Illinois Institute of Technology
ER-15: Sustainability Research Identification

IIT developed a Sustainability Task Force comprised of 12 faculty members from across all colleges/disciplines at IIT to consider how to integrate sustainability across university education, research, and campus programs. The Committee established a definition of sustainability as the basis of discussion. The Committee brought its recommendations to the university Deans for implementation. Sustainability (in the sense used here) is short for "sustainable development." Development is the improvement of the human condition overall; sustainability (in a narrower sense) implies achieving that improvement in ways not precluding any future generation doing the same. There are, then, at least three aspects of sustainability so understood: 1. Technological: Meeting human demand for natural resources (including air and water), industrial products, energy, food, transportation, shelter, communication, pleasure, effective waste management, and the like, while protecting environmental quality. Development that damages the natural or social environment is not sustainable. 2. Social: Carrying on technological development in ways that improve, or at least do not worsen, the lives of those economically or otherwise disadvantaged, present or future. Development that increases poverty, oppression, or injustice is not sustainable. 3. Intergenerational: Carrying on technological development in ways that leave all future generations opportunities for development at least as good as the present generation has. Development that achieves success today at the expense of tomorrow is not sustainable.

WISER has identified faculty from across the university engaged in research related to energy and sustainability WISER director and assistant director visited departments across the university to introduce WISER activities and encourage participation among all faculty. Faculty could contract WISER assistant director with list of research areas and interests and be linked to WISER web page. WISER faculty affiliates are apprised of research and education opportunities throughout the year.