Appalachian State University
AC-10: Support for Research

Appalachian State University supports the concept of a healthy, just, and sustainable society. We believe that we can enhance human well-being through the use of economic, natural and human resources. The Research Institute for the Environment, Energy, and Economics (RIEEE) and Office of Student Research are making grants available for $500 for a single student project or $1,000 for a student group initiative focused on creating a healthy, just and sustainable society.

Project supported by this initiative should contribute to our understanding of sustainability and human well-being. The following provide examples of possible projects, problems or questions:

1) Initiatives to assess / monitor, protect, restore, or conserve our natural environmental.

2) Projects that examine energy conservation practices, our willingness to use alternative energy sources, or broaden our understanding of our use of energy.

3) How public, private and non-profit entities contribute to a healthy, robust, sustainable society.

4) The interaction of natural and human systems.

5) Art forms (music, painting, sculpture, photographs, film, or theater) that convey messages relating to energy conservation, environmental protection, or healthy, just and sustainable communities.

6) Factors that influence a healthy, just and sustainable society.

7) Exploring factors that impact of conservation practices on ASU, a city or county or state.

The Sustainability Research Forum will be held Oct. 22 at Appalachian State University to highlight the sustainability-focused scholarly activities and creative endeavors of Appalachian’s distinguished faculty.

The forum supports the university’s 2014-19 strategic plan, “The Appalachian Experience: Envisioning a Just and Sustainable Future,” and will demonstrate the university’s commitment to sustainability by showcasing three university scholars. The schedule is designed to encourage faculty to attend with their classes. The forum coincides with National Campus Sustainability Day.

The Sustainability Council’s Curriculum and Research Committee reviewed proposals from a variety of academic disciplines and selected the recipients as examples of faculty members conducting exemplary research that highlights a deep engagement in sustainability. Their research presentations were also selected for their likelihood to foster student engagement in similar research on Appalachian’s campus and beyond.

Selected presenters will receive a certificate signed by the Provost, induction into the Order of the Wild Turkey (the Sustainability Council’s highest honor), and a research award of $250.

The University also offers Global Opportunities Learning Community Funding Opportunities. The purpose of Learning Communities is to increase awareness of global learning opportunities that are already available on and off-campus, and to develop additional opportunities through collaboration across multiple units and disciplines on campus. Faculty may submit project proposals and request up to $8,000 in funding if the proposal is accepted.

Possible goals for Global Opportunities Clusters/Learning Communities include piloting technologies to link students in similar classes or student organizations in partner institutions; piloting software programs to increase global knowledge and intercultural competence; developing student research, service-learning, or internship opportunities; and the like. Clusters/Learning Communities may focus on particular world regions (e. g., Middle East or Latin America) or themes (e. g., sustainability, social justice, the arts). http://qep.appstate.edu/grants/global-opportunities-clusters

No distinction is made between research that is singular or inter-, trans-, or multi-disciplinary (IDR) in nature. Therefore, any research that faculty engage in for tenure and promotion has positive recognition because positive recognition is given for any research.

Here are two examples of support for interdisciplinary research. The first, supported by Appalachian's Campus Master Plan, states that the institution has established five interdisciplinary research sectors designed to enable scholars to better exchange ideas and explore emerging research areas and to work more effectively with industry, other research organizations and the community. These research sectors are powerful centers of creativity, in which teams of researchers from a wide range of disciplines collaborate across traditional boundaries to bring research knowledge to bear on issues of intellectual, scientific, social, economic, environmental and cultural importance." http://www.orsp.appstate.edu/funding/internal/urc

The second supporting document to IDR is through the University Research Council. The mission of this council is "to stimulate, encourage, and support research across all segments of the University community." http://facultyexperts.appstate.edu/faculty-staff-experts-graduate-school-listing

The library provides an online research guide for a variety of subject areas, including sustainable development and several sub-concentrations. These research guides offer streamlined search engines for scholarly articles, books, and magazines while also listing relevant local initiatives and events. Every concentration of sustainable development has a separate webpage with contact information listed for a librarian with relevant subject expertise to further assist you in research. Each concentration's webpage is linked with relevant bodies of knowledge and common topic areas.