Research
Introduction
Conducting research is a major function of many colleges and universities. By researching sustainability issues and refining theories and concepts, higher education institutions can continue to help the world understand sustainability challenges and develop new technologies, strategies, and approaches to address those challenges.
Featured Resources
Latest News from AASHE Bulletin
New Resources
Concept development and transformative agency in the forging of a Campus Sustainability Statement:Insights from a Change Laboratory research-intervention.
- Lancaster University
With HEIs increasingly expected to provide leadership and guidance on the global challenges of climate change and sustainability, a body of literature has emerged concerned with embedding and implementing sustainability …
- Posted March 10, 2022
- Publications
- View more
5 Year Report NC Collaboratory 2016-2021
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (NC)
In 2016 the NC General Assembly authorized the creation of the NC Policy Collaboratory headquartered at UNC Chapel Hill. In the five years since, the Collaboratory has funded more than …
- Posted Feb. 24, 2022
- Publications
- View more
Music as a Tool for Environmentalism and Change
- University of Illinois Chicago (IL)
Music is present in social movements - but is it an effective catalyst for change in environmental and sustainability-related spaces? Scientific evidence supports the reality that music affects people physically …
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
- View more
How the Design of National-Scale Environmental Education Programs Support Equity and Inclusion
- University of Texas at Arlington (TX)
- University of Michigan (MI)
- National Wildlife Federation (VA)
In this session, two National Wildlife Federation EcoLeader Graduate Student Fellows will present the findings and recommendations of their recent research exploring how the design of the NWF EcoLeaders Program …
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Planetary Limits Academic Network: Transdisciplinary Scholars Addressing the Human Predicament
- University of Dayton (OH)
The Planetary Limits Academic Network (PLAN; planetarylimits.net) is a new transdisciplinary community for scholars who appreciate the interlocking nature of humanity’s current grand challenges in energy and resource depletion, climate, …
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Virginia Heat Watch: A Commonwealth-Wide Collaboration for Heat Mapping
- University of Lynchburg (VA)
- Randolph College (VA)
Randolph College and University of Lynchburg are both signatories to the Carbon Commitment and the Resilience Commitment, and have been collaborating on community resilience efforts since 2018. We are also …
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Integrating Equity and Basic Needs Programs into Higher Education Sustainability Initiatives
- University of California, Santa Cruz (CA)
Amidst a global pandemic the expectations and experiences for students within their higher education institutions are indicating increased challenges to well-being and student success. International to first generation and non-traditional …
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
- View more
The Future of Building Science Education with the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (CO)
Experience the future of building science education with the U.S. Department Energy Solar Decathlon, from walkthroughs of winning build projects to the opportunity to ask an expert about building science …
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Using Black Soldier Fly Larvae for Campus Organic Waste Bioconversion and Closed-Loop Agriculture
- The University of Findlay (OH)
Multiple studies have found that Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae is highly efficient in reducing organic waste, converting it into high quality animal feed and nutrient-rich fertilizer (e.g. Deiner, …
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Converting Sustainability Case Studies From Problem-Solving to Problem-Posing
- University of Central Oklahoma (OK)
Given that sustainability demands paradigmatic change in the current climate (Springett, 2005; Sterling, 2011; Hermes, J. and Rimanoczy, 2018), a transformative learning approach to sustainability education is essential to foster …
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Leadership & Sustainability in Action: A Practitioner's Case for Integrated Teaching
- Florida State University (FL)
- Harvard University (MA)
At colleges and universities all over the United States, instructors of leadership courses argue that they teach students about equitable, healthy leadership and prepare the next generation of leaders to …
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
- View more
University Air Travel and GHG Mitigation: An Analysis of Higher Education Climate Policies
- University of Tennessee at Knoxville (TN)
This presentation will detail and discuss research that examined the climate policies of 46 public doctoral institutions to understand how they address university air travel greenhouse gas mitigation. This research …
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Utilizing Sustainability Literacy and Culture Assessments for Student Research and Advocacy
- Christopher Newport University (VA)
This session highlights the successes of a unique collaboration between undergraduate student researchers, faculty, and sustainability staff. The group developed their university's first sustainability literacy and culture assessment (SLCA) and …
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Rethinking Pandemic Plastic: Engaging Industrial Design Students in End Use
- Iowa State University (IA)
Over the past year, Plexiglass barriers have populated our campuses and communities. Through barriers strategically placed, in attempts to effectively adhere to safety guidelines from the Center for Disease Control, …
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Applied Organizational Sustainability: An Interdisciplinary STEM-Based Sustainability Course
- Murray State University (KY)
In order to meet future workforce needs, STEM and sustainability should be integrated throughout university curriculum, including in business disciplines. However, STEM remains underrepresented in business education, including business conceptions …
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Finding Intersectional Solutions to Environmental Sustainability & Social Justice
- Augsburg University (MN)
During the summer of 2021 and continuing into the 2021-2022 school year, Nyasa is conducting research with Monica McDaniel, the Sustainability Officer at Augsburg University in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to identify …
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
- View more
The University of Iowa Tippie College of Business Principles of Responsible Management Education Report
- University of Iowa (IA)
The University of Iowa Tippie College of Business became signatories of the Principles of Responsible Management Education. As part of that commitment, the college reports on progress every two years.
