| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 68.42 |
| Liaison | Andrew D'Amico |
| Submission Date | Aug. 25, 2021 |
Princeton University
AC-10: Support for Sustainability Research
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Shana
Weber Director Office of Sustainability |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Does the institution have an ongoing program to encourage students in multiple disciplines or academic programs to conduct sustainability research?:
Yes
A brief description of the student sustainability research program:
High Meadows Environmental Institute (HMEI) – Undergraduate-level
HMEI Faculty and associated faculty represent a community of scholars and dedicated educators who encourage and mentor students to pursue rigorous environmental study and research. Entry level and upper level courses comprising the Environmental Studies course of study incorporate a “Real World Model” as part of a laboratory curriculum that uses the campus and local community as laboratories for scientific study of environment and sustainability topics. Also, field research is an important component of several upper level courses and seminars with course-related field work in destinations including Kenya and Panama.
Princeton undergraduates have the opportunity to complement their academic coursework with hands-on, engaging, independent research, and project experiences during the summer months. Students interested in exploring and expanding their knowledge of complex global environmental problems related to energy and climate, sustainable development in Africa, infectious disease and global health, and environmental sustainability may apply to one of 100-plus established internships with faculty on research projects or with select mentored projects with NGOs, academic, policy, or industry enterprises.
Princeton undergraduates may also request funding to support self-initiated projects involving environment or sustainability themes with connections to their academic course of study and a suitable mentor clearly identified. Such experiences frequently guide the selection of independent research projects in the senior year – a requirement of the undergraduate experience at Princeton. Princeton undergraduates may apply for support of travel, research, and supplies for field research on environmental or sustainability topics related to their senior independent projects. A few recent field research projects include: Reconstructing Earth's First Reefs and Their Impacts on the Cambrian Explosion; The El Nino-southern Oscillation and Climate Effects on Tropical Birds, Transport of Soil Carbon in a Transparent Soil. Note: For listing of recent projects, see https://environment.princeton.edu/education/internships/internship-opportunities/
High Meadows Environmental Institute (HMEI) – Graduate-level
The Princeton Energy and Climate Scholars (PECS) involves Ph.D. candidates from a wide range of departments including Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Economics, Geosciences, and from the School of Engineering and the Woodrow Wilson School. PECS enhances the research experience of Princeton’s graduate students by encouraging the most talented of these students to transcend the boundaries of their fields by engaging with students doing environmental work in different disciplines. Students are selected by competitive application to participate in the PECS Program, receive a modest research stipend, meet bi-monthly as a group and with an interdisciplinary faculty board of advisors. https://environment.princeton.edu/education/graduate-certificate-in-environmental-studies/princeton-energy-and-climate-scholars/
The central component of HMEI's graduate program is the Program in Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy (HMEI-STEP), offered in affiliation with Princeton’s School of Public and International Affairs. This two-year program enables participating students to explore the environmental policy dimensions of their doctoral research. Students who complete the requirements of the HMEI-STEP fellowship program are awarded a Graduate Certificate in Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy from the School of Public and International Affairs in addition to receiving a degree from the department in which the student is enrolled. Students who participate as HMEI-STEP Fellows go on to pursue positions of environmental leadership in academic, government, non-profit, and industry sectors following their time at Princeton. https://environment.princeton.edu/education/graduate-certificate-in-environmental-studies/hmei-step-program/
The HMEI Walbridge Fund Award provides 6-8 awards annually in amounts up to $10,000 to Princeton graduate students pursuing innovative projects on energy, climate change science, modeling, and policy, or closely related topics. Projects hailing from a broad range of disciplines are eligible for consideration. Funds may be used for a range of purposes, including fieldwork support, travel, conference participation, the purchase of equipment, and costs associated with data analysis and facilities use. A competitive application process is held annually with awards determined by a Faculty Selection Committee. https://environment.princeton.edu/education/graduate-certificate-in-environmental-studies/walbridge-fund-graduate-award/
The Mary and Randall Hack '69 Award provides research funding to support Princeton University graduate students pursuing innovative research on water and water-related topics with implications for the environment. Projects hailing from a broad range of disciplines are eligible for consideration including climate science, engineering, and environmental policy. https://environment.princeton.edu/education/graduate-certificate-in-environmental-studies/mary-and-randall-hack-69-graduate-award/
HMEI Faculty and associated faculty represent a community of scholars and dedicated educators who encourage and mentor students to pursue rigorous environmental study and research. Entry level and upper level courses comprising the Environmental Studies course of study incorporate a “Real World Model” as part of a laboratory curriculum that uses the campus and local community as laboratories for scientific study of environment and sustainability topics. Also, field research is an important component of several upper level courses and seminars with course-related field work in destinations including Kenya and Panama.
