University of California, Los Angeles
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Nurit
Katz Chief Sustainability Officer Sustainability |
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Campus Engagement?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Campus Engagement:
UCLA sponsors student fellows for the UC President’s Carbon Neutrality Initiative (CNI), which is the UC system’s goal to produce zero-net greenhouse gas emissions by 2025. One set of CNI student fellows has led a project titled “The Next Centennial: Engaging UCLA's Community to Envision our Next 100 Years.” This project engages the campus community in participatory action and placemaking, and emphasizes that achieving carbon neutrality and other sustainable policies are necessary to secure UCLA’s future.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Public Engagement?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Public Engagement:
‘20-’21
Tayler Ward
A dual degree graduate student in public health and urban and regional planning, Tayler worked with the Luskin Center for Innovation and other civic collaborators to organize a symposium on how environmental policies and investments in California have impacted Black communities and what improvements could be made.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Air & Climate?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Air & Climate:
UCLA sponsors student fellows for the UC President’s Carbon Neutrality Initiative (CNI), which is the UC system’s goal to produce zero-net greenhouse gas emissions by 2025. One set of CNI student fellows has led a project titled “The Next Centennial: Engaging UCLA's Community to Envision our Next 100 Years.” This project engages the campus community in participatory action and placemaking, and emphasizes that achieving carbon neutrality and other sustainable policies are necessary to secure UCLA’s future.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Buildings?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Buildings:
Students have worked on Sustainability Action Research (SAR) projects with the Energy Services and Building Controls division of UCLA's Facilities Management department. In 2022, the SAR Energy Team collected meter and HVAC data from residential halls, and analyzed energy savings based on temperature adjustment of lounge rooms. The team then recommended possible energy conservation solutions, such as behavioral campaigns and infrastructural changes on campus. The 2023 SAR Energy Team subsequently has worked on gauging energy efficiency using occupancy rates. This work involves collecting building energy data through surveys, interviews, fieldwork, and will inform future energy conservation and sustainability efforts.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Energy?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Energy:
Students have worked on Sustainability Action Research (SAR) projects with the Energy Services and Building Controls division of UCLA's Facilities Management department. In 2022, the SAR Energy Team collected meter and HVAC data from residential halls, and analyzed energy savings based on temperature adjustment of lounge rooms. The team then recommended possible energy conservation solutions, such as behavioral campaigns and infrastructural changes on campus. The 2023 SAR Energy Team subsequently has worked on gauging energy efficiency using occupancy rates. This work involves collecting building energy data through surveys, interviews, fieldwork, and will inform future energy conservation and sustainability efforts.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Food & Dining?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Food & Dining:
Students are working on a Sustainability Action Research (SAR) project with the UCLA Housing & Hospitality department to audit UCLA Dining’s food purchases and reporting methods and identify gaps in sustainable food procurement and accounting. The SAR student team is also considering a survey to assess student perspectives on the “Greener by Default” approach of offering vegan and vegetarian options and including recommendations for UCLA to buy from diverse and ethical vendors.
Several student organizations partake in regular food waste audits on the Hill to collect data and analyze the best solution to reduce waste and maximize diversion.
In addition, the 2017 Sustainable Food Systems Action Research Team worked to help UCLA Dining Services make progress towards the University of California goal of 20% sustainable food purchases by 2020. Students surveyed dining hall guests on their eating habits in order to determine some of the reasons behind post-consumer food waste. Following the surveys, messaging was developed to encourage sustainable behaviors. Results were tracked by performing food waste audits before and after the messaging was implemented.
https://www.ioes.ucla.edu/project/sustainable-food-systems-food-waste/
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Grounds?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Grounds:
Students are working on a Sustainability Action Research (SAR) project with the Custodial & Grounds divisions of UCLA's Facilities Management department to identify savings from irrigation of campus lawns. The student team is studying existing irrigation practices, and will provide a cost-benefit analysis for switching to drought-tolerant native landscaping.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Purchasing?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Purchasing:
Students are working on a Sustainability Action Research (SAR) project with the UCLA Housing & Hospitality department to audit UCLA Dining’s food purchases and reporting methods and identify gaps in sustainable food procurement and accounting. The SAR student team is also considering a survey to assess student perspectives on the “Greener by Default” approach of offering vegan and vegetarian options and including recommendations for UCLA to buy from diverse and ethical vendors.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Transportation?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Transportation:
UCLA’s Semel Healthy Campus Initiative (HCI) Center prioritizes the health and wellness of students, faculty, and staff through its seven major thematic areas, called pods: BEWell, BreatheWell, EatWell, EngageWell, MindWell, MoveWell and ResearchWell. Students participate in research projects and engagement activities that support these efforts.