- Posted Jan. 13, 2022
- Publications
- View more
Integrating Socio-Technical Thinking Into Engineering and Science Education, Research, and Practice
- Colorado School of Mines (CO)
Sustainable initiatives are destined to fail unless we begin to think of sustainability as being directly related to and dependent on social justice, equity, and public well being. As the …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Another Just Transition: Community-Engaged Research and Learning for Environmental Justice
- Santa Clara University (CA)
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (WI)
To contribute to a just transition to a regenerative economy and an equitable society, academia can accelerate its own shift toward conducting more community-engaged research (CER) for environmental justice (EJ). …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
- View more
A Competency Framework for Sustainability Studies Program Development
- Colorado Mountain College (CO)
The presenter will discuss methods and findings from her recently published research on competencies for sustainability studies and related academic programs ('Competencies and Pedagogies for Sustainability Education: A Roadmap for …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
- View more
What Motivates Change Agents and Supports Their Resilience in the Face of Adversity?
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- Yale University (CT)
One of the key features that distinguishes sustainability from other fields is its normative aspect. Sustainability is about creating a better world starting today based on a just vision of …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Competencies for Advancing Transformations Towards Sustainability and their Assessment
- Arizona State University (AZ)
Sustainability competencies have been articulated in diverse disciplines, from engineering to public education. Yet, there still remains a lack of clarity and coordination regarding a unified set of sustainability competencies …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Using Research to Improve Water Sustainability at Weber State University
- Weber State University (UT)
Our student session will focus on undergraduate research done in Ogden, Utah at Weber State University. This research investigates attitudes, beliefs and perceptions towards water and water use held by …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Developing Artful Leadership to Foster Sustainability at UW Oshkosh and Beyond
- University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (WI)
This project titled Developing Artful Leadership to Foster Sustainability at University of Wisconsin Oshkosh (UW Oshkosh) and Beyond was a research project that utilized the fluidity of interdisciplinary application of …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Teaching Climate Change: Understanding Faculty Work & Identity
- University of Hawaii System Office (HI)
The purpose of the Teaching Climate Change Study is to better understand faculty perspectives, pedagogical practices and overall confidence in teaching climate change and related issues. From this information, I …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Establishing a Green Labs Certification Program
- Northern Arizona University (AZ)
The Green Labs Program is a collaboration between the Office of Sustainability and Environmental Health & Safety with the goal to minimize the environmental impact of laboratories on NAU campus. …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
- View more
The Voluntary University Review: Linking AASHE STARS to the Sustainable Development Goals
- Carnegie Mellon University (PA)
This session will consist of a presentation from Alexandra Hiniker, the Executive Fellow for Sustainability Initiatives at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), who will share her experience developing the Voluntary University …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Findensers and Floods: A Pilot Study on Reducing Campus Laboratory Water Use
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
Hey, there's water all over!' a department director recalled exclaiming when he discovered the chemistry building's most-recent flood. Floods occur periodically in buildings at the University of Wisconsin. They damage …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Research, Innovation and Student Engagement: University Field Stations as Sustainability Praxis
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
Field stations are rich venues for engagement and investigations of natural science and social science connections to the environment. Universities of all types have a history of using field stations …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Climatepedia.org: A Nationwide Student Effort to Spread Climate Change Information
- University of California, Irvine (CA)
- Climatepedia (CA)
Over 97% of publishing climate scientists agree that climate change is a real, anthropogenic threat to all life on earth. However, various polls show that amongst the American public, there …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
- View more
New Ways to Love a Tree
- Hope College (MI)
The tree outside your window is providing ecological, economic, and health benefits that most folks take for granted. As urban development continues to replace natural forests at a rapid pace, …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Campus as a Living Lab Curriculum: Lessons from a Diversity of Institutional Types
- Michael Roy Iversen, Urban and Campus Sustainability Consultancy (IL)
The 'campus as a living lab' approach blends academic curriculum and campus facilities management, so as to both benefit students with experiential, real-world learning, and institutions with a purposeful means …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Predicting Sustainability Behavior via Attitudes, Knowledge, and Generative Concern
- Central College (IA)
Using a correlational design, this empirical study explored psychological predictors of sustainable behavior. Participants (49 women, 36 men, 4 non-binary) completed the following self-report questionnaires via Qualtrics: the Sustainability Attitudes …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Open Access Sustainability Survey Data: How to integrate a longitudinal dataset into your classroom
- Michigan State University (MI)
Many people call for research data to be made publicly available and praise those who publish their work in open access outlets. But what good is such data if no …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
- View more
A Sustainability Institute at a PUI: Vision, Formation, and Our First Three Years.