Princeton undergraduates have the opportunity to complement their academic coursework with hands-on, engaging, independent research, and project experiences during the summer months. Students interested in exploring and expanding their knowledge of complex global environmental problems related to energy and climate, sustainable development in Africa, infectious disease and global health, and environmental sustainability may apply to one of 100-plus established internships with faculty on research projects or with select mentored projects with NGOs, academic, policy, or industry enterprises.
Princeton undergraduates may also request funding to support self-initiated projects involving environment or sustainability themes with connections to their academic course of study and a suitable mentor clearly identified. Such experiences frequently guide the selection of independent research projects in the senior year – a requirement of the undergraduate experience at Princeton. Princeton undergraduates may apply for support of travel, research, and supplies for field research on environmental or sustainability topics related to their senior independent projects. A few recent field research projects include: Reconstructing Earth's First Reefs and Their Impacts on the Cambrian Explosion; The El Nino-southern Oscillation and Climate Effects on Tropical Birds, Transport of Soil Carbon in a Transparent Soil. Note: For listing of recent projects, see https://environment.princeton.edu/education/internships/internship-opportunities/
High Meadows Environmental Institute (HMEI) – Graduate-level
The Princeton Energy and Climate Scholars (PECS) involves Ph.D. candidates from a wide range of departments including Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Economics, Geosciences, and from the School of Engineering and the Woodrow Wilson School. PECS enhances the research experience of Princeton’s graduate students by encouraging the most talented of these students to transcend the boundaries of their fields by engaging with students doing environmental work in different disciplines. Students are selected by competitive application to participate in the PECS Program, receive a modest research stipend, meet bi-monthly as a group and with an interdisciplinary faculty board of advisors. https://environment.princeton.edu/education/graduate-certificate-in-environmental-studies/princeton-energy-and-climate-scholars/
The central component of HMEI's graduate program is the Program in Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy (HMEI-STEP), offered in affiliation with Princeton’s School of Public and International Affairs. This two-year program enables participating students to explore the environmental policy dimensions of their doctoral research. Students who complete the requirements of the HMEI-STEP fellowship program are awarded a Graduate Certificate in Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy from the School of Public and International Affairs in addition to receiving a degree from the department in which the student is enrolled. Students who participate as HMEI-STEP Fellows go on to pursue positions of environmental leadership in academic, government, non-profit, and industry sectors following their time at Princeton. https://environment.princeton.edu/education/graduate-certificate-in-environmental-studies/hmei-step-program/
The HMEI Walbridge Fund Award provides 6-8 awards annually in amounts up to $10,000 to Princeton graduate students pursuing innovative projects on energy, climate change science, modeling, and policy, or closely related topics. Projects hailing from a broad range of disciplines are eligible for consideration. Funds may be used for a range of purposes, including fieldwork support, travel, conference participation, the purchase of equipment, and costs associated with data analysis and facilities use. A competitive application process is held annually with awards determined by a Faculty Selection Committee. https://environment.princeton.edu/education/graduate-certificate-in-environmental-studies/walbridge-fund-graduate-award/
The Mary and Randall Hack '69 Award provides research funding to support Princeton University graduate students pursuing innovative research on water and water-related topics with implications for the environment. Projects hailing from a broad range of disciplines are eligible for consideration including climate science, engineering, and environmental policy. https://environment.princeton.edu/education/graduate-certificate-in-environmental-studies/mary-and-randall-hack-69-graduate-award/
Does the institution have a program to encourage academic staff from multiple disciplines or academic programs to conduct sustainability research?:
Yes
A brief description of the faculty sustainability research program:
Through its Grand Challenges Program, Princeton promotes cutting-edge interdisciplinary research on energy, health, and development themes. Research funding is awarded and carried out locally and around the world with the engagement of a broad cross-section of the University community to explore the scientific, technical, public policy, and human dimensions of global environmental problems. Research from the Grand Challenges program has focused on a multitude of issues, including, climate syndromes, the Sargasso sea, ecosystem spatial patterns, climate change and agriculture, health as an ecosystem service, potable water, and many more.
