Cornell University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

The blueprint for this goal is our award-winning Climate Action Plan (CAP). The CAP’s strategies bring together students, faculty, and staff on matters of research, education, stewardship and outreach. The following initiatives are present on Cornell's campus: -Climate Focus Team of the President's Sustainable Campus Committee aims to eliminate net carbon emissions from campus by 2050 by tracking emissions and facilitating the implementation of initiatives to reduce Cornell's carbon footprint. -KyotoNow's student-run campaigns work to promote a sustainable, just future and advance policy on climate change on the university, local and national levels

Faculty in the College of Human Ecology have been surveying occupants in various green buildings to understand occupant experiences of green features. These post-occupancy surveys have helped inform infrastructure improvements over time.

Dining sustainability student staff in partnership with faculty and staff have been researching the food waste habits of students and designing interventions to reduce food waste. Applied Economics faculty and students as part of the Cornell Food and Brand Lab have been studying the food choices of students in the cafeterias to enhance our understanding of the psychology of food choices in cafeterias. More information is available here http://foodpsychology.cornell.edu/content/smarter-lunchrooms

Faculty and students from the colleges of Engineering, Agriculture, and the Cornell University Sustainable Design organization have been working in partnership with Cornell Utilities staff to research and design energy efficient building options and renewable energy production systems including a recent assessment of roof top solar potential for campus buildings.

Faculty and students in the Horticulture Department helped pilot the national SITES sustainable landscape certification program through the development of landscapes on the Agriculture Quad. More information on SITES at Cornell is available here http://www.sustainablecampus.cornell.edu/blogs/news/posts/mann-library-garden-certified-by-green-landscape-system

Efforts of both the Center for Hospitality Research and the Cornell Statler Hotel have led to research on the purchasing and operational aspects of sustainable hospitality. Students, faculty, and staff have worked together to apply best practices in sustainable procurement and management on campus. Additional information is available at https://www.hotelschool.cornell.edu/research/chr/ and http://www.statlerhotel.cornell.edu/statler_experience/sustainability.cfm

From piloting carshare and bikeshare initiatives that were developed by students, to landscape architecture students designing car-free campus concepts, Cornell has a long history of student learning and faculty research embedded in sustainable transportation operations. More information is available here http://www.sustainablecampus.cornell.edu/transportation

The Cornell Waste Management Institute partnered with Farm Services in the development of Cornell's composting facility, and ongoing research and teaching collaborations on agricultural waste management and composting continue. More information is available at http://www.sustainablecampus.cornell.edu/waste

Studying the local watershed where Cornell is located has been a long time pursuit of faculty, students, and staff. The campus is host to wetland management demonstration projects and faculty and staff are currently partnering to model complex nutrient systems of nearby Cayuga Lake. More information is available here http://www.sustainablecampus.cornell.edu/water

Various students in the MBA and School for Industrial and Labor Relations have done academic projects in partnership with the Campus Sustainability Office and Planning Offices at Cornell relating to the use of metrics in performance management, carbon reduction planning, and campus master planning.

Prof. Kelly Musick in her Research Methods class (SOC 2130/PAM 2150) in Sociology regularly has students engage with institutional data on first generation or low income students and the Cornell experience. Each term she works with real world community or campus partners. Prof. Troy Richardson in his Intergroup Dialogue class (EDUC 2610) has small groups of students design and carry out interventions (intergroup collaboration projects) with campus or community partners based around the theme of their dialogue sections—race, sexuality, gender, religion, ability, or socio-economic class. This course is also taught by Prof. John Forester in the same way. Prof Anthony Burrow in his course on Racial and Ethnic Identity Development (HD 3510) and his collaborative research with Dr. Janis Whitlock studies and encourages his students both in the classroom and in the lab to examine personal development and sense of purpose in relation to engagement with diversity and making meaning from diverse encounters.

Research on the benefits of flex place and time have been conducted on campus in partnership with the Office of Workplace Diversity and Inclusion and the School of Industrial and Labor Relations. This research has been used to improve Cornell's flex program.

The Center for Engaged Learning and Research, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and Public Service Center are continuously involved with faculty and students examining the role of higher education in community development around Cornell. There are countless efforts in this domain.