University of Victoria
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Gustavson Masters in Management Program: Many Faces for Better Places Event

In July 2022, the Gustavson Masters in Management Program hosted the "Many Faces for Better Places" event, held at the UVic David Turpin Courtyard. This outdoor event’s theme was “placemaking” and invited students and employees to turn an unused space on campus into a “place”

The goal was to create awareness, establish unlikely partnerships and open the floor for conversations around placemaking on
campus, organizations and communities, which are the major circles of socialization in one’s lifetime.

The event began with a welcome, where the idea of placemaking was introduced and the importance of activated spaces in creating meaningful connections between students, increasing collaboration in organizations, and fostering community. Three separate activities were hosted where attendees were encouraged to rotate between each. One was focused on placemaking in the community, one was focused on placemaking in organizations, and one on placemaking on campuses.

The activities were a series of "games" where prompts for various discussions were provided and participants were encouraged to brainstorm how we might bring placemaking to communities, campuses, and organizations.

https://www.uvic.ca/gustavson/cssi/assets/docs/2022-year-in-review/method.pdf

Geog 380: Community Mapping, is a class that examines the theory and practice of community based mapping and how it can facilitate dialogue and collaborative partnering, thus leading to knowledge co creation, planning, citizen empowerment and engagement, building consensus, informed policy making and ultimately social justice. Community and Green Mapping affirm the integrity and diversity of local places and people as the primary foundation for healthy community development and sustainability. This course is designed to be action-oriented and experimental, and has a very high local field component.

The class connects to the greater community via the Community Mapping Collaboratory (CMC), operated by the Department of Geography at UVic. The CMC's mission is to facilitate processes for community engagement, student learning, globally-relevant research, and sustainable community planning through participatory community mapping. This is achieved through engaging students, community members, Indigenous partners and other participants both locally and globally in classroom-based and field-based courses, workshops, map-making, internship opportunities, scholarly research, publications, summits, and conference participation.

In 2022, a civil engineering PhD student wrote a dissertation that focuses on evaluating and improving the thermal performance of existing buildings in Canada, particularly those built before national and provincial energy codes were established. Recognizing the absence of codes for existing structures, the study aimed to develop rapid and robust quantitative approaches for assessing building envelope thermal performance. Chapter 1 conducted a comprehensive study on 49 campus buildings at the University of Victoria, using heat loss calculations based on the heat loss coefficient (UA) to prioritize envelope retrofits. The methodology balanced effort and decision-making utility, providing valuable insights for retrofit prioritization. Chapters 2 to 4 explored the use of external infrared thermography (IRT) for quantifying heat losses and identifying air leakage in wood-framed wall assemblies. The study found IRT to be a reliable tool for estimating thermal performance and proposed a novel relative quantitative infrared index (IRI) for rapid evaluation. Additionally, the research suggested that small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with infrared cameras could be used for quick thermal assessments, but limitations were identified compared to conventional infrared thermography. The findings offer valuable insights for decision-makers and governments to develop policies for improving existing building energy performance.

In 2022, a civil engineering master’s student at the University of Victoria, delved into Post Occupancy Evaluations and provided recommendations for the engineering expansion project at UVic based on their findings. Post Occupancy Evaluations (POE) provide tools to quantify the performance relative to the occupant's health, well-being, and comfort. POE is getting widely accepted to obtain feedback for various parameters such as water, energy, indoor environmental quality, and occupant comfort. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) can be derived based on the obtained feedback to determine the performance gaps. This research aims to conceptualize the next generation of post occupancy evaluations that leverages cutting-edge technologies such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), Internet of Things based sensors (IoT), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and digital twins.
This project recommended the digital-twin-enabled POE procedure for UVic's engineering expansion project. This study concluded that conducting the POE on the UVic ECS expansion project will enable the researchers to determine the effectiveness of sustainable features by comparing the performance of existing and proposed facilities.

A UVic civil engineering student completed a thesis project in 2022 aimed to address the challenge of evaluating and improving the thermal performance of existing buildings in Canada, particularly those constructed before the establishment of national and provincial energy codes. The lack of specific codes for existing buildings necessitated the development of a rapid and robust quantitative approach to assess and prioritize vertical envelope retrofits. The study, conducted at the University of Victoria, focused on 49 campus buildings, utilizing heat loss calculations based on the heat loss coefficient (UA) to inform retrofit prioritization.
To validate the findings, archetype energy models were employed, considering factors like age and physical condition. The study helped the University weigh the benefits of energy performance improvements against capital costs. To validate the findings, archetype energy models were employed, considering factors like age and physical condition. The study helped the University weigh the benefits of energy performance improvements against capital costs.

