Ohio University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Ohio University is located in the Ohio River Valley, which is home to many coal-fired power plants. These power plants, though part of the local economy, produce a significant amount of air pollution. Dr. Kevin Crist directs Ohio University's Center for Air Quality in the Russ College of Engineering. The center includes a consortium of researchers that collect air pollution data for use by colleagues in the field and state and federal policy makers. Researchers also conduct studies on air pollution's effect on public health. The center is the first broad-based effort to scientifically monitor and measure the emissions generated in the Ohio River Valley region.

The air quality center is also evaluating local air pollution issues that have a regional impact. Saikat Ghosh, research engineer in the Air Quality Center, and Krista Thomason, graduate student in the Environmental Studies program, operate the Athens Supersite which monitors air pollution transported through and deposited in Athens. The monitoring site measures atmospheric and wet-deposition mercury, meteorological data, and regionally-transported gas pollutants. Saikat also supervises student research that includes the identification of pollution sources, regional scale air pollution modeling and development of emission models.

All undergraduate and Graduate students, regardless of major, are invited to enroll in ES4832/5832: Sustainability Implementation. The course is facilitated by the Office of Sustainability staff and aims to teach students about activism for the 21st Century by utilizing the campus as a living laboratory. Each student is presented with a procedural or infrastructure problem faced on campus and asked to solve the problem using sustainability problem solving. Additional members of the campus community are involved as appropriate. Projects span all aspects of sustainability, relating to food, transportation, buildings, energy, technology, waste, climate change, grounds, procurement, water, sustainability planning, engagement, diversity, health/well-being and investment. ES4832/5832 is offered every Fall and Spring semester. Additionally, a similar sustainability-project structure is supplied to the Sustainable Marketing (MKT4900) class taught by Dr. Colin Gabler, which is offered every Spring semester.

In Civil Engineering 4540, Sustainable Construction, students from various disciplines are given the opportunity to evaluate a building on campus using the LEED v4 O&M rating system. Students learn about sustainable building practices, while the University learns about the sustainability of its existing buildings.

Another, and probably the most obvious, example of Ohio University's efforts to make the campus a living laboratory for buildings is the OHIO Ecohouse. The Ecohouse is the leading example of a residence opportunity at Ohio University that offers students the chance to focus on sustainable behaviors. The mission of the OHIO Ecohouse is to demonstrate affordable green technology and sustainable living in order to inform, engage and inspire both residents and visitors. The OHIO Ecohouse is not just another student home – it is a dynamic education experience which promotes critical thinking and tangible actions toward sustainability. Any student at Ohio University (undergraduate or graduate) who is eligible to live off campus is welcome to apply to live in the house.

Ohio University is also working with nonprofit Rural Action to better understanding the challenges of Construction & Demolition Debris management on campus by engaging faculty, students, staff and community members in discussions about this waste stream. Salvaged materials and process also play a role in this discussion.

All undergraduate and Graduate students, regardless of major, are invited to enroll in ES4832/5832: Sustainability Implementation. The course is facilitated by the Office of Sustainability staff and aims to teach students about activism for the 21st Century by utilizing the campus as a living laboratory. Each student is presented with a procedural or infrastructure problem faced on campus and asked to solve the problem using sustainability problem solving. Additional members of the campus community are involved as appropriate. Projects span all aspects of sustainability, relating to food, transportation, buildings, energy, technology, waste, climate change, grounds, procurement, water, sustainability planning, engagement, diversity, health/well-being and investment. ES4832/5832 is offered every Fall and Spring semester. Additionally, a similar sustainability-project structure is supplied to the Sustainable Marketing (MKT4900) class taught by Dr. Colin Gabler, which is offered every Spring semester.

Dr. Sarah Davis, Assistant Professor in the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs, is an ecosystem ecologist with experience in energy bioscience. Dr. Davis, with the assistance of several graduate students, is studying bioenergy production systems in 30 plots spread across two different locations within the Land Lab. Situated on the south side of the Ohio University Athens campus is 740 acres of land known as the Ridges; 200 acres of that land has been dedicated as a Land Laboratory. It is on this land that Dr. Davis conducts bioenergy research experiments.