- University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (WI)
In 2017 the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh launched the Sustainability Institute for Regional Transformations (SIRT). As an Institute at a Primarily Undergraduate Institution (PUI) and with a focus on fostering …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
- View more
The MycHotel: A novel mycelial building material used to augment solitary bee and wasp conservation
- Central Community College (NE)
Rapidly declining bee populations have become increasingly common across the globe. Concerns are focused on European honey bees while North America's native pollinators are in peril. Solitary bees are often …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
- View more
A Global Affairs Office and a Sustainability Office: What's the Connection?
- University of California, Davis (CA)
Over the past year, the University of California, Davis Global Affairs office and the Office of Sustainability have collaborated in ways that are mutually supportive of each office's mission on …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Sustainability and Competency Based Education
- Southern New Hampshire University (NH)
Colleges are becoming more experimental in their desire to provide access to underserved populations (Sturgis, et al, 2016). New methods include badging, micro-credentials, and competency-based education (CBE). Each delivery platform …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
- View more
A Bibliometric Review of Higher Education Sustainability Competency Literature
- University of Michigan (MI)
Amidst unprecedented climate changes that threaten human existence, higher education has a responsibility to educate our students, the future leaders at the helm of this crisis. Reacting to impending climate …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Archiving the campus as a living laboratory: preserving a long memory for transformative change
- University of Utah (UT)
Sustainable change on campus is often driven by student-led projects, project-oriented courses and co-curricular activities associated with the Sustainability Office. However, aside from dissertations and theses, student work is seldom …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Not preaching to the choir? Negotiated curriculum to overcome barriers to sustainability education
- Florida Gulf Coast University (FL)
Much of the literature regarding sustainability education focuses on appropriate competencies for students graduating from sustainability programs majors, minors, concentrations, certificates, and so on. Such programs include students who intend …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Linking Teaching and Learning Formats with Students' Development of Key Sustainability Competencies
- Arizona State University (AZ)
Educators around the world have put into practice innovative curricula and courses to develop key competencies in sustainability in the next generation of change agents. However, more empirical evidence is …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Recycling Food Waste on the Fly: Using Black Soldier Fly to Recycle Food Waste at LSU
- Louisiana State University (LA)
We would like to present on how LSU is using the Black Solider Fly insect to recycle the pre and post-consumer food waste from LSU, turning the waste into fertilizer …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
- View more
What Motivates Students to Be Sustainability Change Agents in the Face of Adversity?
- Arizona State University (AZ)
The world faces significant challenges that require transformative changes facilitated by Sustainability Change Agents (SCAs). Universities around the world have explicitly taken up the responsibility of developing in students the …
- Posted Oct. 29, 2021
- Publications
- View more
Comparison of Single-Use and Reusable Food Packaging Using a Life Cycle Assessment Approach
- Michigan Technological University (MI)
This report was prepared by students at Michigan Technological University as part of the Consumer Product Manufacturing and Green Campus Enterprises to illustrate life cycle and sustabnibility by comparing single-use …
- Posted Oct. 22, 2021
- Publications
- View more
Zero waste policy evaluation of college campus. A case study of University of Florida.
- University of Florida (FL)
Waste generation and disposal of that waste is as big of an issue as climate change. Different factors come into play in developed and developing world. In developing countries litter …
- Posted Oct. 6, 2021
- Publications
- View more
How to green your lab
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
- My Green Lab (CA)
- São Paulo State University
Research labs are often wasteful, making use of unrecyclable materials, always-on equipment and environmentally dangerous chemicals. This webcast, for scientists at all levels, will draw upon the expertise of speakers …
- Posted Sept. 28, 2021
- Videos & Webinars
- View more
SUNY ESF Photos
- State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (NY)
SUNY ESF is committed to developing creative, effective solutions that address sustainability challenges and adopting holistic practices and approaches that balance environmental, social, economic, and technological factors. This commitment starts …
- Posted Sept. 7, 2021
- Photographs
- View more
PSU Research Photo
- Portland State University (OR)
Photo of PSU research class for SCI
- Posted Aug. 30, 2021
- Photographs
- View more
Lab research at Yale University
- Yale University (CT)
Photo to accompany 2021 SCI highlighting Yale University research.
- Posted Aug. 30, 2021
- Photographs
- View more
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
- Percent of research employees that conduct sustainability research
- Percent of research departments that conduct sustainability research
- Sustainability research inventory (upload)
- Sustainability research inventory (description)
- Website URL - Sustainability research
AC 9: Support for Sustainability Research
- Description of the student sustainability research program
- Description of the academic staff sustainability research program
- Website URL - Support for sustainability research
AC 10: Open Access to Research
- Website URL - Open access repository
- Open access policy (upload)
- Open access policy (description)
- Description of the open access article processing charge (APC) fund
- Description of the open access journal hosting services
- Website URL - Support for open access
Additional analysis on scores and quantitative fields can be conducted using the STARS Benchmarking Tool.