University of Southern California
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Graduate students in Prof. Paul Adler's Environmental Sustainability and Competitive Advantage course (MOR 566; Spring 2023), designed a proposal and prototype for a mobile application to increase student engagement with sustainability initiatives both on-campus and in their personal lives. Through the app, students would be able to learn about sustainability and environmentally-themed organizations and clubs on campus, stay up-to-date on sustainability events, news, an courses, find plant-based meals on campus, track the campus bus, find hydration stations, keep a sustainability 'scorecard' based on daily activities, and participate in a student marketplace to buy, trade, and sell used goods to encourage recycling and reuse. The project was presented to Office of Sustainability staff in addition to the graduate course.

1. The USC Public Exchange Urban Trees Initiative is an ongoing project which partners USC faculty and students researchers with the City of Los Angeles Chief Forest Officer and L.A. NGOs and community groups to guide the growth of an urban forest of shade trees that benefit the health and quality of life for local communities.

The initiative focuses on a 5-square-mile area in the Los Angeles neighborhoods of El Sereno, Ramona Gardens, and Lincoln Heights, which encompasses USC’s Health Sciences Campus. Using advanced mapping technology, air quality measurements and landscape architecture expertise, the project explores where, how many, and what type of new trees could be added to this area to optimize the benefits of urban forests for local residents. It also presents a vision for climate justice via meaningful engagement with the people who live in the area; as such, public engagement around issues such as the value/benefits of urban trees, and costs/labor for their care and maintenance is critical to the success of the project. The student researchers participated fully in public outreach efforts by conducting in-person neighborhood tree mapping, as well as prepping materials for and participating in community meetings.

More information: https://publicexchange.usc.edu/urban-trees-initiative/

2. In Spring 2023, students in Architectural Design II (ARCH 202bl; Prof Rob Berry) were tasked with designing 2D and 3D models of sustainable structures that would serve the community during the 2028 Olympics and beyond. Students reimagined a nearby parcel of empty land to house a Media Center for the Olympics, where community members could gather to watch broadcasts of the games. After the conclusion of the games, the structure would continue to find use as a community space through being transformed into a public library. Students imagined sustainability through the longevity and modularity of the structure, the materials used in building, energy use, cooling costs, and biophilia both inside and outside the structure. Students presented their projects to local architects, their classmates, and Office of Sustainability staff.

1. As part of USC's new Sustainability Hub, a student performed an experiential learning project researching the indoor air quality of the new space. She researched the gas offsetting of the furniture, and the climate impacts of the various materials sourced in Hub construction. She then turned this research into signage and talking points for visitors entering the Hub so they could learn about indoor air quality as well as the climate impacts of furniture purchasing and materials.

2. Students in the Sanders Sustainable Systems research group led by Professor Kelly Sanders (Viterbi) studied the urban heat island of the broader Los Angeles region, which includes USC Health Sciences and University Park campuses. They utilized this data to understand the impact of urban heat on underserved communities, and the lack of access to air conditioning for those communities during extreme heat events. Their findings recommends policy solutions for how those most vulnerable can be supported in accessing relief.

1. In Fall 2023, Professor Bhavna Sharma's course, Building Structures and Seismic Design (ARCH 213a) are examing the renovations currently underway and planned for the USC Coliseum. Through this course, students will engage the renovation process both from an historic materials perspective, as well as consider and engage the potential for sustainable materials to be used in renovations.

2. In addition, Professor Sharma supervises and mentors a student intern (through the Presidents Sustainability Internship Program) tasked with modeling the embodied carbon of existing structures on campus to be used for an array of reporting purposes. https://green.usc.edu/students/presidents-sustainability-internship-program/

Students in Professor Victoria Petryshyn's course, Science, Policy, and Business of Energy and Air Sustainability (ENST 320b, Fall 2023) directly engage the Coliseum at USC for their final project. The students engage with the staff at the Coliseum to understand the energy draws and the challenges of powering large-scale arenas, and using this information develop a detailed plan to address an energy need in the Coliseum and provide a potential solution. Students present their final projects to the Coliseum and Office of Sustainability staff.

In Spring 2023, a research lab staffed by faculty and undergraduates conducted a study in the USC Dining Halls regarding the effect of behavioral messaging on students' meal choices. The researchers presented students with information about the environmental impact of dietary choices (specifically the negative impact of red meat) prior to students making their food selection and identified whether or not that information impacted their study. Initial results yielded a positive correlation between exposure to information about the environmental impact of food choices and a student's willingness to choose a more sustainable option. The study will be replicated in Spring 2024.

1. In Fall 2023, Professor Alexander Robinson's course, Topics in Landscape Architecture: Issues and Practices (ARCH 546) is designing and installing a native plant test plot on Catalina Island in the USC Marine Science Center's "Green Ravine." The class entails the design, preparation, planting, and monitoring of the landscape. At the conclusion, students will participate in the LA County 2023 Pando Days sustainability program.

