| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 52.95 |
| Liaison | Chad Carwein |
| Submission Date | Jan. 16, 2020 |
East Carolina University
AC-10: Support for Sustainability Research
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.00 / 4.00 |
Chad
Carwein University Sustainability Manager HSC Facilities Services |
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:
In 2018, ECU's Division of Research, Economic Development, and Engagement (REDE) implemented four Research Clusters to encourage and focus on research and engagement between the university and its faculty, students, and community partners. Each research cluster awards seed grant money to faculty members and creates collaborative work opportunities spanning various academic fields to solve pressing problems related to the focus are of the research cluster. One of those four clusters includes:
Natural Resources and the Environment: This research area focuses on discovering new ways to support and optimize sustainable use of our natural resources and the environment. The cluster will place an emphasis on studying biogas — with the intent to evaluate the spatial, economic and environmental factors associated with developing swine waste into a usable fuel — and water quality and quantity issues in eastern North Carolina. The goals for this research cluster are as follows:
Short Term Goals:
1. Develop relationships with potential collaborators within and outside ECU that lead energy and natural resources research projects
2. Build interdisciplinary research teams that produce research ideas and grant proposals that carry out biogas, off-shore energy and water projects
3. Identify research opportunities that connect to community and regional needs
Long Term Goals:
- Provide opportunities for faculty and their collaborators to undertake projects through securing external funding
- Initiate projects that focus on biogas, water resources and other areas in the natural resources and energy area
- Encourage students and global partners to conduct research associated with energy and natural resources
In addition, the following events have been hosted at ECU in the past three years and each offered rewards for student sustainability research posters:
2017 - 2019 Research and Creative Activity Week (RCAW)
2017 Sustainability Symposium - Green Stormwater Infrastructure Theme
2017 Climate Change and Health Symposium: Focus on Eastern North Carolina
2018 Sustainability Symposium - Solar Energy Theme
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:
In 2018, ECU's Division of Research, Economic Development, and Engagement (REDE) implemented four Research Clusters to encourage and focus on research and engagement between the university and its faculty, students, and community partners. Each research cluster awards seed grant money to faculty members and creates collaborative work opportunities spanning various academic fields to solve pressing problems related to the focus are of the research cluster. One of those four clusters includes:
Natural Resources and the Environment: This research area focuses on discovering new ways to support and optimize sustainable use of our natural resources and the environment. The cluster will place an emphasis on studying biogas — with the intent to evaluate the spatial, economic and environmental factors associated with developing swine waste into a usable fuel — and water quality and quantity issues in eastern North Carolina. The goals for this research cluster are as follows:
Short Term Goals:
1. Develop relationships with potential collaborators within and outside ECU that lead energy and natural resources research projects
2. Build interdisciplinary research teams that produce research ideas and grant proposals that carry out biogas, off-shore energy and water projects
3. Identify research opportunities that connect to community and regional needs
Long Term Goals:
- Provide opportunities for faculty and their collaborators to undertake projects through securing external funding
- Initiate projects that focus on biogas, water resources and other areas in the natural resources and energy area
- Encourage students and global partners to conduct research associated with energy and natural resources
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:
There are multiple award and recognition programs offered by the Division of Research, Economic Development, and Engagement (REDE) that place an emphasis on interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary, and multidisciplinary research. Funding opportunities include: Startup Program, Cluster Seed Grant Funding, and a variety of major and/or external funding sources. Many research centers and institutes also foster this collaborative approach including: Center for Sustainable Energy and Environmental Engineering, Coastal Studies Institute, Office of Innovation and New Ventures, Center for Geographic Information Science, Center for Water Resources, and others. In terms of recognition, the Provost distributes a monthly newsletter called First Mondays, which highlights several research projects and funding awards and many include collaborative efforts of our faculty who are either tenured or on tenure-track.
Does the institution have ongoing library support for sustainability research and learning?:
A brief description of the institution’s library support for sustainability research:
Research Guides:
- Environmental Health
- Coastal Resources Management
- Recreation, Leisure, and Sustainable Tourism
- 2019-2020 Pirate Read Selection: The Nature Principle (includes on-campus events calendar, research support, and other topics to explore)
ScholarShip ECU's Institutional Repository - Sustainability Research: http://thescholarship.ecu.edu/handle/10342/6422
Sustainability Film & Discussion Series Collection: Since 2016, the Sustainability Manager has hosted a monthly sustainability film screening and, in order to do so, must purchase the public screening rights and educational license for the films. At the end of each academic year, these films have been put in the Joyner Library collection so that faculty and students can check them out and view them in class or on their own time.
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:
Data Source:
Jeanne Hoover, Joyner Library
Clark Nall, Joyner Library
Data Source:
Jeanne Hoover, Joyner Library
Clark Nall, Joyner Library
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