California State University, Northridge
AC-10: Support for Sustainability Research

The Office of Research and Graduate Studies hosts an annual Student Research and Creative Works Symposium, "CSUNPosium". This is a student conference featuring oral and poster presentations. The purpose is to showcase excellence in scholarly research and creative activity conducted by CSUN students across all academic disciplines. Presentation tracks are organized by interdisciplinary-themed sessions rather than by discipline.

Students are also supported to work on sustainability-related research projects through the Institute for Sustainability and Facilities Planning. Examples include: the development of surveys, development and analysis of commuting data, sustainable fashion company analysis, sustainability literacy and culture assessments, biodiversity assessments, solar panel efficiency, healthy and sustainable food marketing assessment, water conservation and irrigation efficiency maps, campus sustainability mapping, climate change research, and zero waste analyses. Students have presented at conferences including AASHE, CHESC, SCAG, WPA, and This Way to Sustainability.

CSUN is also an enhanced Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) member. With this membership, students have access to research, publications, mentorship, and conference support.

https://www.cur.org/resources-publications/student-resources/ 

In addition, multiple local and state-wide programs that support student research:

• SAGE Student Research Conference: An annual research conference sponsored by SAGE Publishing that is open to all students and the public. Students may present either a poster or oral presentation. Prizes are awarded for best poster and best presentation.
• California State University (CSU) Student Research Competition: The CSU Student Research Competition (SRC) is the premier showcase for student research in the CSU. Undergraduate and Graduate students are eligible to participate in the SRC.
• Southern California Conference of Undergraduate Research (SCCUR): An annual conference where undergraduate students are invited to present their research findings.

Faculty Associates are provided stipends through the Institute for Sustainability to conduct research. Examples are effective sustainability messaging, sustainable packaging design, plant intercropping, analysis of commuting trends, climate science education, sustainable fashion, and more.

CSUN's Faculty Senate hosts annual Faculty Recognition Awards which formally recognizes faculty who have excelled in the following categories:

• Outstanding Faculty Award - Up to (2) awards, $2000 each
• Distinguished Teaching, Counseling, or Librarianship Award - Up to (3) awards, $1,500 each
• Preeminent Scholarly Publication(s) Award - $1,500
• Exceptional Creative Accomplishment(s) Award - $1,500
• Extraordinary Service Award- $1,500
• Visionary Community Based Service Learning Award - $1,500
• Highly Influential and Sustained Innovation Award- $1,700
• High-Impact Innovation Award- $1,500

https://w2.csun.edu/faculty-senate/news-events/faculty-awards

The Library provides reference services, research consultations, materials in many formats, access to databases for conducting research, and course-related instruction for students and faculty. Librarians create subject guides and course-specific webpages hosted by the Library and provide content in the campus learning management system to support student learning.

In addition, the Library collaborates to fund the Research Fellows Program which has the following benefits: facilitating a network of people to catalyze initiatives; launching new collaborations; expanding and strengthening the talent base of researchers; linking researchers with other disciplines and industries; applying knowledge to relevant area problems; initiating a more vibrant research focus for the campus; spotlighting the diversity of research; catalyzing new research; and mentoring new scholars.