Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS)
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

The sustainable development initiative contest aims to support initiatives in sustainable development. It is developed in line with the strategic plan, the institutional scientific program, the INRS sustainable development policy and the INRS 2022-2025 sustainable development action plan. It is administered by the Institutional Sustainability Committee and aims to increase the responsibility and leadership in sustainable development of its community.

- The "Apprentis chercheurs" Program (that could translate to "Apprentice researchers") contributes to the promotion of science to youth in order to train the next generation of scientists. The program aims to offer high school students a free and unique opportunity to discover science and research with no other than INRS student-researchers themselves, accessible and inspiring models for our youth. The uniqueness of the program lies in the privileged and free access that we offer high school students with student-researchers from INRS. This one-to-one interaction allows a personalized training according to their science interest. https://inrs.ca/en/studies/student-life-services/student-commitment/apprentis-chercheurs-program/

- MosaiplastiQ : MosaïPlastiQ is a scientific and artistic discovery initiative which is above all an educational experience for young people. The culmination of the project is the creation of collective artistic works whose mission is to raise awareness among participants about the pollution of ecosystems by plastic. Indeed, the initiative involves children and students from INRS in creating mosaics entirely composed of plastic found in the environment or from small plastic objects which are no longer useful, and which are not recyclable. The final objective is the creation of a large mural, the fruit of creative efforts... with plastic debris as the main artistic material. Several works are exhibited at the Aquarium du Québec, Granby Zoo and INRS. https://mosaiplastiq.inrs.ca/

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The first INRS GHG report was produced by a student intern, supervised by Profesor Louis-César Pasquier. It served to develop the intern’s skills, and to develop INRS's calculation approach by providing an overall vision of emissions and the carbon impact of activities. This initiative also allows us to better understand and act for the energy efficiency of buildings while helping INRS to achieve its carbon neutrality objective set for 2040.

INRS has established a teleworking policy to allow employees and students to work remotely when possible. A research project, led by Professor Hénault-Éthier and Pasquier and realized with a postdoctoral fellow and a PhD student, in collaboration with Polytechnique Montréal, currently studies the impacts of teleworking on GHG emissions. INRS and two other organizations serve as research sites. This initiative allows both to guarantee greater well-being to the INRS community, but also to support students in their academic career and to support research in the field of transport and GHG emissions. https://inrs.ca/actualites/etudier-lincidence-teletravail-et-de-la-mobilite-sur-le-bilan-carbone/

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INRS researchers contribute their expertise to the Green Infrastructure Forum. Several research projects and master's programs focus on phytotechnologies that provide significant ecological services. INRS trains highly qualified personnel who will not only study the effectiveness of phytotechnologies but also optimize and deploy them. INRS's green spaces and water retention basins actively contribute to the research and reputation of INRS in the field of phytotechnologies. https://inrs.ca/actualites/la-recherche-au-benefice-des-phytotechnologies/

There is not a single point of sale that offers bottled water on our campuses. Water fountains are scattered throughout campus. This initiative encourages the INRS community as well as visitors to use reusable bottles and helps reduce the consumption of single-use plastic.

The UCS Montreal campus is home to a community bike workshop, run by students, with various tools and parts available and trained students to help community members maintain or repair their bikes, located in the former underground car park converted to multi-use basement. The students and the administration have enlarged and improved the area reserved for bicycles. During construction, they discovered several abandoned bicycles. The main building manager took the initiative of renovating one and offering it to a student who was experiencing financial insecurity, which brought him considerable help. https://inrs.ca/linrs/developpement-durable/chantiers-de-developpement-durable#mobilite

- In 2022, a student completed an internship coordinated by the director of the ETE Center Louise Hénault-Ethier and a postdoctoral intern to conduct an INRS waste audit. Three waste characterization audits were realized with the help of volunteers from the INRS community. This initiative helped support students in their academic career and develops INRS's sustainable approach to analyzing and reducing the quantity of waste produced.

- Research of the INRS professor Monique Lacroix actively contribute to increasing food safety and security and reducing food waste. Her work is based on the valorization of food by-products for the development of new high-value products, and is highly recognized by the scientific community. During Summer of 2023, she used the corn husks from a social event on the Laval campus for her research.

- In 2023, INRS offered a scholarship to a student to work on the stormwater recovered by the hydraulic canal roof at the ETE campus. Her purpose is to calculate the quantity of water recovered annually by the installations. This initiative supports student research and innovation regarding water preservation within INRS buildings.

- H2O Innovation (a globally recognized company that focuses on water treatment using innovation and new technologies) provides INRS with a mobile showcase container to raise awareness in the community about water-related challenges and its protection.

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The exhibition "We present ourselves to better understand ourselves" proposed as part of the "All variables are included" campaign presents different portraits of INRS students accompanied by intimate testimonies. This exhibition project is part of the activities that invite INRS members to join the movement for a welcoming and inclusive living environment.

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- The "Active Room" located in the Québec City building is a workplace equipped with exercise bikes, yoga mats, chairs and fitness balls. This environment offers the INRS community the opportunity to remain active while working and can serve a variety of group activities, such as yoga class or meetings. The “salle active” is also adaptable for research and other pursuits: Louise Hénault-Ethier, professor and director of the ETE centre, uses this space to test indoor plants that she and her students cultivate during a scientific experiment. https://www.facebook.com/louise.henaultethier/posts/pfbid02tyY3vkKHNox1aSGQrfUY19ZdqDGWH2fWHsx9njxdLLGNVLitswKVaPzVHR39Sdgl
The initiative has a positive impact on the wellness of INRS community on campus, and also contributes to supporting research.

- To ensure a healthier working environment with reduced exposure to chemicals, INRS has adopted a "Fragrance-Free Workplace" policy recommended by the Government of Canada. Awareness campaigns are displayed throughout the campuses to enhance the well-being and health of the community on campus.