The University of British Columbia
AC-9: Academic Research

An initial sustainability research inventory was completed by UBC in 2009. In 2014 we updated this inventory, using this methodology: 1) we searched the internal research proposal database for sustainability-related keywords 2) we used bibliometric tools to identify sustainability-related publications by UBC researchers 3) we used websites to verify information collected through the first two steps 4) we asked UBC faculty members to verify the information we collected via the first three steps 5) we invited UBC faculty members not identified in our search to self-identify as sustainability researchers The inventory includes faculty members who belong to the UBC Faculty Association and whose appointments include research duties (Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Professor.)

UBC is an active research university with myriad sustainability research projects and programs. An interesting research project which exemplifies UBC's sustainability commitment is the Think & Eat Green @ School project. The project, through which UBC worked closely with the Vancouver School Board (VSB), connected students to the origins of their food and inspired change in what children eat, learn and do at school in relation to food, health, the environment and sustainability. The project highlighted the significant impact that the food system as a whole has on greenhouse gas emissions and our ecological footprint. Over the term of the project, 400+ UBC undergraduate and graduate students were involved in 60 VSB classrooms. A total of 34 elementary and secondary schools received grants to carry out projects in areas of curriculum innovation, food policy and climate change adaptation, and school based food production, consumption, preparation and procurement. 100 teachers and food advocates participated in the third Think & Eat Green@School Summer Institute.