A student/faculty/staff collaboration resulted in a solar panel installation behind Building 22 on the Ridges. The panels are used for researching angles of solar panels for best production of energy as a test case for our region and area. https://www.ohio.edu/voinovichschool/article.cfm?customel_datapageid_1792195=2912297

In 2016-17, students partnered with Culinary Services to investigate the potential reduction in energy usage/water usage/food waste that could be realized by eliminating trays in the dining halls. This student-lead study resulted in all dining halls going trayless in 2017.

All undergraduate and Graduate students, regardless of major, are invited to enroll in ES4832/5832: Sustainability Implementation. The course is facilitated by the Office of Sustainability staff and aims to teach students about activism for the 21st Century by utilizing the campus as a living laboratory. Each student is presented with a procedural or infrastructure problem faced on campus and asked to solve the problem using sustainability problem solving. Additional members of the campus community are involved as appropriate. Projects span all aspects of sustainability, relating to food, transportation, buildings, energy, technology, waste, climate change, grounds, procurement, water, sustainability planning, engagement, diversity, health/well-being and investment. ES4832/5832 is offered every Fall and Spring semester. Additionally, a similar sustainability-project structure is supplied to the Sustainable Marketing (MKT4900) class taught by Dr. Colin Gabler, which is offered every Spring semester.

The Culinary Services Development Committee (CSDC) is a student-led group that is also composed of various members of the Culinary Services staff. The committee meets monthly to discuss relevant issues to dining halls. Student feedback through CSDC has recently resulted in the elimination of trays in the dining halls, increased purchase of local food, and the launch of the reusable to-go box pilot program.

Plant Biology West State Street gardens are used for undergraduate classwork and participation in marketing produce on campus (proceeds to scholarship for students). These gardens also support graduate student research in native and sustainable ancient grains.

All undergraduate and Graduate students, regardless of major, are invited to enroll in ES4832/5832: Sustainability Implementation. The course is facilitated by the Office of Sustainability staff and aims to teach students about activism for the 21st Century by utilizing the campus as a living laboratory. Each student is presented with a procedural or infrastructure problem faced on campus and asked to solve the problem using sustainability problem solving. Additional members of the campus community are involved as appropriate. Projects span all aspects of sustainability, relating to food, transportation, buildings, energy, technology, waste, climate change, grounds, procurement, water, sustainability planning, engagement, diversity, health/well-being and investment. ES4832/5832 is offered every Fall and Spring semester. Additionally, a similar sustainability-project structure is supplied to the Sustainable Marketing (MKT4900) class taught by Dr. Colin Gabler, which is offered every Spring semester.

Ohio University utilizes the Ridges Land Lab (200 acres) as a learning laboratory for field observation and research for classes such as Ornithology, Field Ecology, Herpetology, Geography and Campus Recreation (Environmental Interpretation). Specific research projects involved the construction and monitoring of Vernal Pools with the Grounds Department assisting the Aquatic Biology class as well as prairie and soils research projects and field studies with the Environmental and Plant Biology Department. Some highlights of class projects include mapping of the Ridges nature trail system by Environmental Studies Graduate students, in addition to the installation of a grant-funded rain garden.

Several natural planting areas (11) have been developed on main campus by the Grounds Department and are being used in Recreation Studies Graduate student projects involving mapping and development of species lists.

Trees on main campus are utilized by various classes and activities such as Geography Department GIS courses, Environmental and Plant Biology Tree and Shrubs identification classes and special tree educational events.

All undergraduate and Graduate students, regardless of major, are invited to enroll in ES4832/5832: Sustainability Implementation. The course is facilitated by the Office of Sustainability staff and aims to teach students about activism for the 21st Century by utilizing the campus as a living laboratory. Each student is presented with a procedural or infrastructure problem faced on campus and asked to solve the problem using sustainability problem solving. Additional members of the campus community are involved as appropriate. Projects span all aspects of sustainability, relating to food, transportation, buildings, energy, technology, waste, climate change, grounds, procurement, water, sustainability planning, engagement, diversity, health/well-being and investment. ES4832/5832 is offered every Fall and Spring semester. Additionally, a similar sustainability-project structure is supplied to the Sustainable Marketing (MKT4900) class taught by Dr. Colin Gabler, which is offered every Spring semester.

