Core: Research

Progress toward 2011 Sustainability Plan (as of 2017)

• Benchmark 1: Strengthen sustainable research activities.  In progress (Percentage is increasing for faculty and departments who conduct sustainability research)​

• Benchmark 35: Define and track sustainability research activities.  Target met. Definition and tracking in place.​

Research Graphics

The above graphic shows how Ohio University compares against other programs by STARS. As seen above, Ohio University is about the same as the national average.

The above graphic shows the breakdown of carbon emissions at Ohio University. Research can be tied to all categories of carbon emissions at Ohio University either directly or indirectly.

2021 Sustainability & Climate Action Plan Goal #1

Goal 1: Increase research focused on sustainability (as defined by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) in section A9 of their STARS Technical Manual) or carbon neutrality by the following.

• Increase the percentage of researchers focused on sustainability from 17% to 25%
• Increase the percentage of departments focused on sustainability from 35% to 75%

Potential Strategies​

• Encourage use of the Sustainability Project Laboratory throughout the University ​

• Increase interest and participation in sustainability-focused research opportunities by featuring such research in Hub Seminars, newsletters, reports and award applications ​

• Develop new sustainability research collaborations through Hub Coordinators ​

• Provide incentives and support for sustainability research (see Goal 2)​

• Investigate methods of collecting research data to improve accuracy of metrics.​

Benefits of Goal #1 

• Fulfillment of core missions
• Reduction in environmental impacts from research
• Decrease in operating costs

Costs of Goal #1

• Staff time

2021 Sustainability & Climate Action Plan Goal #2

Goal 2: Provide incentives and support to researchers who conduct sustainability engagement ecosystem research with triple bottom line benefits by increasing the percent of programs, grants, awards or tools supporting sustainability engagement ecosystem research from 6% to 10%

Potential Strategies​

• Create sustainability revolving loan mini-grants program​

• Develop library guides for sustainability researchers​

• Support development and use of Open Access resources for sustainability research​

  • Open Access resources promote social justice and equity in research.  They are particularly relevant in supporting sustainability researchers.

• Develop training programs for researchers on incorporating sustainability and the triple bottom line into their research​

• Enhance Sustainability Project Laboratory database to support sustainability research project formulation​

• Continue Student Expo Sustainability awards​

• Publicize Experiential Learning funding opportunities for undergraduate sustainability researchers and faculty/staff who serve them​

• Monitor and circulate sustainability-focused external grant opportunities; provide letters of support for grant applications for sustainability researchers​

Benefits of Goal #2

• Fulfillment of core missions
• Reduction in environmental impacts from research
• Decrease in operating costs

Costs of Goal #2

• Staff time