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.
SDG Accord Report 2022 - Case Studies
Sam Barnett from Forth Environmental Resilience Array introduced their project, hosted by the University of Stirling at the EAUC-Scotland Forum Meeting in December 2021. The...
Daniel Algie
Leah Bromley
Francesca Topp
Lea Barbett
Ellie Summer Reynolds
Clean Growth UK (three regional hubs, the University of Brighton, Liverpool John Moores University and the University of Portsmouth)
A new relationship with nature - for human and nature’s wellbeing
Renewable Engine
Out of the fire and into the electric pressure cooker - sparking a clean cooking revolution on a global scale
Sustainable Fashion Glossary
Thinking globally, working locally: Co-developing net zero solutions at scale
An agricultural bio-economy: From green dream to sustainable reality
SDG Toolkit
Six years of SDGs – some background information to facilitate a review
Launch of the second annual SDG report; ‘Progress towards the Global Goals in the University and College sector'.
We recognise that as an SDG Accord signatory, institutions have great stories to tell on how SDGs are being integrated within their community. As part of the institutional SDG...
This report produced by Jack Ruane, MSc Student at University College London and endorsed by EAUC aims to present exemplary cases of HEIs in the global South working towards...
Sustainability Leadership Scorecard (SLS) Annual Report 2020
An ambitious multidisciplinary report from the Cambridge Zero Policy Forum on how we can ensure a green recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic
STAFF: Dr Amanda Slevin, Queen’s University Belfast
STAFF: Dr Katherine Haxton, Keele University
STAFF: Grounds & Gardens Team, University of Leicester
STAFF: Dr Maggy Fostier and Dr Ruth Grady, The University of Manchester
STUDENT: Emma Kidd, Glasgow Caledonian University
STUDENT: Margaret Jennings, Goldsmiths, University of London
STUDENT: Charlotte Evans and Millicent Sutton, University of St Andrews
STUDENT: Meggie Eloy and Carla Field, University of Leicester
Cibele Machado Fontoura, Kingston School of Art
Nalinee Netithammakorn, De Montfort University
Tackling chronic lung disease in Africa
Jali Ardhi: Care of the land
Digitalising sustainable consumption
Desert Garden
HyDeploy: A research and innovation partnership for decarbonising the nation’s gas network
Domesticating the energy grass Miscanthus to combat climate change
This article builds on the systemic framework for connecting ESD learning outcomes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) we developed in our previous article and...
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
Campus as a Living Lab
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 a...
In May 2019 EAUC-Scotland published a Research Report looking at how to Align Operational Reporting Boundaries in the Further & Higher Education Sector Greenhouse Gas...
The fourth annual ‘Sustainability in Education’ Report from the National Union of Students (NUS), EAUC, University and College Union (UCU), Association of Colleges...
How to report on the SDGs
The University of Edinburgh's Social Responsibility and Sustainability Department have published the institutions progress since 2012. The 2017-18 Report is now...
Transformation is feasible - How to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals within Planetary Boundaries
Living Labs - Next Chapter for Sustainability in Tertiary Education
Living Labs for Sustainability at Keele:Progress and Challenges
Top 3 Challenges - summary
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
Research and Innovation case study: Collaboration leads to £4.2million supermarket deal for Devon dairy
The EAUC-Scotland 2018 Conference, A Decade of Progress, celebrated successes from the decade past, and visioned the decade ahead.
University of Salford – Salford Energy House and Smart Meters Lab
A collaboration between Glasgow School of Art, University of Glasgow and Glasgow City Council; helping communicate sustainability data better and engage staff and students.
The University of Cambridge’s Sustainable Food Policy aims to reduce the central catering department’s impact on the environment through, among other initiatives,...
University of the West of England
University of Leicester
Exeter College Technology Centre
Our future with clean air: ClairCity citizen-led air pollution reduction in cities
LOOSing Water
Leeds Living Lab: Where knowledge grows
Seawater greenhouse technology enables drought-proof agriculture
Under Section 54 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, Scottish Ministers must make annual reports to the Scottish Parliament assessing progress on Scotland’s...
What is Climate Change?
SDGs - analysis of the goals and targets
This is a follow-up to our 2015 report Sustainability Science in a Global Landscape based on selected indicators.
UNESCO have released this publication reviewing some of the most topical trends and issues for ESD. They describe it as: “The present volume addresses Education for...
Researcher Development Framework - a professional development framework for planning, promoting and supporting the personal, professional and career development of researchers...
Living Labs examples
Université Lille 1 : SunRIse Smart City A project that aims at transforming the University into a place of research and experimentation of urban digital infrastructure...
This 30-minute masterclass from Edie will break down how organisations can effectively align their sustainability strategies with the UN’s Sustainable Development...
IAU - role of Higher Education in Fostering Sustainable Development in 2016
Science is fundamental to many of the Goals and the 169 accompanying targets. This issue of the environmental SCIENTIST explores its role, in partnership with policy, business...
On the 28th November 2017 EAUC-Scotland hosted a webinar exploring the disposable cup challenge. This was held with contributions from Michael Lenaghan, Environmental Analyst at...
The Office for Campus Sustainability at Western Michigan University have shared several resources. Please find available to download at the bottom of this page:...
The International Council for Science (ICSU), has released the report 'A Guide to SDG Interactions: from Science to Implementation'. Released in 2017, the report is...
International Water Security Network
The Energy House
The Green Guide to Specification – An environmental profiling system for construction materials
Gemma Small
Laura Salisbury
Jessica Klaver
Emily Haggett
Thomas Fudge