Currently, Ohio University Zero Waste students collaborate with the Procurement department to create an annual Zero Waste Supplier Fair. The students ensure that the Zero Waste guidelines - limiting energy and water intensive activities, reducing and properly managing waste, utilizing online marketing instead of paper marketing, etc - are followed during the planning and execution of the Supplier Fair, thus educating suppliers and consumers alike about sustainable procurement practices.

Another current procurement initiative spearheaded by students is a pilot study of the Kimberley Clack Right Cycle program. The University is planning to implement the Right Cycle program in one department in 2018 to test if it could be adopted campus-wide.

All undergraduate and Graduate students, regardless of major, are invited to enroll in ES4832/5832: Sustainability Implementation. The course is facilitated by the Office of Sustainability staff and aims to teach students about activism for the 21st Century by utilizing the campus as a living laboratory. Each student is presented with a procedural or infrastructure problem faced on campus and asked to solve the problem using sustainability problem solving. Additional members of the campus community are involved as appropriate. Projects span all aspects of sustainability, relating to food, transportation, buildings, energy, technology, waste, climate change, grounds, procurement, water, sustainability planning, engagement, diversity, health/well-being and investment. ES4832/5832 is offered every Fall and Spring semester. Additionally, a similar sustainability-project structure is supplied to the Sustainable Marketing (MKT4900) class taught by Dr. Colin Gabler, which is offered every Spring semester.

In Fall 2017, a group of Ohio University students began working with Transportation & Parking Services on a project aimed at promoting and encouraging transit use on campus. The project scope will work to develop recommendations for transit system efficiencies which best met campus user and activities needs while also considering positive impacts to objectives and goals of the campus Sustainability Plan. This work is currently ongoing and will continue into Spring 2018.

All undergraduate and Graduate students, regardless of major, are invited to enroll in ES4832/5832: Sustainability Implementation. The course is facilitated by the Office of Sustainability staff and aims to teach students about activism for the 21st Century by utilizing the campus as a living laboratory. Each student is presented with a procedural or infrastructure problem faced on campus and asked to solve the problem using sustainability problem solving. Additional members of the campus community are involved as appropriate. Projects span all aspects of sustainability, relating to food, transportation, buildings, energy, technology, waste, climate change, grounds, procurement, water, sustainability planning, engagement, diversity, health/well-being and investment. ES4832/5832 is offered every Fall and Spring semester. Additionally, a similar sustainability-project structure is supplied to the Sustainable Marketing (MKT4900) class taught by Dr. Colin Gabler, which is offered every Spring semester.

Through a multiyear grant project, the OHIO Zero Waste Initiative at the Voinovich School has worked with Campus Recycling, the Office of Sustainability, and numerous other units on campus to reduce the waste footprint of the University in a variety of ways. For example, the Student Zero Waste Coordinator created the Ohio University Green Event Guide. By means of a checklist, the guide helps student organizations, colleges, departments, and individuals identify the components of their event that can be made sustainable by decreasing waste and increasing diversion efforts. Participants can meet with a Zero Waste Coordinator prior to their event to officially receive recognition for hosting a "Certified Green Event." The Green Event Guide can be found here: http://www.ohio.edu/zerowaste. Zero waste efforts on campus have also included waste messaging at orientation and commencement programming, athletic events, move out, student group activities, etc. Our students and staff regularly work to incorporate real-world learning into courses across campus to advance sustainability and waste awareness.

Compost initiatives at Ohio University are also an example of how the university is a living laboratory for waste minimization. Ohio University is home to the largest in-vessel compost facility at any college or university in the nation. The facility is situated on several acres of land and, therefore, is the perfect location for students and research faculty to conduct waste-related research, like Dr. Sarah Davis. Historically, experiments and Ph.D research relating to biodegradable materials have also been hosted on-site. The Voinovich School also serves as an on-campus pilot program for post-consumer food waste collection with the assistance of Facilities.

