University of Georgia
ER-15: Sustainability Research Identification

The term “sustainability” is used in UGA’s 2020 Strategic Plan to define a sustainable university as “one that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.” Economic, social and cultural, and ecological components must be taken into consideration. Faculty at UGA that engage in research that promotes economic prosperity, social equity, or ecological health, or any combination of the three, are therefore engaged in sustainability research. The following is from UGA’s 2020 Strategic Plan, which describes UGA’s dedication to sustainability and specifies sustainability goals that are to be accomplished by 2020:

“Because the University of Georgia is committed by its land- and sea-grant mission to serve people living and working in Georgia along with our vision to be a leading university internationally, it is incumbent upon the University to provide leadership concerning unprecedented environmental challenges. It is equally important for the University to manage financial and human resources with the greatest of care and respect and to the maximum benefit of the state. A sustainable university is one that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. It also creates opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to enhance the quality of life throughout their communities (Working Group on Sustainability, 2009; World Commission on Environment and Development). A sustainable university acts as a living laboratory where sustainability is researched, taught, tested, and constantly refined. UGA must demonstrate and promote leadership in sustainable living and learning, contextualizing the local as part of the global in sustainability. Over the next decade, the University’s campuses should be examples to others in reducing their environmental footprints to the greatest extent possible. This includes efforts to reduce energy use significantly, and intelligently, and carefully use and reuse scarce water resources, improve air and water quality, provide sustainable food and transportation options, purchase environmentally responsible products and equipment, increase recycling, and drastically reduce waste. Second, in the effort to prepare students for effective leadership on campus and beyond, sustainability should be infused into formal and informal educational opportunities throughout the University. Campus buildings and landscapes should be incorporated as teaching opportunities, which through design and functional interpretation will reveal innovative practices with the potential to enlighten and inform students and citizens about sound approaches to sustainable living. Third, research generated by UGA faculty and students as well as advances from the global community will be used to reduce dependency on fossil fuels, increase the reuse of materials, and continue the search for other methods that will reduce human impacts on the environment. A priority for the University at large is to design and construct buildings, plaza spaces, hardscapes, and other landscapes that embody the latest in environmental advances and to incorporate the increasing social nature of learning today by creating ample spaces for people to interact. To accomplish these goals, the University should establish a formal coordinating body to work with the UGA Office of Sustainability to develop and implement a comprehensive sustainability plan for the University.”

Faculty engaged in sustainability research were identified using FRED, UGA’s Faculty Research Expertise Database. The following key words were used to search the database: environ, sustain, water, ecolog, energy, ecosystem, waste, carbon, greenhouse, food system, compost, urban design, landscape, conservation, social justice, forestry, emissions, energy, efficiency, natural resource. Key words in FRED were used to find professors who have that key word in their research description. Partial words were used to make the search more effective, i.e. ecolog would show faculty who had ecology or ecological in their research description. These words were chosen because they reflect most components of sustainability, including land and water conservation, sustainable urban environments, climate and energy, and social and economic prosperity. As confirmation, an email was sent to all selected faculty asking to respond if they do not participate in sustainability research. Responders were deleted from the list.

Faculty engaged in sustainability research were identified using FRED, UGA’s Faculty Research Expertise Database. The following key words were used to search the database: environ, sustain, water, ecolog, energy, ecosystem, waste, carbon, greenhouse, food system, compost, urban design, landscape, conservation, social justice, forestry, emissions, energy, efficiency, natural resource. Key words in FRED were used to find professors who have that key word in their research description. Partial words were used to make the search more effective, i.e. ecolog would show faculty who had ecology or ecological in their research description. These words were chosen because they reflect most components of sustainability, including land and water conservation, sustainable urban environments, climate and energy, and social and economic prosperity. As confirmation, an email was sent to all selected faculty asking to respond if they do not participate in sustainability research. Responders were deleted from the list. Any sustainability researcher at UGA, regardless of where the research takes place, is included. Additional information regarding professors in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences not captured by FRED or not engaged in sustainability research was provided by Harald Scherm, the Assistant Dean for Research in CAES.