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.
Zainab Bibi
The session gave an in-depth overview into the impact that food choices have on our health, environment and communities and how institutions have the power to positively...
PRME have created three resources, available to download The PRME Transformational Model Toolkit for writing 'Sharing Information on Progress' (SIP) reports PRME...
The Public Bodies Climate Change Duties came into play in 2016 with annual reports due each November. The universities and colleges of Scotland are supported by SSN and the...
A National Statistics Publication for Scottish Government. This publication aims to provide an easily accessible reference document that offers information on a wide range of...
This paper looks at the role of sustainable development within degree programmes dominated by the need to satisfy professional accreditation requirements, examining how far...
Carplus have published a case study of the Electric Car Club scheme installed into the University of St Andrews' campus. They have listed 19 tonnes of CO2 being saved...
This article is about using research from a practitioner perspective. It tells the stories of four teachers and a researcher, who were part of a collaborative project focused on...
Connecting with nature should be part of every child’s life as it has the potential to aid nature’s revival while benefiting the child. To embed nature connection...
With the kind support of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the University of Essex we’ve established a clear definition of connection to nature and a method for...
A report from two Professors from The University of Manchester and Manchester Business School on their views of this new, innovative approach to engaging students in...
'Valuing Our Clothes: the cost of UK fashion' presents the latest research on the environmental impacts of the clothing industry in the UK, and an update on the...
EAUC has launched its Living Labs Research. A university or college Living Lab is where real-world institutional problems are addressed in new dynamic partnerships between all...
Eco-Schools student presentations, WWF Malaysia
An article by Carin Moffatt and Cathy Dzerefos, WESSA
Article by Nicole Andreou in International School Magazine, explaining how schools, through the Eco-Schools Seven Steps, can make a difference. p.39-40
International infographic with the latest stats and figures from Eco-Schools globally.
EAUC commissioned the research paper ‘Next Generation Sustainability Strategy and Structure’ to help members understand the current sustainability landscape in...
EAUC commissioned the research paper ‘Next Generation Sustainability Strategy and Structure’ to help members understand the current sustainability landscape in...
EAUC commissioned the research paper ‘Next Generation Sustainability Strategy and Structure’ to help members understand the current sustainability landscape in...