Join PICS, SFU Sustainability, UBC and UVic for a showcase of innovative and experiential climate solutions projects on campus and beyond.
Research projects that use university campuses as a “Living Lab” have proven to be valuable incubators for experiential learning, innovation, and knowledge development to address society's most complex challenges. Living labs provide a unique test bed opportunity for university staff, students, and faculty to work together to seek practical climate action solutions that are scalable to wider communities.
This session offers climate action case studies (energy+emissions; technology+biodiversity; food+waste) and active participation in small group discussions to explore opportunities for Campus as a Living Lab projects within and across university campuses.
We welcome participants from existing Campus as a Living Lab projects as well as those interested in getting involved or initiating their own projects.
Missed this event? Download the full presentations:
- Energy and Emissions
- Technology and Biodiversity
- Food and Waste
Binoy is the interim Director of Urban Innovation Research at the UBC Sustainability Initiative. He manages UBC’s Campus as a Living Lab program, which integrates academic research with campus operations, providing the opportunity of incubating on-ground demonstration in a real-world setting.
Kilim is Manager of Research Sustainability at SFU Sustainability. She has helped design and run SFU's Living Lab program since 2019, and is also involved in facilitating and supporting sustainability research at SFU.
Dr. Naoko Ellis is a professor in the UBC Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering with a profound desire to help create a low carbon future.
Building a Carbon Capture and Conversion Ecosystem - This project aims to advance the strategic priority area of Climate Action through education and research focused on GHG emissions reductions. Naoko is the lead researcher of this project.
Kamaria is a Phd student of Applied Science in the School of Sustainable Energy Engineering.
LCA Analysis for SFU Fleet Electrification (PICS-Living Lab Scholar) - Kamaria Kuling investigates the benefits and challenges of replacing SFU’s operational vehicle fleet with low or zero emission vehicles.
Yani is a doctoral candidate in the School for the Contemporary Arts at SFU.
Examining the Carbon Impact of Streaming Media in University Teaching and Learning - To reduce the invisible environmental impact of information and communications technologies, Yani Kong measures university’s outputs and develops education and policy shifts for SFU.
Afagh is a doctoral candidate in the School of Mechatronic Systems Engineering at SFU.
Sustainable Living Indoor Gardens Utilizing Energy-efficient and Renewable Energy Technology - Afagh Mohagheghi aims to utilize renewable energy and energy savings strategies to develop sustainable indoor gardens at SFU’s Surrey campus.
Dr. Nesbitt is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Forest Resources Management at UBC. Her research focuses on urban forestry and social-ecological interactions in urban environments, with an emphasis on environmental justice, human health, well-being, and climate change
5G Data-Driven Natural Asset Management and Integration - As UBC continues to grow, the campus offers the opportunity to create a living, responsive, and dynamic lab by piloting the use of smarter technologies for natural asset management and planning. Lorien is the lead researcher of this project.
Dr. Deb L. Morrison is a community partner of the University of Victoria’s Living Lab Project. Deb is a climate and anti-oppression activist, scientist, learning scientist, educator, mother and locally elected official based at the University of Washington. She works at the intersection of justice, climate science, and learning in research-practice-policy partnerships from local community to international scales.
Liska Richer is the Manager of the SEEDS Sustainability Program at the University of British Columbia Vancouver Campus. SEEDS utilizes the Campus as a Living Laboratory to co-create impactful student-led research opportunities and interdisciplinary partnerships that advance UBC’s ambitious sustainability and wellbeing commitments and create scalable solutions to critical societal issues.
Nadia is a Masters of Resource Management (planning) student and member of the Food Systems Lab at SFU.
Sustainability & Management of Bioplastis (Re-Use for Good project) - Despite a growing awareness, there's still misinformation about bioplastics. Nadia Springle researches sustainable single-use alternatives to petroleum-based plastics.
Nicole is the Project Director for DefaultVeg at the University of Victoria. Advocating for sustainable diets that support our health and that of our food system has been Nicole’s focus for over 15 years. Her current work focuses on using nudge theory and practical solutions to encourage healthy and low carbon food offerings and consumption on campus.
Holly is the Project Administrator for DefaultVeg at the University of Victoria. Holly is passionate about good food and community and uses her research and work with the DefaultVeg initiative to address the political, economic and social barriers delaying the needed shift to sustainable and low carbon diets.
DefaultVeg is a simple and inclusive way to offer healthier and more sustainable meals by featuring plant-based meals as the default option for diners.