The BuiltEnvironmentWell (BEWell) collaborates with campus and community leaders to identify, plan, and implement best practices for a healthy built environment. Examples of student projects related to BEWell and other pods may be accessed at https://researchwell.healthy.ucla.edu/student-group-projects-2020-2021/, as well as elsewhere on HCI's website: healthy.ucla.edu.
UCLA Events & Transportation has partnered with the College of Engineering's Mobility Lab on a smart intersection pilot project, which utilizes LIDAR, radar and traditional cameras to monitor vehicle traffic and to identify vehicle collision close calls.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Waste?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Waste:
Students are working on a Sustainability Action Research (SAR) project with the UCLA Health Sustainability team. The project will identify where hospital waste streams are lacking and propose solutions for improvement, through methods like waste audits, key informant interviews, and general mass surveys to gauge effective educational methods. Final deliverables could include a strategic plan for waste reduction based on data collected and a pilot educational messaging campaign.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Water?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Water:
Students are working on a Sustainability Action Research (SAR) project with the Custodial & Grounds divisions of UCLA's Facilities Management department to identify savings from irrigation of campus lawns. The student team is studying existing irrigation practices, and will provide a cost-benefit analysis for switching to drought-tolerant native landscaping.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Coordination & Planning?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Coordination & Planning:
Students are working on a Sustainability Action Research (SAR) project with the UCLA Housing & Hospitality department to audit UCLA Dining’s food purchases and reporting methods and identify gaps in sustainable food procurement and accounting. The SAR student team is also considering a survey to assess student perspectives on the “Greener by Default” approach of offering vegan and vegetarian options and including recommendations for UCLA to buy from diverse and ethical vendors.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Diversity & Affordability?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Diversity & Affordability:
UCLA’s Semel Healthy Campus Initiative (HCI) Center prioritizes the health and wellness of students, faculty, and staff through its seven major thematic areas, called pods: BEWell, BreatheWell, EatWell, EngageWell, MindWell, MoveWell and ResearchWell. Students participate in research projects and engagement activities that support these efforts.
The EngageWell pod aims to promote healthy social relationships, including civility, acceptance and inclusiveness consistent with True Bruin values. Examples of student projects related to EngageWell and other pods may be accessed at https://researchwell.healthy.ucla.edu/student-group-projects-2020-2021/, as well as elsewhere on HCI's website: healthy.ucla.edu.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Investment & Finance?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Investment & Finance:
Students worked on Sustainability Action Research (SAR) projects with UCLA staff leading Trademarks & Licensing for the university.
One SAR project (https://www.ioes.ucla.edu/project/asuclalicensing2021/) looked at a selection of university-licensed companies that voluntarily completed an ECOVADIS sustainability report, in order to understand how they may attain higher sustainability performance. This helped UCLA to guide and inspire growth in the sustainability ambition of companies that it licenses to sell products with the university brand. Another SAR project (https://www.ioes.ucla.edu/project/sustainability-action-research-2022-nft-team-evaluating-sustainability-in-non-fungible-tokens-nft-deals/) similarly assessed how non-fungible token (NFT) proposals could be crafted so that UCLA-affiliated NFTs have smaller environmental impacts.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Wellbeing & Work?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Wellbeing & Work:
UCLA’s Semel Healthy Campus Initiative (HCI) Center prioritizes the health and wellness of students, faculty, and staff through its seven major thematic areas, called pods: BEWell, BreatheWell, EatWell, EngageWell, MindWell, MoveWell and ResearchWell. Students participate in research projects and engagement activities that support these efforts.
The MindWell pod aims to promote wellbeing, resilience, social connectedness, and creative achievement throughout the UCLA community. Examples of student projects related to MindWell and other pods may be accessed at https://researchwell.healthy.ucla.edu/student-group-projects-2020-2021/, as well as elsewhere on HCI's website: healthy.ucla.edu.
Website URL where information about the institution’s living laboratory program is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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