University of Ottawa
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

There are many student-run environmental services and initiatives on campus, such as the Sustainability Centre. This Centre regularly recruits student volunteers to help research more sustainable practices on-campus (ex. how to make campus fossil fuel free), and to promote sustainability amongst the student population.

There are also a few active student clubs and associations that aim to educate students on various environmental issues, such as the Climate Crisis Coalition and the Society of Environmental Awareness.

Every year, during reading week, the Office of Campus Sustainability hosts an ‘Alternative Student Break’. For a full week, students conduct on-campus waste audits, analyze their findings, and provide suggestions to improve recycling habits.

Finally, a Green Reps program exists for students living in campus residences. Students participating in this program are eco-ambassadors and encourage sustainable living and practices amongst their peers.

As part of the Community Service-Learning program, students from a variety of courses (environmental studies, communication, and politics) surveyed a minimum of 10 people on campus regarding sustainability issues. Students then compiled survey data to create a report on sustainability practices and provided recommendations.

Students in capstone course ADM4317 were asked to help find ways to reduce the University’s emission consumptions and find ways to sequester carbon in a cost-effective manner, break down the most promising forms of carbon sequestration and analyze their feasibility for the University of Ottawa. Students will then be asked to create a report outlining a business strategy to implement the top options.

As part of the TD Environmental Leaders program, students worked with Safe Wings to help make uOttawa a safer campus for birds. As part of this project, students researched and identified high risk areas for bird collisions on campus. They then helped paint a mural on a particularly high-risk window, which gave it more visibility and helped make it bird-safe.

Students from the capstone course ADM4317 were asked to research what other institutions have done to implement effective financially related carbon mitigation strategies. Then students were asked to determine which mechanisms might work best at the University of Ottawa to help reduce the overall carbon footprint of the institution.

Students in a fourth year International Development and Food Security course assisted the uOttawa Office of Campus Sustainability in understanding food insecurity on campus while helping students learn real world skills. Students were asked to administer the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) for measurement of food access on campus. The group then compared the results to the national average or Provincial average. The group will be responsible for creating a report that outlines their findings and presents some potential solutions for reducing food scarcity on campus based on their findings.

In addition, on multiple occasions, students in the Nutrition program helped uOttawa Food Services with research projects related to food and nutrition. Project topics include increasing the use of reusable mugs, promoting nutritionally dense foods to support academic performance, promoting plant-based eating, examining nutritional profiles and properties of milk and milk alternatives, etc.

Students in a third year Conservation Biology course helped the Office of Campus Sustainability in a project related to growing the number of trees on campus. Students reviewed available tree data documentation and calculated the amount of trees that should be present on campus. Student also determined which trees should be grown on campus for their ecosystem and aesthetic qualities. A report was generated with recommendations.

There are also various volunteer-run Green Spaces and Learning Gardens on campus. These spaces are open to all people interested in learning how to grow food, medicine, and plants in general.

Students in the capstone course ADM4317 collaborated with the University of Ottawa’s Information Technology team to find a way to make their uOttawa IT greener. Students were encouraged to research the most sustainable IT practices going forward and provide recommendations. As part of this project, students researched procurement policies for IT software, smartphones, laptops and desktops, and more.

A different cohort of students from the same course (ADM4317) were asked to analyze the uOttawa Furniture Reuse Program. The University of Ottawa spends hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars every year on office furniture and equipment. Students were asked to investigate what strategies were employed at other institutions to reuse their furniture and equipment, rather than spend money purchasing new equipment.

Students in the capstone course ADM4317 were tasked with understanding how to increase alternative transportation use amongst uOttawa employees since employees represent the highest users of single occupancy vehicles on campus. Students were to investigate what would be involved with the creation of a UPASS type program for uOttawa employees and staff, and the potential for the University to provide incentives for such a program. Group members will create a report detailing the needs of the stakeholders and outline the major obstacles to implementation

There is also a student-run Bike Co-op on campus. Through workshops, cycling resources, advocacy, and outreach, the Co-op promotes healthy sustainable living, while empowering students and community members to take control of their transportation.

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Waste
Students in the capstone course ADM4317 were asked to work in a team to determine what materials in the University of Ottawa’s waste stream could be repurposed to serve a higher and better use. Students will be asked to determine how other organizations are reimaging their waste and how their successes could be implemented advantageously here on campus. Student will be asked to conduct interviews, determine a winning business strategy, and report on their findings.

Other volunteer-run waste-reducing initiatives exist on campus, for example:
- The Free Store: This is a one-stop shop that allows students to drop off stuff they don’t want anymore and pick-up things they do want for FREE. Essentially, this is a “store” where everything is free for members of the uOttawa community (students, staff, and alumni). The goal is to create a campus where waste is a thing of the past. By creating a space where anyone can drop off and pick up stuff, the store hopes to reduce consumption by offering free items to the campus.
- Muggy Mondays : Free coffee on Monday mornings for students who show up with their reusable mug

Students in the capstone course ADM4317 were asked to work in a group to research how to effectively and efficiently establish a sustainability innovation fund at uOttawa. Students researched best practices, what other groups have done, and what kind of resources would be needed. The group was responsible for handing in a report to the Office of Campus Sustainability.

Students in the capstone course ADM4317 were asked to research how wellness can be used to benefit the campus. Students will be asked to research best practices, what other organizations have done, and what are the essential steps the institution should pursue.