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
New Resources
Nudging commuters, big data and bold partnerships: A research-based approach to impacting commuter mode choice at MIT
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA)
Researchers at MIT's Transit Lab, alongside MIT's operational decision-makers, have been examining commuter patterns at MIT for years. They helped launch a pilot collaboration between MIT and the ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Developing a Doctoral Program in Sustainability
- University of South Dakota (SD)
The University of South Dakota (USD) has proposed a new graduate program in sustainability that would build upon USD's existing academic and research leadership in sustainability in the state ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Oscar is grouchy for a reason! Campus recycling behavior research and action
- Colorado Mountain College (CO)
Presents findings from phase one of a multi-phase study on recycling behavior at Colorado Mountain College. Findings are based on surveys of trash and recycling bin contents completed in spring ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Using Contemplative Practices to Cultivate Resilient Students and Social-Ecological Systems
- Michigan State University (MI)
- University of North Carolina, Asheville (NC)
This joint session will offer two presentations on the uses of contemplative practices and mindfulness-based pedagogy for teaching about environmental sustainability. Topic 1 (Goralnik): If sustainability is the effort to ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Featuring the Chemistry Department in Campus Sustainability Initiatives: Best Practices in the Lab and Curriculum
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
- My Green Lab (CA)
- Beyond Benign (MA)
Chemistry laboratories have a long-standing reputation of being energy, water, and waste intensive. The emergence of high standards of environmental and social responsibility have lead to a particular need for ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Sustainability Competencies: What are They, how to Address Them in Sustainability Courses, and how to Assess Students' Learning
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- Portland State University (OR)
- Leuphana University of Lüneburg
This workshop introduces the following set of sustainability competencies: systems, future, values, and strategic thinking as well as interpersonal competence. The workshop explores how to use these competencies to design ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Using Sustainability-Themed Undergraduate Research Programs to Enhance Student Engagement in Research
- University at Buffalo (NY)
- University of South Dakota (SD)
- University of Nebraska - Lincoln (NE)
Sustainability research provides a framework for engaging undergraduate students from diverse disciplinary backgrounds. This session will discuss recruitment successes and opportunities for several sustainability-focused National Science Foundation Research Experiences for ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Sustainability: Designing Interdisciplinary Opportunities for Teaching
- Dallas College (TX)
The workbook is not just about sustainability, in and of itself. It is part of a larger sustainability process that: 1) illustrates how sustainability correlates with current courses; 2) provides ...
- Posted Nov. 30, 2017
- Publications
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The impact of development education and education for sustainable development interventions: a synthesis of the research
- University of Limerick
The Sustainable Development Goals set out by the United Nations advocate that all learners will have the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development. Development education, education for sustainable ...
- Posted Nov. 7, 2017
- Publications
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Engaging Stakeholders in Education for Sustainable Development at University Level
This book discusses the role of ESD stakeholders at university level, involving civil society and the private sector and public sectors (including local, national and intergovernmental bodies). In particular, it ...
- Posted Nov. 1, 2017
- Publications
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Handbook of Sustainability Science and Research
This multidisciplinary handbook explores concrete case studies which illustrate how sustainability science and research can contribute to the realization of the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It ...
- Posted Oct. 23, 2017
- Publications
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Handbook of Lifelong Learning for Sustainable Development
- University of Malta (Northern Harbor District)
This book focuses on lifelong learning for sustainable development, an aspect that has been rarely explored in great detail. It also discusses methodological approaches and experiences deriving from case studies ...
- Posted Oct. 23, 2017
- Publications
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Handbook of Sustainability and Social Science Research
In this handbook social science researchers who focus on sustainability present and discuss their findings, including empirical work, case studies, teaching and learning innovations, and applied projects. As such, the ...
- Posted Oct. 23, 2017
- Publications
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Sustainability in Science Museums sustainABLE (R) Activity Kits
- Arizona State University (AZ)
The Sustainability in Science Museums program has developed the sustainABLE® Activity Kits to engage families in sustainability practices and principles. More than 70 kits have been distributed worldwide, engaging more ...
- Posted Oct. 14, 2017
- Photographs
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Sustainability in Science Museums
- Arizona State University (AZ)
The Sustainability in Science Museums program, one of the Rob and Melani Walton Sustainability Solutions Initiatives at Arizona State University, invites professionals from science museums and centers from around the ...
- Posted Oct. 14, 2017
- Photographs
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JMU’s Cultivating the Globally Sustainable Self Summit Series Promotes Transformative Teaching and Learning in Research and Practice
- James Madison University (VA)
The Cultivating the Globally Sustainable Self Summit Series has brought together leading scholars, educators, and practitioners from around the world to address the crucial problems facing modern society.
- Posted Oct. 14, 2017
- Photographs
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2020 Sustainability Scholar in the Field
- Indiana University Bloomington (IN)
Lia Bobay works with mentor Adam Fudickar to band and measure birds to track bird migration affected by climate change.
- Posted Oct. 14, 2017
- Photographs
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CV Theis Groundwater Observatory
- University of Cincinnati (OH)
The University of Cincinnati has completed the construction of the Great Miami Groundwater Observatory to continuously monitor water quality for over two million Ohio residents who rely on the Great ...
