| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 72.67 |
| Liaison | Aurora Sharrard |
| Submission Date | Feb. 13, 2024 |
University of Pittsburgh
AC-10: Support for Sustainability Research
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Gena
Kovalcik Codirector Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation |
Does the institution have an ongoing program to encourage students in multiple disciplines or academic programs to conduct sustainability research?:
A brief description of the student sustainability research program:
4 ongoing student sustainability research programs are summarized below:
1) MCSI SUMMER UNDERGRADUATE SUSTAINABILITY RESEARCH PROGRAM
For over 20 years, Pitt's Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation (MCSI) has provided summer research opportunities for Pitt undergraduate students. MCSI offers a 12-week paid undergraduate summer research program that provides talented undergraduate students with creative opportunities that go beyond the classroom curriculum and enable them to develop their own ideas and work independently on hands-on research projects in sustainability with advice and guidance from a faculty mentor. Students from throughout the University are encouraged to apply and participate.
>> https://www.sustainabilityinstitute.pitt.edu/research/undergraduate-research-summer-program
2) PITT WATER COLLABORATORY – SUMMER UNDERGRADAUTE RESEARCH
Since 2018, the Pittsburgh Collaboratory for Water Research, Education, and Outreach at the University of Pittsburgh has had paid summer undergraduates research internships. Pitt Water Collaboratory interns work with a partner organization that interacts with water systems (e.g., nonprofits, municipality, agency, community, or other water practitioners), as well as an advisor to conduct independent research related to water.
>> https://www.water.pitt.edu/summer-intern-research
3) PITT FREDERICK HONORS COLLEGE SUMMER FELLOWSHIPS
Since 2021, Pitt’s Frederick Honors College (FHC) has supported Community Research Fellowships for undergraduates whose research aim is to build toward positive social change. Students have the opportunity to work with one of the FHC Scholar Communities and can work with one of the sustainability-focused scholar communities – ScholarCHEF (Food Systems) and Water Sustainability.
>> https://www.frederickhonors.pitt.edu/funding-aid/community-research-fellowships
4) PITT PUBLIC HEALTH UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARS PROGRAM
The Pitt Public Health Undergraduate Scholars Program is an 8-week residential program designed to encourage historically underserved college students to consider careers in public health. The program focuses on maternal and child health, environmental justice, and climate and health. The PHUSP offers internship placements, classroom instruction, group activities and mentorship to provide students with opportunities for growth, education and awareness of the role public health professionals play in supporting safe and healthy communities. The program's goal is to advance health equity by increasing public health workforce diversity.
>> https://www.sph.pitt.edu/academics/other-undergraduate-opportunities/pitt-public-health-undergraduate-scholars-program
Does the institution have a program to encourage academic staff from multiple disciplines or academic programs to conduct sustainability research?:
A brief description of the faculty sustainability research program:
Established in 2003, the University of Pittsburgh’s Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation (MCSI) is Pitt’s University-wide sustainability center. MCSI offers 2 distinct annual programs that engage and support faculty interested in sustainability research: research seed grants and faculty programs
MCSI SUSTAINABILITY RESEARCH SEED GRANTS
MCSI’s annual research seed grant program engages Pitt researchers who are passionate about sustainability. Research seed grants are scoped and overseen by faculty across the broad area of sustainability. The goal of MCSI’s faculty research seed grants is to support proof-of-concept development of solutions that will enhance the national and local visibility of University’s sustainability programs, while providing platforms for follow-on funding, community engagement and technology transfer.
MCSI’s leadership team also helps coordinate and support the development of large federal team grants relating to sustainability. Over the past 15 years, MCSI has provided over $4.5M to over 115 individual faculty PIs in support of sustainability research; resulting follow-on funding from federal agencies totals over $34.5M.
In 2021-22, MCSI’s Research SEED Grant RFP sought research projects that help advance the University’s sustainability goals (as outlined in the Pitt Sustainability Plan) and facilitated convergent research in A) Circular Economy; B) Sustainable Urban Systems; and/or C) Sustainable Manufacturing
More about MCSI Research SEED Grants - https://www.sustainabilityinstitute.pitt.edu/research/research-seed-grants
MCSI SUSTAINABILITY FACULTY PROGRAMS
MCSI’s John C. Mascaro and Len Peters Faculty Programs (created in 2016 and 2019, respectively) enhance the University’s mission of interdisciplinary excellence in research and education. Awardees are expected to contribute to the intra- and interdisciplinary sustainability research and education. Through this effort, MCSI has supported 30 faculty. These grants provide one year support for faculty who are interested in broadening their research area, creating a new course and/or engaging in new service opportunities within our community and within a global framework.
MCSI Faculty Fellowship RFP & past awardees - https://www.sustainabilityinstitute.pitt.edu/faculty/faculty-fellowships-sustainability
Has the institution published written policies and procedures that give positive recognition to interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary, and multidisciplinary research during faculty promotion and/or tenure decisions?:
A copy of the promotion or tenure guidelines or policies:
The promotion or tenure guidelines or policies:
The first paragraph of the University of Pittsburgh’s Swanson School of Engineering tenure and promotion policy notes the importance of interdisciplinary and collaborative research.
"...This is especially true with the growth of interdisciplinary, collaborative research; the introduction of innovative methods of classroom instruction; and the increase in non-classroom teaching opportunities (e.g., post-graduate fellows, undergraduate research assistants)."
Does the institution have ongoing library support for sustainability research and learning?:
A brief description of the institution’s library support for sustainability research:
The University of Pittsburgh’s University Library System (ULS) supports Sustainability research through the following efforts:
1) Procurement of subscriptions to public and peer-reviewed Sustainability journals,
2) Funds to cover open-access publication fees,
3) Constant upgrading of Sustainability materials,
4) Hosting seminars for First-Year Engineering students to search for Sustainability-focused and -related topics.
In 2022, Pitt’s Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation worked collaboratively with the Head of Research, Learning & Media for the University Library System (Carrie Donovan) to update and enhance Lib Guides set of sustainability materials for faculty, staff, and students.
>> https://pitt.libguides.com/sustainability
Website URL where information about the institution’s support for sustainability research is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.