Has the institution published written policies and procedures that give positive recognition to interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary, and multidisciplinary research during faculty promotion and/or tenure decisions?:
Yes
A copy of the promotion or tenure guidelines or policies:
---
The promotion or tenure guidelines or policies:
The University does not have written language that explicitly gives positive recognition to interdisciplinary research in promotion or tenure decisions. However, in the Rules and Procedures of the Faculty, the University makes it clear that faculty with joint appointments need to be reviewed by both units in reappointment and promotion procedures. Additionally, interdisciplinary work may still be valued and considered in reappointment and promotion decisions for all other faculty, even if not explicitly stated in the Rules and Procedures.
Does the institution have ongoing library support for sustainability research and learning?:
Yes
A brief description of the institution’s library support for sustainability research:
The University Library offers various support for sustainability research in the form of dedicated librarians to related subject areas and subscription access to a variety of resources. The University subscribes to a number of databases that provide access to articles on a range of sustainability topics. Examples include the Sustainability Science Abstracts and GREENR (Global Reference on the Environment, Energy, and Natural Resource) databases and open access content for instruction and coursework. The Environmental Studies in Video on demand resource includes films covering all realms of environmental studies, particularly ethics, policy, economics, law, sociology, planning, and environmental science. It addresses specific topics including alternative energy, pollution control, eco-design, sustainability, farming and agriculture, the food industry, LEED certification, waste issues, and climate change. Classroom support in the use of library materials on sustainability is available upon request.
Website URL where information about the institution’s support for sustainability research is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Additional links:
HMEI Undergraduate Internship Program: https://environment.princeton.edu/undergrads/internships/
HMEI-STEP Graduate Program: https://environment.princeton.edu/education/graduate-certificate-in-environmental-studies/mary-and-randall-hack-69-graduate-award/
The HMEI Walbridge Fund Award: https://environment.princeton.edu/grads/fellowships-awards/walbridge/
The Mary and Randall Hack '69 Award: https://environment.princeton.edu/grads/fellowships-awards/hack-graduate-award/
Grand Challenges Research: https://environment.princeton.edu/grandchallenges/research
The High Meadows Foundation Sustainability Fund: http://sustain.princeton.edu/lead/funding
Campus as Lab Innovation Fund: http://research.princeton.edu/dean/funding/deans-innovation-funds/
Andlinger Center Student Funding: seehttp://acee.princeton.edu/education/student-funding-for-research/
ACEE: Princeton E-ffiliates Partnership RFP: https://e-ffiliates-acee.princeton.edu/research/
Princeton University Library: http://library.princeton.edu/
HMEI Undergraduate Internship Program: https://environment.princeton.edu/undergrads/internships/
HMEI-STEP Graduate Program: https://environment.princeton.edu/education/graduate-certificate-in-environmental-studies/mary-and-randall-hack-69-graduate-award/
The HMEI Walbridge Fund Award: https://environment.princeton.edu/grads/fellowships-awards/walbridge/
The Mary and Randall Hack '69 Award: https://environment.princeton.edu/grads/fellowships-awards/hack-graduate-award/
Grand Challenges Research: https://environment.princeton.edu/grandchallenges/research
The High Meadows Foundation Sustainability Fund: http://sustain.princeton.edu/lead/funding
Campus as Lab Innovation Fund: http://research.princeton.edu/dean/funding/deans-innovation-funds/
Andlinger Center Student Funding: seehttp://acee.princeton.edu/education/student-funding-for-research/
ACEE: Princeton E-ffiliates Partnership RFP: https://e-ffiliates-acee.princeton.edu/research/
Princeton University Library: http://library.princeton.edu/
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