- Posted Oct. 14, 2017
- Photographs
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The Atlantic Salmon Restoration Program at Fleming College, Lindsay, Ontario
- Fleming College (ON)
The Fleming College Salmonid Hatchery aims to ensure the future sustainability of Atlantic salmon in Lake Ontario by maximizing genetic diversity in stocked fish. The Atlantic Salmon Restoration Program has ...
- Posted Oct. 14, 2017
- Photographs
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STEM Kit for National Park Service
- Colorado State University (CO)
The Education and Outreach Center in the College of Natural Sciences at Colorado State University has been contracted by the National Park Service to develop hands-on STEM kits for 4th-12th ...
- Posted Oct. 12, 2017
- Photographs
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Sustainability Scholar 2015 - University of Alberta
- University of Alberta (AB)
Research Report - Executive Summary
The Sustainability Scholars program provides University of Alberta graduate students opportunities to work on applied research projects with the City of Edmonton, campus units and other ...
- Posted Oct. 10, 2017
- Photographs
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Education for Sustainable Development (ESD): The turn away from ‘environment’ in environmental education?
- Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences
This article explores the implications of the shift of environmental education (EE) towards education for sustainable development (ESD) in the context of environmental ethics. While plural perspectives on ESD are ...
- Posted Oct. 9, 2017
- Publications
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University Reputations and the Public: A Roadmap for Higher Education Leaders
Edelman, a public relations firm, surveyed academics and the general public to understand how the U.S. public evaluates the reputations of higher education institutions, and how these reputational drivers ...
- Posted Sept. 18, 2017
- Publications
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Getting Started with the SDGs in Universities: A guide for universities, higher education institutions, and the academic sector
The guide from the Sustainable Development Solutions Network Australia/Pacific aims to accelerate action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It highlights the role universities specifically in Australia, New Zealand ...
- Posted Sept. 18, 2017
- Publications
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Higher Education Paving the Way to Sustainable Development: A Global Perspective
The International Association of Universities (IAU), a membership organization, which brings together about 650 higher education institutions and organizations from some 130 countries, launched its first Global Survey on the ...
- Posted Sept. 18, 2017
- Publications
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AASHE Award Winner Webinar – Generating and Maintaining Hope and Agency through Sustainability Education
- Colorado Mountain College (CO)
- AASHE (PA)
Indigenous educator Gregory Cajete articulates the motivations and questions that drive the presenter’s research. For Cajete, effective education entails ‘finding heart,’ an active process within and beyond the person ...
- Posted Sept. 14, 2017
- Videos & Webinars
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Solar Energy Technology Licensed
- University of California, Davis (CA)
A new licensing deal between the University of California, Davis and Q1 NanoSystems has established terms for exclusive licensing of a package of jointly-owned intellectual property stemming from inventions both ...
- Posted Sept. 11, 2017
- Publications
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A review of transdisciplinary research in sustainability science
- Leuphana University of Lüneburg
Achieving the goal of sustainability requires understanding and management of unprecedented and interconnected challenges. A transdisciplinary approach is a key component of sustainability science. However, there are considerable barriers to ...
- Posted Aug. 31, 2017
- Publications
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Comparing different measures of affective attributes relating to sustainability
- University of Otago (Otago)
- Otago Polytechnic (Otago)
A survey was developed to benchmark the affective sustainability characteristics of an incoming cohort of students in a Polytechnic in New Zealand, with the intention to monitor changes in these ...
- Posted Aug. 28, 2017
- Publications
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Natural Herbicides Project
- Georgia Institute of Technology (GA)
- Engineers for a Sustainable World (CO)
First experiment (for Google Science Fair 2012). Weedy check (control plot in which no natural herbicides were applied) shown to left; treated areas shown to right.
- Posted Aug. 14, 2017
- Photographs
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Asian deals for UNSW solar technology
- UNSW Sydney (NSW)
This press release describes three new technology licensing agreements between and the University of New South Wales and solar cell manufacturers in Asia. The first, a $1.7million licensing agreement ...
- Posted Aug. 14, 2017
- Publications
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UNL technology powers Nebraska solar panel startup
- University of Nebraska - Lincoln (NE)
This press release describes an exclusive licensing agreement between University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Rare Earth Solar, a Nebraska solar panel manufacturer. The technology licensed by the University replaces the typical ...
- Posted Aug. 14, 2017
- Publications
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Clean Energy Patent Growth Index - 2015 Year in Review
The Clean Energy Patent Growth Index (CEPGI) tracks the growth of patents in the clean energy sector from 2002 to the present. Among other things, it includes a ranking of ...
- Posted Aug. 3, 2017
- Publications
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Key trends in IEA public energy technology research, development and demonstration (RD&D) budgets
This analysis of public funding for energy research, development and demonstration (RD&D) in member countries of the International Energy Agency shows that the share of energy RD&D budgets spent on ...
- Posted Aug. 2, 2017
- Publications
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Setting a Sustainability Standard
- Dickinson College (PA)
Dickinson takes leadership role in helping faculty across a wide-range of disciplines prepare students to tackle tomorrow's sustainability challenges.
