Session Recap >>Establishing a Research Agenda for...
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Establishing a Research Agenda for the Sustainability Field
Julie Newman, Ph.D., Yale University
Shana Weber, Ph.D., Princeton University
(Julie Speaking)
Julie comes from a policy background, Shana has an ecology background. Both arrived in a place in their career where they're trying to find a way to frame and grow the research agenda.
(Shana speaking)
The field of sustainability is still young. We still don't have a unified research agenda whereas many other fields do.
Our Assumptions
-A unified research agenda for our field is important
-Sustainability programs are natural partners with but not currently paired with academic research agendas
-This agenda exists where the nuts and bolts operational experience intersects with current academic research interests
-That pairing would provide local solutions to global challenges
-Higher education is the right place
(Julie)
PSU, too, is struggling with finding a research agenda. A friend from PSU said "You're one of those 'pracademics'" to Julie. The knowledge and framework are there, it's just a matter of tapping into them.
What we don't know: a possible framework
-Ecological Systems
-Apply to both urban and rural universities
-Social Systems
-Engagement of people in this work
(Shana)
-Physical Systems
-Built environment. Old vs. new. Learning how to apply sustainability to old buildings, not just building new ones.
-Technical Systems
-Infrastructure. How do we integrate new technologies into energy conservation? Renewable technology.
-Organizational Systems
-How do we look at this from a research perspective?
-Integrative Systems
-Idea that all fields work together toward decision making.
Are theses the right terms? Can some of them be paired?
(Julie)
Questions for Exploration
1. Why is it important to have a unified research agenda?
2. What should a research agenda achieve, in plain language?
3. What kind of expertise do we need in our field to advance a research agenda?
How are these questions manifesting?
-Princeton & Yale
-Linking campus-based sustainability
-Sustainability in the lab. People are finally catching up with this. It's not that people never believed in it before, we are just more capable now.
Sample Research Questions - Yale
-How much aught a campus use to be sustainable
-How to balance small issues like water bottles with big issues
(Shana)
Sample Research Questions - Princeton
-What is the most effective combination of communication strategies to encourage behavior change?
-What are the financial benefits associated with programs perceived to be "soft" (bikeshares, ecoreps, garden projects, etc.)?
-What are effective incentives within the design and construction industry to maximize for energy efficiency and innovation?
-What are viable solutions to the lack of public transportation for commuters?
Analytical tools for potential use in defining agenda
-We all use these tools on a daily basis but we have not yet applied them to the research agenda
-Life Cycle Analysis
-Systems thinking
-Synthesis
-Cost Benefit Analysis
(Julie)
WORKSHOP TIME
-Take a moment to think of your work on campus and discuss the challenges and solutions.
Questions:
-Q: Who is sitting in the room?
A: (Took survey of group) Wide spread of faculty, half-faculty, sustainability directors, librarians, graduates, undergraduates
-Q: Can we define our focus?
A: (Answers from group) How can we learn to live well in our place (whatever it may be) and be good citizens? Majora's quote "local solutions to global challenges. We are anchors in our communities… we're the biggest customers. Maybe we need to publish a research agenda. Need to discuss research grants. Practitioners need to research and faculty need to practice so we can work together.
-Q: Which faculty do we engage around research? (Business? Communication?)
A: (Shana) Connect with the faculty that already have an interest and have been collecting data. Ideal scenario has been that they've had funding that brought faculty out of the woodwork to do great research. Or find faculty that are teaching courses about topics that are of interest.
Q: Does one section of faculty have more credibility and promise?
A: (Shana) Engineering was first for Princeton
-Q: Shouldn't we look outside of campus
A: (Julie) Definitely! Look at broad scale and connections. (Shana) One of the outcomes of a better research agenda is more cumulative impact.
-Q: Where are most faculty members looking for grants? What are grants offering to fund?
A: (Not much response) NSF
-Q: What are universities uniquely qualified to do that is transferrable to hospitals, etc.? How do we tap the brainpower of faculty, students, etc.?
A: (Julie) Links back to first question
-Q: Come up with examples of initiatives
A: (Group member) Flood research, job creation, crop growth in Vermont.
-Q: What is driving the research agenda?
A: (Shana) Instead of being solely industry or academic interests, what is the optimal combination of interests? Could define by profit (industry approach). What is our end point? That's what today's discussion is about.
-Q: How are we sharing this information. It's all disciplinary and there are a lot of separate journal
A: (Group members) Proceedings of the National Academy of Science just started a sustainability focus. We need to constantly ask ourselves what the barriers to interdisciplinary research are.
Cloud of knowledge created… bring it to the next level where it comes together.
Posted: October 10, 2011, 10:46 AM