2. Professor Jen Toy utilizes native landscaping 'Test Plots' in her ARCH 546 course. Each year in this course, Professor Toy and the students work on a different 'test plot' site as a design/build project. They partner with residents and local community organizations to develop a planting and stewardship strategy. In 2022, the course was open to all students at all levels. In addition to these courses, many undergraduate students volunteer with Professor Toy on these 'Test Plot' initiatives. For more information: https://testplot.info/plots

Beginning in Fall 2022 and continuing to present, a student intern through the President's Sustainability Internship Program is working to measure USC's purchasing-related Scope 3 emissions. Under the mentorship and guidance of Office of Sustainability staff, they are developing a proposal for a related emissions reduction goal which will be reviewed by OoS staff and the PWG Operations committee.

All PSIP interns recently completed a round of formal presentations (November 2023) where they learned how to give elevator pitches (in relation to what sustainability initiatives they are working on at USC) and were provided tips to enhance their public speaking abilities.

For more information: https://green.usc.edu/students/presidents-sustainability-internship-program/

In Fall 2023, Students in Professor Mathew Curtis' course Methodological Fundamentals of Big Data in Communication (CMGT 564), students analyze AQMD data which represents the commuting habits of USC students and employees to identify mode of transportation, vehicle type, carpools vs. single occupancy ridership, and public transportation use. The students will analyze this data and provide insights to sustainability-minded choices among USC commuters.

In Fall 2023, Professor Monalisa Chatterjee's course Zero Waste Events (ENST 499) uses USC's Coliseum as 'living laboratory.' This class gives students hands-on experience participating and helping with the management of zero waste game day events. Students are required to actively support and monitor the zero waste events at the Coliseum, and collect data throughout the weekend (set-up, game day, and post-game activities). Students also complete a life cycle analysis of products either in use or under consideration for use at the Coliseum and determine the most sustainable product as part of their final project.

Related news article: https://news.usc.edu/historic-venue-points-the-way-to-a-sustainable-future/

1. An Environmental Studies course, 'Water and Soil Sustainability in the Field (ENST 320a) presents an overview of the issues related to water and soil sustainability including soil development and management, the hydrologic cycle, the cycling of nutrients through both soil and water, soil and water pollution, and food security related to soil and water issues. 'ENST 320a In the Field' is a special section of the Water and Soil Sustainability course that is taught during Spring and Fall semesters on the University Park Campus. The Julymester course in 2023 was conducted at the Wrigley Marine Science Center Wrigley on Catalina Island allowing for enhanced research, lab and field study experience.

2. Students in the Environmental Studies Program conducted a research project under the guidance of Professor Victoria Petryshyn to examine trace metals from rain water runoff from UPC campus buildings. This pilot program tested 6 buildings, and used the roof area of USC's University Park Campus and liters of water per storm event to estimate the trace metal levels for each storm event as well as average levels throughout the season. A future study will examine the microbial communities in the stormwater runoff on campus, with a particular focus on potential health implications.

In December 2022, the Sustainability Hub Planning Task Force was formed to assist in the research, planning, and coordinating of the new Sustainability Hub which opened in September 2023. The Task Force was composed of 29 students and supervised by Office of Sustainability staff. Through their work, the students planned and executed events surrounding the Hub opening; benchmarked programming and day-to-day operations from other sustainability hubs; drafted recommendations for sustainability hub construction such as feedback on furnishings; and generated programming ideas to align with USC's Assignment: Earth framework (such as how to best educate visitors on the Hub's sustainable construction materials and furniture, ways to bring in diverse disciplines and student groups to use the Hub space, and how to foster a broader sustainability community at USC).

We also have a dedicated intern through the President's Sustainability Internship Program that assists in greeting and educating guests at the Hub, as well as assisting in the coordination and planning of Hub events.

All PSIP interns recently completed a round of formal presentations (November 2023) where they learned how to give elevator pitches (in relation to what sustainability initiatives they are working on at USC) and were provided tips to enhance their public speaking abilities.

For more information: https://green.usc.edu/students/presidents-sustainability-internship-program/

Beginning in Summer 2023, a student intern working under the supervision and mentorship of an Office of Sustainability staff member with the President's Sustainability Internship Program researched responsible, sustainability-minded investment strategies, related to university-wide ESG goals, and divestment.

All PSIP interns recently completed a round of formal presentations (November 2023) where they learned how to give elevator pitches (in relation to what sustainability initiatives they are working on at USC) and were provided tips to enhance their public speaking abilities.

More information: https://green.usc.edu/students/presidents-sustainability-internship-program/

In a Physical Education and Mind Body Health course (PHYS 117) titled Sustainability and Self-Care, students explore self-care as a mode of also caring for the natural world. The midterm group project requires students to develop a mindfulness walk to a natural space on campus. Once in the designated space, they teach their fellow students about the history of the location, the species of plants and animal you can find in that space, and lead the class through a mindfulness exercise tied to the space.

Data are reported based on a timeframe from AY2022-AY2023.