- Posted June 22, 2017
- Photographs
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Strengthening Knowledge Co-Production Capacity: Examining Interest in Community-University Partnerships
Building successful, enduring research partnerships is essential for improving links between knowledge and action to address sustainability challenges. Communication research can play a critical role in fostering more effective research ...
- Posted June 20, 2017
- Publications
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Research on energy savings opportunities in university libraries
Purpose – Mechanical systems in library environments are typically designed to run continuously in order to maintain the desired environmental conditions for preservation purposes, often resulting in a high cost in ...
- Posted June 20, 2017
- Publications
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Essential Ecoliteracy, or “earth smarts”: Defining and validating a pragmatic educational construct based on quality of life.
This study began with an attempt to find a definition of ecological literacy that was flexible enough to be useful in variety of contexts, but also included components that were ...
- Posted June 19, 2017
- Publications
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Rethinking Thinking about Sustainability Curriculum
- AASHE (PA)
“You cannot solve a problem with the same level of thinking that created it.” Albert Einstein
If a snap of the fingers could reverse the environmental destruction of the past ...
- Posted June 9, 2017
- Videos & Webinars
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Climate Change Research at Universities: Addressing the Mitigation and Adaptation Challenges
This book provides a multidisciplinary review of current, climate-change research projects at universities around the globe, offering perspectives from all of the natural and social sciences.
Numerous universities worldwide pursue ...
- Posted June 8, 2017
- Publications
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A persuasive feedback support system for energy conservation and carbon emission reduction in campus residential buildings
There is a need for energy conservation mechanisms, especially in university campuses, as students do not have any direct feedback on their energy consumptions, which leads to excess usages. There ...
- Posted June 7, 2017
- Publications
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Personal authenticity and political subjectivity in student deliberation in environmental and sustainability education
This study problematizes what is meant when one talks about classroom activities concerning environmental and sustainability issues as being authentic or not. It reports excerpts from three classroom discussions which ...
- Posted June 7, 2017
- Publications
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Examining Interdisciplinary Sustainability Institutes at Major Research Universities: Innovations in Cross-Campus and Cross-Disciplinary Models
- Pennsylvania State University (PA)
- University of Arizona (AZ)
- Cornell University (NY)
- University of California, Los Angeles (CA)
- University of Michigan (MI)
- Duke University (NC)
- Columbia University (NY)
- Northwestern University (IL)
- Stanford University (CA)
- Princeton University (NJ)
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
- Brown University (RI)
- Boston University (MA)
- Texas A&M University (TX)
- Vanderbilt University (TN)
- Johns Hopkins University (MD)
- University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (IL)
This is a study of the disctintive characteristics, activities, challenges and opportunities of a specific type of sustainability institute, one that spans the many disciplines of the university and, to ...
- Posted June 5, 2017
- Publications
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University of California, Climate Lab, Video Series Episode Five: The fight to rethink (and reinvent) nuclear power
- University of California, Office of the President (CA)
This is the fifth episode of Climate Lab, a six-part series produced by the University of California in partnership with Vox. Hosted by Emmy-nominated conservation scientist Dr. M. Sanjayan, the ...
- Posted May 22, 2017
- Videos & Webinars
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Modern Sustainability
- Kauai Community College (HI)
RECENT PROJECTS:
- Beach Cleanup Caddy (complete - STEM grant award pending - awaiting field testing) - Assembled a cart system specifically designed for beach cleanups, outfitted with a detachable metal waste bin, wheel ...
- Posted May 22, 2017
- Case Studies
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Designing a Photovoltaic Array for Smith College
- Smith College (MA)
The development of distributed solar energy is an opportunity for individuals and institutions to support the growth of the clean energy economy, lower their carbon footprint, promote energy security, and ...
- Posted May 22, 2017
- Publications
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Integration of interdisciplinary environmental and sustainability education and research and urban sustainability
- Global Council Science and the Environment (DC)
This article explores the results of the National Council for Science and the Environment’s 2012 census of interdisciplinary environmental and sustainability (IES) baccalaureate and graduate degree programs and the ...
- Posted May 19, 2017
- Publications
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Wind Power Feasibility Study for Ball State University
- Ball State University (IN)
Based on two years of site-specific wind speed measurements and actual power curve performance estimates of five commercial wind turbines, a feasibility study of wind-power potential near Ball State University ...
- Posted May 16, 2017
- Publications
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Oregon Climate Change Research Institute
- Oregon State University (OR)
The Oregon Climate Change Research Institute is an institute underneath Oregon State’s Advancing the Science of Earth’s Ecosystems center. The institution was created by the Oregon Legislature and ...
- Posted May 15, 2017
- Research Centers & Institutes
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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. Additional content and advanced benchmarking tools will be added to this tab over time.
Programs and Initiatives
The following links connect to specific Content Displays on the STARS website (AASHE membership and log-in required).
- Sustainability research inventories
- Methodologies used to complete a research inventory
- Open access policies
Scores
The following link connects to the Score Display on the STARS website (AASHE membership and log-in required).