Led by UVic Faculty, Staff, and a UVic student and research assistant, The Default Veg Initiative (2021) was a pioneering project at the University of Victoria that meticulously measured and hopes to mitigate food emissions. Focused on major campus providers—UVic Food Services, UVSS, and the University Club—the initiative employed a robust methodology developed in collaboration with stakeholders and benefits from academic oversight by a UVic Professor. Utilizing the Cool Food Calculator and guided by exclusion criteria, the project offered a nuanced understanding of the environmental impact of campus food procurement. Supported by funding bodies like Campus Planning and Sustainability, the Animals & Society Research Initiative, and the Climate Solutions Challenge, this initiative, with the Research Assistant's active student involvement, serves as a model for advancing sustainability in the context of Food & Dining at the University of Victoria.

The Garry Oak Ecosystem (GOE) Restoration Project was a student-led project to restore the UVIC Garry Oak Meadow ecosystem through participation efforts from the UVic Ecological Restoration Club (ERC). Restoration activities were based on a 5-year plan for the site created by project leader, Larissa Bron. The overarching restoration goal of this project was to support the understory plant community while also connecting students with experiential learning opportunities within the campus living laboratory, and provide a node for the greater community to engage with UVic’s sustainable programming.
The project has involved at least 20 students in higher-level planning and monitoring for the project, as well as hundreds of people participating in implementing restoration techniques. Multiple community members have participated in restoration events with positive feedback and collaborations with community partners are ongoing. Students from multiple facilities including: math, psychology, engineering, and physics have participated in events, contributing to a growing a dynamic and robust volunteer base (and over 1200 volunteer hours). The Campus GOE has become a destination for hands-on campus field trips, including recurring semesterly visits from ES 341 and GEOG 209.

ES 341: Past, Present, Future Ecologies: The School of Environmental Studies teaches ES341 Past, Present and Future Ecologies, which focuses on ecological restoration right on UVic Campus. Part of the curriculum involves invasive species pulls, where one of the classes each semester involves going to a green space on campus to remove English ivy from tree trunks. Class assignments also focus on the environmental sustainability of campus grounds, with the development of Restoration Designs for sites on the campus. Students produce final reports documenting the possible futures of nature restoration on campus, focusing on native species. The students’ projects address the Sustainability Action Plan for Campus Operations 2014-2019 goals to protect and manage ecological diversity and enhance the use of native species in landscape management on campus.

In the summer of 2023, the University of Victoria's (UVic) Purchasing Department undertook a strategic initiative by employing a law co-operative education (co-op) student to explore avenues for enhancing sustainability within the university's procurement processes. This initiative was driven by the recent enactment of Bill S-211, the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in the Supply Chain Act, effective from January 1, 2024, and the European Union Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (the Directives). The co-op student embarked on comprehensive research to dissect the objectives, requirements, and potential impacts of these Directives, culminating in a detailed report. This report outlined key findings and identified opportunities for UVic Purchasing to elevate its operational practices to align more closely with sustainability goals. The endeavor underscores the continuous commitment to sustainability, providing the UVic Purchasing team with valuable insights into the Directives, thereby facilitating the integration of everyday procurement activities with overarching sustainability objectives.

In 2020, a Masters student in the Mechanical Engineering department at the University of Victoria (UVic) initiated a project to explore the transformative potential of E-bikes in urban transportation. The study systematically investigated environmental and physical performance aspects of E-bikes in real-world scenarios, aiming to evaluate their capabilities for widespread adoption. The research included a thorough analysis of lifecycle emissions, comparisons with other urban transportation modes, and empirical data collection on a third-party electric motor technology. Notably, the study validated the efficiency improvements of the electric motor technology under real-world conditions, providing recommendations for further development. Furthermore, a corporate fleet trial involving E-bikes with 17 riders and over 600 km of trip data was conducted at UVic and within the CRD region. This trial not only validated a mathematical model of an E-bike but also extended the scope of lifecycle research to encompass upstream dietary emissions associated with human-supplied mechanical power during E-bike rides. The findings of the thesis highlighted both the strengths of E-bikes for corporate and personal transportation and the existing barriers hindering their widespread adoption, with the speed testing specifically performed at the University of Victoria.

In 2022, a UVic biology student undertook the responsibility of crafting a comprehensive charter for a campus-wide waste and recycling audit. This strategic document aimed to systematically collect valuable data on waste and recycling behaviors by pinpointing specific locations across the campus. Its primary purpose was to delineate the project's scope, unite various stakeholders, pinpoint public outreach contacts, and establish a clear schedule for major project milestones.

Functioning as a roadmap, the project charter played a crucial role in guiding Campus Planning and Sustainability, Facilities Waste Reduction, custodial services, and residence services. Its intent was to pinpoint and address potential changes and habits related to waste and recycling. The successful execution of the Campus Waste Audit from November 14-18, 2022, yielded outcomes that have been pivotal in our pursuit of institutional goals, particularly in striving towards achieving zero waste.

