Dalhousie University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Campus as a Living Lab Labs students engage with the campus community via surveys, interviews and programming. Student projects measure behavior modifications before and after introducing a behavioral aide (posters or programs). For example the projects “Reusable Mug Program: Assessing Campus Perspectives and Use of the Pilot Program at the Killam Library, Dalhousie University" and “Effectiveness of a Behaviour - Based Energy Conservation Campaign, Targeting Accessibility Door Systems on Dalhousie Studley Campus". Other projects assess perspectives on via interviews and surveys. Examples Include projects like : “Sprucing Up Dalhousie: Understanding Students’ Knowledge and Values about Biodiversity on Dalhousie University’s Studley Campus” and “Perceptions of Climate Change: How Dalhousie Students Conceptualize Climate Change and the Role of Faculty in Promoting Awareness".

Campus as a Living Laboratory is a hands-on course offered in the Environmental Science program and cross-listed with the College of Sustainability. This course requires students to carry out various projects using Dalhousie as a template. Some of the results of these projects are used to inform decision making around key areas of campus operations.

The Office of Sustainability is involved with the Campus is a living lab projects from start to finish and results from projects help inform policy changes and direction of initiatives.

The Office of Sustainability employees student interns from a number of faculties to research best practices for community engagement and implement projects to improve campus engagement with the office.

Dalhousie's Faulty of Science hosts an annual Bioblitz to catalogue biodiversity on campus. Community members, students and staff explore campus and track the species they see using the iNaturalist app ( https://www.dal.ca/news/today/2020/09/16/2020_dalhousie_bioblitz.html)

Office of Sustainability interns work on climate change and air pollution projects on a regular basis. Recent examples include research and reports on using land protection as a local method for carbon offsetting and life cycle emissions factor analysis of Dalhousie fuel types.

Final Report: Indoor Plants Influence on Student Mood

Feasibility and Desirability of Implementing a Vertical Garden on LSC Building of Dalhousie University's Studley Campus

The Effect of Campus Study Spaces on Mental Wellbeing at Dalhousie University: Does the Lack of Natural Light in the Killam Library Reduce Students Mental Wellbeing?

Accounting for Nature: An Audit & Ranking of Indoor Green Spaces in Student-Use Buildings at Dalhousie University

The Effects of Interior Green Spaces on Student Wellbeing and Productivity on Dalhousie University’s Studley Campus

Transportation Safety on Dalhousie Studley Campus: How Can Traffic Calming Measures Affect the Safety of Transportation on Dalhousie Studley Campus?

Night Light Audit Research Project

Identifying the Economic, Environmental, and Social Impacts of Overnight, Indoor Lighting on Dalhousie University’s Studley Campus

Formalizing EV Infrastructure and Management on Dalhousie Campuses

Perceptions of Climate Change: How Dalhousie Students Conceptualize Climate Change and the Role of Faculty in Promoting Awareness

The Efficacy of Implementing a Photovoltaic System at 1400 Lemarchant St.

Effectiveness of a Behaviour - Based Energy Conservation Campaign, Targeting Accessibility Door Systems on Dalhousie Studley Campus

Dalhousie Energy Use and Benchmarking

Green Labs Energy Audit

Carbon Emissions of Biomass & Fossil Fuel Feedstocks

Green Labs Equipment Audit

Energy and Climate Coordination

Ethical and Sustainable Coffee Consumption on Studley Campus, Dalhousie University

Veggies on Campus: Where, why, & how Dalhousie students access fresh produce

Reusable Mug Program: Assessing Campus Perspectives and Use of the Pilot Program at the Killam Library, Dalhousie University

Sprucing Up Dalhousie: Understanding Students’ Knowledge and Values about Biodiversity on Dalhousie University’s Studley Campus

Dalhousie Campus Tree Inventory

Identifying and Tagging Tree Species for Removal and Revitalization Within the Dalhousie University Ocean Pond

Dal Will Be SUSTained: Dalhousie University Student Interest in an On-Campus Dalhousie Clothing Thrift Store

Observing Fast Fashion Trends in Dalhousie’s Student Community: An Analysis of the Behaviours Related to Fast Fashion and the Establishment of a Clothing Bank on Campus

Green is the New Black: Integrating Sustainable Clothing at the Dalhousie Bookstore

Management without borders: Sustainable and Ethical Purchasing of textiles at Dalhousie University

Factors Influencing Undergraduate Students’ Transportation Usage to and From Dalhousie’s Studley Campus

Transportation Safety on Dalhousie Studley Campus: How Can Traffic Calming Measures Affect the Safety of Transportation on Dalhousie Studley Campus?

Making Active Transportation More Accessible on the Dalhousie Studley

Management Without Borders: Assessing Accessibility Barrier

Identifying Waste Management Behaviours of Dalhousie University Students Concerning the Reduction of Disposable Cups on Studley Campus: A Qualitative Study to Assess Current Dalhousie Waste-Management Framework Success and Current Issues

Report on Factors that Influence Food Waste Behaviours

Viability of a Full Collection Depot on Studley Campus: Research on Dalhousie student's recycling behaviors and their opinions for installing a Full Collection Depot on Studley Campus at Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Addressing Food Waste and Food Security Through the Diversion of Avoidable Food Waste on Dalhousie’s Studley Campus

The Perception of Waste and Its Influence on Waste Diversion in Howe Hall, Dalhousie University

Perspectives on Disposable Beverage Waste

Waste Management at Dalhousie University, Canada: Social Factors Affecting Recycling Behavior and use of the Four Bin System at the Studley Campus

Food for Thought: Assessing Student Perceptions of Meal Hall Plastic Waste and Sustainability in Dalhousie Halifax Campus Residences

The Price of Plastic: An Analysis of the Environmental and Economic Impacts and Social Perceptions of Single-Use Plastic Containers at Dalhousie University

Unrolling the Truth about Paper Towel

Waste and Inefficiencies as Identified by Dalhousie University Facilities Management Staff

Waste Knowledgeability on Studley Campus

Waste Education and Waste Audit Data Review

University Solid Waste Management Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Tap Take Back: Awareness Surrounding Dalhousie University’s Drinking Water Pledge and Implications for the Dalhousie Community

Dalhousie’s Water Pledge Reviewed; A look at Perceptions and Actions Taken

Benefits of Undergraduate Field Courses at Dalhousie University in Biology, Sustainability, Environmental and Earth Sciences: The Importance of Hands-On Learning

Curriculum Audit: How Dalhousie University is integrating sustainability into its non-environmental undergraduate programs

Change Movers & Shakers, & Music Makers: Assessing the Feasibility of Introducing a Course on Music, the Environment, and Changemaking at Dalhousie University

An Analysis of Environmental Justice Education in Environmentally-Focused Programs at Dalhousie University

Integrating Social Justice and Sustainability Practices in Higher Education

Cost-Benefit Analysis of Fossil Fuel Divestment

Most years the Office of Sustainability has a Planning intern that is exploring the support of active transportation initiatives to reduce emissions, support wellness, and equity. Recent efforts in 2020 had 10 Masters students working with the office through the Management Without Borders class to analyze accessibility and transportation options.