through AASHE’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™ (STARS). STARS is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. STARS enables meaningful comparisons over time and across institutions using a common set of measurements developed with broad participation from the campus sustainability community.

All responses reference content from reports under the latest version of STARS, version 2.2. AASHE membership and log-in is required.

AC 9: Research & Scholarship

AC 9: Support for Sustainability Research

AC 10: Open Access to Research

Additional analysis on scores and quantitative fields can be conducted using the STARS Benchmarking Tool.

Research Partners