All undergraduate and Graduate students, regardless of major, are invited to enroll in ES4832/5832: Sustainability Implementation. The course is facilitated by the Office of Sustainability staff and aims to teach students about activism for the 21st Century by utilizing the campus as a living laboratory. Each student is presented with a procedural or infrastructure problem faced on campus and asked to solve the problem using sustainability problem solving. Additional members of the campus community are involved as appropriate. Projects span all aspects of sustainability, relating to food, transportation, buildings, energy, technology, waste, climate change, grounds, procurement, water, sustainability planning, engagement, diversity, health/well-being and investment. ES4832/5832 is offered every Fall and Spring semester. Additionally, a similar sustainability-project structure is supplied to the Sustainable Marketing (MKT4900) class taught by Dr. Colin Gabler, which is offered every Spring semester.

Jeremy Daniels, Manager of the Plumbing Shop at Ohio University, regularly works with students on water reduction or rainwater collection projects. Specific projects recently have included a Civil Engineering senior design project on boiler blow down processing, and an EcoChallenge project to install a spigot on a rain water collection pond.

Rain gardens projects were implemented by students and faculty of the Voinovich School at the Building 39 cottage and the Child Development Center at the Ridges.

Acid mine drainage (AMD) from abandoned coal mines affects the quality of both ground water and surface water in the region of southeast Ohio, where Ohio University is located. Faculty and students of the Ohio Research Institute for Transportation and the Environment, which is housed within the Ohio University Russ College of Engineering and Technology, are currently studying promising solutions for AMD remediation. For example, faculty and students are currently working to create predictive models based on water quality, flow rate, and water table measurements taken in the field to develop groundwater and surface water restoration plans. Work with AMD has also become interdisciplinary at Ohio University; a professor of painting and drawing is extracting the compounds found in AMD and utilizing them for use in paint and artworks.

All undergraduate and Graduate students, regardless of major, are invited to enroll in ES4832/5832: Sustainability Implementation. The course is facilitated by the Office of Sustainability staff and aims to teach students about activism for the 21st Century by utilizing the campus as a living laboratory. Each student is presented with a procedural or infrastructure problem faced on campus and asked to solve the problem using sustainability problem solving. Additional members of the campus community are involved as appropriate. Projects span all aspects of sustainability, relating to food, transportation, buildings, energy, technology, waste, climate change, grounds, procurement, water, sustainability planning, engagement, diversity, health/well-being and investment. ES4832/5832 is offered every Fall and Spring semester. Additionally, a similar sustainability-project structure is supplied to the Sustainable Marketing (MKT4900) class taught by Dr. Colin Gabler, which is offered every Spring semester.

For many years, Ohio University has had a “Standing Committee” called the Ecology and Energy Conservation Committee (EECC) that provides an inclusive governance approach linked to institutional administrative structures. In 2011, when the Sustainability and Climate Action plans were created, President Roderick McDavis charged the EECC with oversight of the implementation of the plans as well as campus sustainability initiatives more broadly. Members of the committee are appointed by the Office of the President; the committee is composed of 4 faculty, 2 undergraduates, 1 graduate student, 1 community member, and 1 administrator. Sustainable Ohio University Leaders (SOUL) was created as a response to implementation efforts of the EECC.

Sustainable Ohio University Leaders (SOUL) is a liaison group composed of students, faculty, and staff. SOUL is the implementation arm of the University's Sustainability and Climate Action Plans. The mission of SOUL is to empower students, faculty and staff of different educational and experiential backgrounds to engage in open dialogue, develop strong capacities for leadership, and embed sustainability into every facet of academic, operational, and institutional practices (SOUL was active in 2016/17 and earlier, but is currently being reorganized).

All undergraduate and Graduate students, regardless of major, are invited to enroll in ES4832/5832: Sustainability Implementation. The course is facilitated by the Office of Sustainability staff and aims to teach students about activism for the 21st Century by utilizing the campus as a living laboratory. Each student is presented with a procedural or infrastructure problem faced on campus and asked to solve the problem using sustainability problem solving. Additional members of the campus community are involved as appropriate. Projects span all aspects of sustainability, relating to food, transportation, buildings, energy, technology, waste, climate change, grounds, procurement, water, sustainability planning, engagement, diversity, health/well-being and investment. ES4832/5832 is offered every Fall and Spring semester. Additionally, a similar sustainability-project structure is supplied to the Sustainable Marketing (MKT4900) class taught by Dr. Colin Gabler, which is offered every Spring semester.

