Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 69.54
Liaison Mike Versteege
Submission Date June 30, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Alberta
IN-25: Innovation B

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Kurt Borth
Project Planner
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Name or title of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
Sustainability Scholars

A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome that outlines how credit criteria are met and any positive measurable outcomes associated with the innovation:

The Sustainability Scholars program sponsors graduate students to work on applied sustainability research projects with the City of Edmonton and the University of Alberta. Edmonton is Canada's second-fastest growing city and has committed to ambitious sustainability goals with The Way We Green environmental strategic plan. The majority of Sustainability Scholars projects were developed by City of Edmonton staff who need research to advance their sustainability goals. This applied research is key to helping the city understand its options for meeting its sustainability goals.

The program started in 2015 with 6 graduate students working with the City of Edmonton. In both 2016 and 2017, 18 graduate students worked on projects with the City of Edmonton and the University of Alberta.

Completed projects include:
- Increasing Household Energy Efficiency: Influencing behavior change
- Brownfield redevelopment inventory
- Promoting infill as sustainable practice
- Integrated Pest Management Plans for Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) and Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) for the City of Edmonton
- Energy mapping: the power of potential energy
- Evaluation of the potential and readiness of Edmonton to adopt electric vehicles
- Implementing sustainable goals with the catalysis team
- Food Waste Behaviours: Influences and impacts on residential waste and waste reduction
- Equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) educational framework
- Building information modelling (BIM) guidelines research
- Stormwater harvesting, irrigation and plant health
- Sustainability of Edmonton's business revitalization and main streets, City of Edmonton
- Redefining engagement
- Sustainable swag pilot project
- Comparative analysis of realized energy efficiency for LEED-designed building
- Air quality monitoring of Edmonton's fine particulate matter response plan initiatives
- Availability of breastfeeding support at University of Alberta: An analysis of physical facilities, policies and environment
- Edmonton Valley Zoo Sustainability Plan
- Performance measures demonstrating the positive impacts of hazardous materials operations
- Neighbourhood nodes: priority setting, economic factors and best practices review
- The case for office space: the importance of office design and employee wellness
- Reducing water contamination and loss at the Edmonton Fire Rescue Services training facility
- Early detection & rapid response (EDRR) to invasive plants


Which of the following impact areas does the innovation most closely relate to? (select up to three):
Campus Enagement
Public Engagement
Professional work experience and development for graduate students

A letter of affirmation from an individual with relevant expertise or a press release or publication featuring the innovation :
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBLE PARTY:

Robert J. Summers
Associate Director, Urban and Regional Planning, Department of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
Director of the Sustainability Scholarship Program, Office of the Provost


ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBLE PARTY:

Robert J. Summers
Associate Director, Urban and Regional Planning, Department of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
Director of the Sustainability Scholarship Program, Office of the Provost

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.