Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 73.10
Liaison Jim Dees
Submission Date May 21, 2012
Executive Letter Download

STARS v1.2

Appalachian State University
ER-15: Sustainability Research Identification

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Has the institution developed a definition of sustainability research?:
Yes

A copy of the institution's definition of sustainability research:

Definition of Research and Scholarly Activity
Research is the process of systematically planned and performed investigation of a problem or concept to gain new insights or knowledge into facts, principles, theories, applications, or creative works designed to develop or contribute to generalized knowledge. It may use the scientific method or other approach that reflects an open mind and verified using facts and result in the discovery, interpretation or development of methods for the advancement of human knowledge. It is important to note that this definition rightly includes creative endeavors and performances. Contributing : John Pine Director of ASU’s Research Institute of Energy, Environment and Economics

Research is considered to be associated with sustainability when it exhibits or one of the following learning objectives (check one or more):

* Integration of basic and applied knowledge from multiple disciplines, including the natural and social sciences, to analyze human-environment interactions;

* Analysis of trade-offs or co-benefits involved in managing resources for the social, economic, and environmental welfare of current and future generations;

* Development of alternative strategies for the use of natural, human, and fiscal resources that are compatible with the constraints on these resources;

* Implementation of practical solutions to socioeconomic and environmental challenges, relating to energy, technology, ecosystems, social transformations, food systems, policy, and governance.


Has the institution identified its sustainability research activities and initiatives?:
Yes

A brief description of the methodology the institution followed to complete the inventory:

A survey to all tenure-track faculty sought to capture names, departments and research title and abstract information for all research and creative endeavors that relate to sustainability.

Research is considered to exhibit a sustainability attribute when it pertains to one or more of the following:

- Integration of basic or applied knowledge from multiple disciplines, including the natural and social sciences, to analyze human-environment interactions;

- Analysis of the management of resources for the social, economic, and environmental welfare of current and/or future generations;

- Development of alternative strategies for the current or future use of our natural, human (social/cultural), built, or economic resources;

- Implementation of practical solutions that address challenges to our social cultural, economic, built or environmental resources.

If faculty members could answer yes to any of this criteria, the survey considers their research and creative endeavors to hold a sustainability attribute.

This survey was developed by the Office of Sponsored Programs, the Research Institute for Energy, Environment and Economics, and the Office of Sustainability.


Does the institution make its sustainability research inventory publicly available online?:
Yes

The website URL where the sustainability research inventory is posted (required if claiming Part 3 of the credit):
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.