Campus as a Living Lab: Creating a Culture of Research and Learning in Sustainable Development

Abstract

Over the last 30 years, the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, Canada has advanced sustainable development on campus and created a culture of sustainability, with ambitious goals, and strong collaborative relationships. Launched in 2010, the Campus as a Living Laboratory (CLL) initiative utilizes the campus buildings and infrastructure as opportunities for research, teaching, and learning. Projects under the CLL bring together academic researchers, students, staff, and partners to demonstrate, test, research, and learn from new ideas for sustainable development. These projects range in scale from small and discrete educational or research projects, often led by students, to the design and construction of innovative buildings, with multiyear interdisciplinary research programs. CLL projects are opportunities for UBC students to engaged in applied research and learning that enhances their educational experience at the university, and may serve as models for other universities interested in expanding sustainable development on their campuses.

Citation

Pilon, A., Madden, J., Tansey, J. and Metras, J. (2020), "Campus as a Living Lab: Creating a Culture of Research and Learning in Sustainable Development", Sengupta, E., Blessinger, P. and Yamin, T.S. (Ed.) Teaching and Learning Strategies for Sustainable Development (Innovations in Higher Education Teaching and Learning, Vol. 19), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 213-227. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2055-364120200000019017