The Campus Community Garden Composting Toilet - For the experiential learning component of her master’s research, a Civil Engineering student has proposed the design, installment and maintenance of an exciting new project for the Campus Community Garden (CCG); a composting toilet! The installation of this ecological sanitation system will contribute towards the CCG’s objectives of stewardship, community building, sustainable food production practices, and education. The project will also address UVic’s mission to be an innovator in water use, recovery, reuse and stewardship. Ecological sanitation follows the principle of closing the cycle between sanitation and agriculture by recycling the nutrients in urine and feces into compost. By installing a composting toilet with separate urine collection, the CCG would be able to minimize water use and practice “water-wise practices” as stipulated in the CCG’s use agreement. The Public Health and Environmental Engineering Lab (PH2E) Lab in the Civil Engineering Department, serves to contribute to a body of knowledge to promote access to dignified and sustainable sanitation even in humanitarian emergency contexts and contribute to a global conversation about how best to develop and implement a sanitation systems given the constraints and risks of climate change. This is a key objective and corresponds to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)4 to “ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.” The student has also proposed that the composting toilet could support future research done through the civil engineering department providing a living lab for the university as well as the greater Vancouver Island community for innovative water use reduction practices.

In the summer of 2023, a co-op student hired by the Office of Campus Planning and tasked with the creation of a comprehensive Sustainability Wayfinding map, designed to highlight numerous eco-friendly features accessible to the campus community. The map serves as a valuable resource, showcasing the locations of expanded recycling bins across the UVic campus, providing an overview of outdoor Sort-it-Out Stations and expanded recycling facilities. The map specifically pinpoints the locations of Glass Recycling Sort-it-Out Bins, Styrofoam Recycling Bins, Soft Plastic Recycling Bins, Battery and Cellphone Recycling Bins, Disposable Mask Recycling Bins, as well as the Pen and Writing Utensils Recycling Bin.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1-a_qCK2OsifzNnKiGj-AnBh4Y8EgSHI&femb=1&ll=48.46386478879275%2C-123.31193019321813&z=17

In 2022, the Office of Campus Planning hired a co-op student to assist in conducting a comprehensive Staff Housing Survey. This initiative directly acknowledges and embraces the diverse composition of the university workforce. The survey was designed to delve into the distinct needs and experiences of employees, recognizing the profound impact that housing challenges can have on individuals from varying geographic, economic, and cultural backgrounds. Furthermore, the survey's emphasis on affordability underscores the university's dedication to fostering an inclusive and accessible campus environment. Actively seeking insights into the diverse housing concerns of employees showcases the university's commitment to cultivating a community that caters to a range of needs and backgrounds, ultimately contributing to a more equitable and affordable living experience for all on campus.

The Applied Portfolio Management Program (APMP) at the Gustavson School of Business invests funds provided by the University of Victoria and BCI for students pursuing careers in the investment industry. The APMP was established to prepare students for their careers by providing investment education, hand-on experience and exposure to industry professionals. The fund’s outperformance pays tribute to the core philosophy of integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into asset selection and risk management. The fund’s philosophy of being long-term investors who focus on high-quality companies that are not excessively leveraged and exhibit consistent cash flows paid off.

Sabrina Francescangeli, a master’s student in the Department of Psychology, completed their thesis on the connection between well-being and nature. Past research has overwhelmingly noted that nature immersion is related to a multitude of positive outcomes, including well-being. Yet, why nature is positively associated with well-being is less well-known. Participants were randomly assigned to walk a route at the University of Victoria (UVic) for five consecutive days in one of four possible conditions of nature immersion: inside a building, outside on campus, in a display garden, or on a nature trail. Participants took a post-walk survey at the end of each walk, measuring OVP activation, and a post-navigation survey at the end of the week measuring well-being. It was found that nature immersion was significantly associated with eudaimonic well-being, but only when OVP activation mediated this relationship. Otherwise, the relationship between nature immersion and well-being was not significant. This study contributes to the sparse literature operationalizing OVP activation and nature as a continuum.

Community Mapping Collaboratory: http://mapping.uvic.ca/
Campus Community Garden composting toilet: https://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/involved/sustainability-fund/projects/csf020composting-toilet/index.php
UVic Green Labs: https://www.uvic.ca/ohse/environment/green-labs/index.php
Student Housing and Dining Project: https://www.uvic.ca/campus/sustainability-on-campus/green-buildings/shd-tour/index.php
Default Veg:
https://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/assets/docs/default-veg_report_2021.pdf
Garry Oak Ecosystem Restoration Project: https://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/involved/sustainability-fund/projects/csf026-garry-oak-restoration-plan/index.php
EcoVadis: https://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/topics/purchasing/ecovadis/index.php
BikeHub: https://www.uvic.ca/security/parking/bicycle/index.php
Waste Audit: https://www.uvic.ca/facilities/about/news/archives/campus--waste-audit.php
UVic Transgender Archives: https://www.uvic.ca/transgenderarchives/index.php
Applied Portfolio Management Program:
https://www.uvic.ca/gustavson/faculty/community/appliedportfoliomanagementprogram/index.php
Eco-Map: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1-a_qCK2OsifzNnKiGj-AnBh4Y8EgSHI&femb=1&ll=48.46386478879275%2C-123.31193019321813&z=17