Please see the many examples of diversity & inclusion utilizing campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning in the Diversity and Inclusion report (https://www.ohio.edu/diversity/upload/D-I_Report_12-1-PDF.pdf). Examples include SpeakOUt panels for education about gender identity and sexual orientation; National Heritage Month programs; and LINKS, a year-long transition, enrichment and support program for students from diverse backgrounds.

All undergraduate and Graduate students, regardless of major, are invited to enroll in ES4832/5832: Sustainability Implementation. The course is facilitated by the Office of Sustainability staff and aims to teach students about activism for the 21st Century by utilizing the campus as a living laboratory. Each student is presented with a procedural or infrastructure problem faced on campus and asked to solve the problem using sustainability problem solving. Additional members of the campus community are involved as appropriate. Projects span all aspects of sustainability, relating to food, transportation, buildings, energy, technology, waste, climate change, grounds, procurement, water, sustainability planning, engagement, diversity, health/well-being and investment. ES4832/5832 is offered every Fall and Spring semester. Additionally, a similar sustainability-project structure is supplied to the Sustainable Marketing (MKT4900) class taught by Dr. Colin Gabler, which is offered every Spring semester.

The Sustainable Investing Advisory Committee (SIAC) is a student organization that developed investment guidelines in partnership with the Student Equity Management Group (SEMG) and the Fixed Income Management Group (FIMG). The investment guidelines, in turn, help the student groups incorporate environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) analysis into their investment decision-making. The investment funds for the group are provided by the Ohio University General Fund. SIAC is supervised by faculty and sustainability advisers, and is supported by a Graduate Assistant in the Office of Sustainability. All three student groups report through their advisors to the division of Finance.

All undergraduate and Graduate students, regardless of major, are invited to enroll in ES4832/5832: Sustainability Implementation. The course is facilitated by the Office of Sustainability staff and aims to teach students about activism for the 21st Century by utilizing the campus as a living laboratory. Each student is presented with a procedural or infrastructure problem faced on campus and asked to solve the problem using sustainability problem solving. Additional members of the campus community are involved as appropriate. Projects span all aspects of sustainability, relating to food, transportation, buildings, energy, technology, waste, climate change, grounds, procurement, water, sustainability planning, engagement, diversity, health/well-being and investment. ES4832/5832 is offered every Fall and Spring semester. Additionally, a similar sustainability-project structure is supplied to the Sustainable Marketing (MKT4900) class taught by Dr. Colin Gabler, which is offered every Spring semester.

Each year, students in Dr. Julia Paxton’s Economics of Altruism class assess, then select a local non-profit as the recipient of $10,000, provided by Warren Buffett’s Learning by Giving Foundation. In assessing each nonprofit, the students consider several criteria: effectiveness, sustainability, impact, and excellence in management.

The Ohio University Ecohouse is a sustainable living laboratory and home available to three undergraduate and/or graduate students each year. Classes, student groups, and community members often tour the house and the home's surrounding features, and the Ecohouse students often participate in public engagement through these tours and through the workshops they conduct for their required seminar course.

All undergraduate and Graduate students, regardless of major, are invited to enroll in ES4832/5832: Sustainability Implementation. The course is facilitated by the Office of Sustainability staff and aims to teach students about activism for the 21st Century by utilizing the campus as a living laboratory. Each student is presented with a procedural or infrastructure problem faced on campus and asked to solve the problem using sustainability problem solving. Additional members of the campus community are involved as appropriate. Projects span all aspects of sustainability, relating to food, transportation, buildings, energy, technology, waste, climate change, grounds, procurement, water, sustainability planning, engagement, diversity, health/well-being and investment. ES4832/5832 is offered every Fall and Spring semester. Additionally, a similar sustainability-project structure is supplied to the Sustainable Marketing (MKT4900) class taught by Dr. Colin Gabler, which is offered every Spring semester.

The Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine has a community health program that aims to develop and deliver quality medical and health care services for children and adults throughout southeastern Ohio. The community health program has two 40-foot mobile clinics that regularly visit counties throughout southeast Ohio. The mobile health clinics are staffed by volunteer physicians, a certified nurse practitioner, a registered nurse, and an assistant coordinator. The clinics are also often accompanied by an AmeriCorps volunteer or an Ohio University student studying osteopathic medicine.

WellWorks, a College of Health Sciences and Professions, offers a wide range of student learning in its fitness facility, employee wellness programming, and community outreach. For over 100 students a year, WellWorks provides paid, volunteer, and academic experiences in fitness, nutrition, wellness, clinical, administration, and hands-on application of classroom knowledge.

All undergraduate and Graduate students, regardless of major, are invited to enroll in ES4832/5832: Sustainability Implementation. The course is facilitated by the Office of Sustainability staff and aims to teach students about activism for the 21st Century by utilizing the campus as a living laboratory. Each student is presented with a procedural or infrastructure problem faced on campus and asked to solve the problem using sustainability problem solving. Additional members of the campus community are involved as appropriate. Projects span all aspects of sustainability, relating to food, transportation, buildings, energy, technology, waste, climate change, grounds, procurement, water, sustainability planning, engagement, diversity, health/well-being and investment. ES4832/5832 is offered every Fall and Spring semester. Additionally, a similar sustainability-project structure is supplied to the Sustainable Marketing (MKT4900) class taught by Dr. Colin Gabler, which is offered every Spring semester.

Ohio University utilizes the Ridges Land Lab (200 acres) as a learning laboratory for field observation and research for classes such as Ornithology, Field Ecology, Herpetology, Geography and Campus Recreation (Environmental Interpretation). Specific research projects involved the construction and monitoring of Vernal Pools with the Grounds Department assisting the Aquatic Biology class as well as prairie and soils research projects and field studies with the Environmental and Plant Biology Department. Some highlights of class projects include mapping of the Ridges nature trail system by Environmental Studies Graduate students, in addition to the installation of a grant-funded rain garden.
Several natural planting areas (11) have been developed on main campus by the Grounds Department and are being used in Recreation Studies Graduate student projects involving mapping and development of species lists.
Trees on main campus are utilized by various classes and activities such as Geography Department GIS courses, Environmental and Plant Biology Tree and Shrubs identification classes and special tree educational events.

All undergraduate and Graduate students, regardless of major, are invited to enroll in ES4832/5832: Sustainability Implementation. The course is facilitated by the Office of Sustainability staff and aims to teach students about activism for the 21st Century by utilizing the campus as a living laboratory. Each student is presented with a procedural or infrastructure problem faced on campus and asked to solve the problem using sustainability problem solving. Additional members of the campus community are involved as appropriate. Projects span all aspects of sustainability, relating to food, transportation, buildings, energy, technology, waste, climate change, grounds, procurement, water, sustainability planning, engagement, diversity, health/well-being and investment. ES4832/5832 is offered every Fall and Spring semester. Additionally, a similar sustainability-project structure is supplied to the Sustainable Marketing (MKT4900) class taught by Dr. Colin Gabler, which is offered every Spring semester.

Information for the Waste section provided by Elissa Welch, Project Manager, Energy and Environmental Projects, Voinovich School on 1/29/18; the Food & Dining section by Erin Robb on 1/23/18, Auxiliaries Procurement and Contract Manager; the Air & Climate section by Dr Kevin Crist on 2/3/18, Professor, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering; the Transportation section by Tia Hysell on 1/9/18; the Wellbeing & Work section by Annie Laurie Cadmus, WellWorks Engagement & Marketing Coordinator on 1/10/18; the Purchasing section by Diana McGrew, Assistant Director, Strategic Sourcing and Operations, Procurement Services, on 1/29/18; the Buildings (Ecohouse) section by Meg Little, Graduate student in Environmental Studies on 2/1/18; the Grounds section by Meg Little, Graduate student in Environmental Studies, and Susan Calhoun, Landscape Coordinator, on 2/1/18, the Coordination & Planning section by Nancy Manring, EECC chairperson, on 2/10/18; on rain gardens and solar panels by Shawna Bolin, Associate Vice President of University Planning, University Planning, on 2/20/18.

Input by Benton Wright 1/30/18 and Elaine Goetz on various dates