Auburn University
ER-15: Sustainability Research Identification

Sustainability research as defined by Auburn University focuses on a key principle of sustainability (such as social equity or environmental stewardship); addresses a sustainability challenge (such as climate change or poverty); or furthers our understanding of the interconnectedness of societal and environmental challenges. Sustainability research leads toward solutions that support economic prosperity, social well-being, and ecological health, now and for future generations.

To complete the research inventory, staff in Academic Sustainability Programs collected information during 2011 and 2012 on faculty research activities that appeared to relate to sustainability. Information was collected by perusing university publications such as Auburn Speaks, the Auburn Report, Auburn Daily, and press releases from the Office of Communications and Marketing. During Fall 2011, Academic Sustainability Programs also sent an email to all faculty and posted an announcement in Auburn Daily to invite interested faculty to Sustainability Research Roundtable Discussions, and 3 such discussion groups of faculty from 10 departments met during November 2011. Faculty names and research areas from these discussion groups were added to the developing list of sustainability research on campus. Then during Spring 2012, research presentation titles from the inaugural session of Research Week were examined, and all sustainability research presentations from this campus-wide conference were added as well. During Fall 2012, a small committee composed of 3 faculty members from different colleges at Auburn University: College of Education, College of Engineering, and College of Sciences and Mathematics, met to develop a clear definition of sustainability research for Auburn University. Based on this definition, the in-process list of potentially sustainability-related research was examined, and only those projects that appeared to adhere to this definition were retained in the inventory. This preliminary inventory of sustainability research was posted online in September 2012. The Academic Sustainability Advisory Committee, comprised of faculty from all 10 colleges on campus, were asked to peruse the posted inventory, and submit corrections and additions for their units, to Academic Sustainability Programs. The finalized inventory of sustainability research conducted during 2010-2012 was posted online in January 2013.