| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 63.24 |
| Liaison | Victoria Ho |
| Submission Date | Feb. 8, 2024 |
OCAD University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.40 / 4.00 |
Victoria
Ho Advisor, Strategic Sustainability Office of Diversity, Equity & Sustainability Initiatives |
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indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Campus Engagement
Yes
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Campus Engagement:
Prof Julia Rose Sutherland teaches MAAD-2018 Textiles: Dyeing. This course investigates colour theory and dye techniques as applied to fiber and textiles. Traditional and experimental processes for natural and synthetic dyeing on woven and non-woven textiles are explored to acquire a thorough knowledge of the relationship between fibre and dyestuff. Students develop their own colour sense as well as the ability to manipulate technical aspects of colour with both cellulose and protein fibre.
Professor Sutherland guides students explore sustainable dyeing techniques through a land-based and decolonized framework that involves planting amaranth, indigo, marigold, and calendula at OCAD U in combination with "natural dyeing methods, such as those using Indigenous plants, insects. and minerals, and investigating low-impact mordants and techniques for reducing water usage and waste". Professor Sutherland brings students out to the OCAD U Pollinator Garden to teach on the Land and engage students with learning about and stewarding native plant species and pollinator habitat.
Professor Sutherland guides students explore sustainable dyeing techniques through a land-based and decolonized framework that involves planting amaranth, indigo, marigold, and calendula at OCAD U in combination with "natural dyeing methods, such as those using Indigenous plants, insects. and minerals, and investigating low-impact mordants and techniques for reducing water usage and waste". Professor Sutherland brings students out to the OCAD U Pollinator Garden to teach on the Land and engage students with learning about and stewarding native plant species and pollinator habitat.
Public Engagement
Yes
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Public Engagement:
Industrial Design Professor Ranee Lee, in partnership with Cadillac Fairview Toronto Eaton Center and OCAD University, opened a design lab in June 2022 to transform communities through design.
DESIGNwith is a life-centered design lab for social innovation and a circular economy. Composed of a values-based collective of creative experts, DESIGNwith transforms communities as a caring design practice. By inviting undervalued voices and applying under-utilized materials DESIGNwith seeks to democratize the learnings of design knowledge by sharing circular design processes with ways to disrupt the economy through research, workshops, exhibitions, and product lines. Creating an equitable design intersection by designing with academia, corporations, and the community for positive social and environmental good.
Formal learning components:
- From theory to fabrication the lab aims to empower communities by fostering creative confidence and ideas by learning through hands-on making. The creative collective facilitates a variety workshops to teach our community about circular ways of creating by addressing our current linear economy with alternative sustainable methods of making.
https://www.designwith.ca/designlab
DESIGNwith is a life-centered design lab for social innovation and a circular economy. Composed of a values-based collective of creative experts, DESIGNwith transforms communities as a caring design practice. By inviting undervalued voices and applying under-utilized materials DESIGNwith seeks to democratize the learnings of design knowledge by sharing circular design processes with ways to disrupt the economy through research, workshops, exhibitions, and product lines. Creating an equitable design intersection by designing with academia, corporations, and the community for positive social and environmental good.
Formal learning components:
- From theory to fabrication the lab aims to empower communities by fostering creative confidence and ideas by learning through hands-on making. The creative collective facilitates a variety workshops to teach our community about circular ways of creating by addressing our current linear economy with alternative sustainable methods of making.
https://www.designwith.ca/designlab
Air & Climate
No
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Air & Climate:
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Buildings
No
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Buildings:
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Energy
No
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Energy:
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Food & Dining
No
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Food & Dining:
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Grounds
Yes
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Grounds:
https://www.ocadu.ca/sites/default/files/assets/events/documents/Sustainable%20Futures-J.%20R.%20Sutherland-Sep19-2022.pdf
OCAD U's Pollinator Garden was installed in Summer 2022 where faculty, students, and staff have participated in a range of initiatives ranging from planting events, working with the site as an outdoor classroom for land-based learning, to hosting educational events related to environmental design, material art & design, and more.
The OCAD U Pollinator Garden and related educational activities and communications are also accessible to the public. Members of the public are invited to consider how native pollinator habitat contributes to sustainability in urban ecosystems.
Grounds learning components have included:
- Student staff learning about and applying organic and non-synthetic landscaping practices
- Seed-saving practices
- Students learning about how to develop public art to raise awareness of human-nature connections, art installations
OCAD U's Pollinator Garden was installed in Summer 2022 where faculty, students, and staff have participated in a range of initiatives ranging from planting events, working with the site as an outdoor classroom for land-based learning, to hosting educational events related to environmental design, material art & design, and more.
The OCAD U Pollinator Garden and related educational activities and communications are also accessible to the public. Members of the public are invited to consider how native pollinator habitat contributes to sustainability in urban ecosystems.
Grounds learning components have included:
- Student staff learning about and applying organic and non-synthetic landscaping practices
- Seed-saving practices
- Students learning about how to develop public art to raise awareness of human-nature connections, art installations
Purchasing
Yes
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Purchasing:
OCAD U has hosted multiple student experiential learning placements to learn about sustainable procurement, to research purchasing policies and best practices, and to create communications and influence user behaviour towards sustainable procurement.
Transportation
No
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Transportation:
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Waste
Yes
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Waste:
Students have participated in a research project for academic credit to investigate waste flows at OCAD U and delivered a consulting report to senior leadership.
OCAD U's waste signage is student-designed to provide an educational opportunity to consider how graphic communications can combine the complex realities of waste management systems with the need for simplified communications that support user behaviour towards reduced waste production and diversion.
Students also are hired in the annual Salvage Yard to enable peer-to-peer education about post-exhibition materials management and to encourage material reuse and redistribution to the ReUse Depots.
OCAD U's waste signage is student-designed to provide an educational opportunity to consider how graphic communications can combine the complex realities of waste management systems with the need for simplified communications that support user behaviour towards reduced waste production and diversion.
Students also are hired in the annual Salvage Yard to enable peer-to-peer education about post-exhibition materials management and to encourage material reuse and redistribution to the ReUse Depots.
Water
No
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Water:
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Coordination & Planning
Yes
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Coordination & Planning:
Students have dedicated roles on the OCAD U Sustainability Committee to learn about and participate in governance and decision-making towards institutional systems that support sustainability such as in curriculum, building operations, purchasing decisions and strategic planning.
https://www.ocadu.ca/services/odesi/sustainability/sustainability-committee
https://www.ocadu.ca/services/odesi/sustainability/sustainability-committee
Diversity & Affordability
No
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Diversity & Affordability:
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Investment & Finance
No
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Investment & Finance:
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Wellbeing & Work
No
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Wellbeing & Work:
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Optional Fields
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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