Research institutions are the main source of the innovation and discovery that drives our global economy, produces advances in our standard of living and helps us understand the world around us. The integration of sustainability into the research we do and the way research is carried out can have a huge impact on the behaviours of researchers but also the outputs and outcomes of the research itself.
For research-intensive institutions the integration of sustainability from the two different perspectives outlined below can have a major contribution in demonstrating the commitment to sustainability but also lead to new thinking and more sustainable ways to achieve new thinking and new breakthroughs.
1. Sustainable Research: This relates to research that is set-up and/or delivered in a way that minimises environmental or sustainability impacts. For example, research projects that actively employ methodologies that minimise environmental impacts such as employing teleconference or video conferencing rather than extensive travel, or research that minimises carbon impacts through use of highly energy efficient equipment
2. Research into Sustainability: This describes research that contributes to or develops knowledge or understanding of some element of sustainability. For example, research that focuses upon low carbon technologies or provides solutions to environmental problems, or research that investigates some area of sustainability e.g. attitudes to sustainability, pedagogies for Education for Sustainable Development etc.
If you could offer research as a resource of the Sustainability Exchange, please get in touch. We work with academics to provide workshop sessions at the EAUC conference and we are now working with the International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education.
Climate Change FAQs: Causes, Impacts and Action
University of Surrey is sharing good practice in the latest Staff and Student Sustainability Survey
Climate change is not only a risk in itself to operational, teaching and research activities, but also a multiplier of many other risks. It is vital that considerations of...
Green Gown Awards 2019 - James Turner, University of the West of England - Finalist
Green Gown Awards 2019 - Scott Stephens, Exeter College Technology Centre - Finalist
Green Gown Awards 2019 - Adam John Proctor, Keele University - Finalist
Green Gown Awards 2019 - James Boyd, University of Leicester - Finalist
Report of the Expert Panel on Environmental Charging and Other Measures: Recommendations on Single-use Disposable Beverage Cups
Has sustainability education been ‘tamed’ to fit with the performativity culture in which reporting and measuring ultimately drive practice? There are a growing...
Many attempts have been made to influence behaviour in a positive way e.g. recycling correctly, using design-thinking, participatory design, and choice architecture. However,...
EAUC and the Higher Education Business Continuity Network (HEBCoN) have been working with a group of Members over the last year, with the support of AECOM, to develop a guide...
Exploring the benefits of applied learning and research for student learning outcomes and graduate attributes, this session shared learning from across the sector.
This paper discussed the outcome of the research workshop called ‘Crowd Research’ conducted with final year undergraduate students at Nottingham Trent University.
Why don’t more people see the urgency around climate change and take more action? Why are we sleepwalking our way into changes that will affect the future of humanity?
Sustainability: our sector’s current best chance of responding to the urgent demands of climate science – new report A cross-sector partnership advocating for...
The University of Edinburgh's Social Responsibility and Sustainability Department have published the institutions progress since 2012. The 2017-18 Report is now...
Research has shown that the environment profession is amongst the least diverse occupations in the UK. We've worked with IEMA and The Equality Trust to find out more
The National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR), is inviting calls for research proposals under its Sustainability Hub.
Living Lab
Smart Energy Network Demonstrator (SEND) - Keele University