Boston University
AC-9: Academic Research

Please see the attached inventory.

The sustainability research inventory was developed through a list provided by the Office of Sponsored Programs. For the purposes of reporting to STARS, only funded research from FY12, FY13 and FY14 is included. One sustainability@BU intern identified the sustainability related projects by title and research content.

Associate Professor Nathan Phillips of the BU Department of Earth and Environment joined the Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future as a Faculty Fellow in May, 2012. The Pardee Center holds symposia and conducts research intended to contribute to the long-term well being of people around the world. Professor Phillips is engaged in research about the physiological mechanisms and processes by which plants and ecosystems regulate water loss and carbon gain, and how such processes may be altered under global environmental change. Assistant Professor Lucy Hutyra of the BU Department of Earth and Environment was awarded an National Science Foundation Career grant titled “Assessing Urban Influences on Ecosystem Processes” for 2012-2017. Professor Hutyra was also awarded an NSF Coupled Natural-Human grand titled “CNH-Ex: Shifting land use and forest conservation: Understanding the coupling of social and ecological processes along an urban-to-rural gradient” for 2012-2017. Professor Hutyra’s research involves an integration of atmospheric, biometric, and climatological information in order to understand the characteristics and causes of atmosphere-biosphere carbon exchange. Associate Professor Pamela Templer of the BU Biology Department was awarded an NSF Career grant titled “Role of Plant Nutrient Uptake in Forest Nutrient Retention and Carbon Sequestration: an Integrated Research, Teaching and Outreach Program” for 2012-2017. Professor Templer runs a lab which explores the effects of winter climate change on biogeochemistry and carbon exchange, controls on nitrogen retention and loss in temperate and tropical ecosystems, and the effects of land-use change and forest regeneration on nutrient cycling. Associate Professor Bruce Anderson of the BU Department of Earth and Environment was awarded an NSF Collaborative Award titled “RCN-SEES: Engineering Research Collaboratory for Sustainable Infrastructure in a Changing Climate.” Professor Anderson’s research aims to provide expertise on the changing nature of climate extremes and the risk they pose to the physical transportation infrastructure around New England.