Green Gown Awards – 2016 – Research and Development: Institution

Research and Development: Institution - REVISED FOR 2016

This category recognises the importance of research and development by tertiary education as a driver of sustainable development. As claims of impact from research and development can be difficult to judge, entries are sought which:

• Are about tangible improvements resulting from research & development, rather than the findings or quality of the research & development itself.
• Can provide quantitative evidence of what those improvements and resulting sustainability benefits are.
• Can demonstrate a clear and unambiguous causal link between the research & development and improvements and benefits

Note that adoption or dissemination measures will not be considered sufficient evidence by themselves – there needs to be a further stage of demonstration that adoption or dissemination has actually produced results.

Possible activities include:

• Research and development leading to mitigation of environmental and wider sustainability based impacts related to existing technology.
• Research and development that has created new products with demonstrable superiority to existing ones with regard to sustainability.

Eligible entries can include both large-scale projects with major impacts as well as small-scale projects that provide tangible impacts in focused areas/technologies, or amongst specific target audiences.

In line with the broader sustainability agenda, judges will be keen to see evidence, if applicable, to the project on carbon reduction. However judges will consider how effective carbon reduction has been applied to the project in a broader sustainability context rather than awarding significant weighting to this element.  Therefore, projects not containing this element are still encouraged to apply. Where applicable provide quantitative clear data to support claims being made and include overall tonnes of CO2 saved using the DEFRA/DECC conversion factors -http://www.ukconversionfactorscarbonsmart.co.uk/. Include, where appropriate, metrics such as: carbon savings relative to output/activity.

Research and development with regard to social sustainability issues (e.g. community development; achieving social inclusion; and assisting very disadvantaged people) should be entered under the Community category.

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