Iowa State University
IN-47: Innovation A

In the late fall of 2019, staff of the ISU Bioeconomy Institute (BEI) noticed an opportunity across campus to increase understanding, research and collaboration within the campus community for the potential to use agriculture to help mitigate climate change. This is a relevant area of focus for a land grant university and specifically important for Iowa. Team members began connections and dialogue with university administration, as well as interdisciplinary leaders from across campus, to both inform others about the research work of the Institute and strategize collaborative opportunities. Encouraged by the synergistic connections that already existed, a collective initiative began to create an open dialogue with students, faculty and concerned citizens to harness knowledge toward developing an action-based, campus-wide plan to include agriculturally-based carbon removal in the research, education and extension missions of the university.

With considerations of COVID-19 safety precautions, an in-person forum scheduled for the 2020 spring semester was rescheduled and hosted virtually in 2021. Despite the delay, the forum had over 350 participants and sparked collective enthusiasm from students, faculty and staff for campus carbon collaboration. In pursuing next steps, BEI partnered (and continues to partner) with the Colleges of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Engineering and Liberal Arts and Sciences, as well as local, state and national agencies, organizations and companies to offer the following deliverables:
• Statewide Carbon Assessment, an overarching and in-depth research and reporting collective of Iowa’s carbon sources, challenges and opportunities.
• Conversations about Carbon, a biweekly virtual lunch hour discussion with an expert addressing key questions about carbon reduction, removal and repair (Spring 2021).
• BeingCHANGE/SeeingCHANGE Lecture and Leadership Workshop, a connection and strategizing opportunity assessing campus-wide actions and potential toward carbon reduction and removal (Fall 2021).
• C-CHANGE and CyBound Scholars Internship Programs, an education, engagement and empowerment opportunity for students across the U.S. and around the world to focus on carbon reduction and mitigation (Summer 2021-2025).
There is substantial research, extensive collaboration and widespread knowledge to be shared toward ensuring a sustainable and carbon mitigated future.