Sustainability has emerged as a critical focus within public sector organizations. As noted in a recent report on “Innovation drivers in higher education,” student expectations for comprehensive sustainability initiatives are pivotal in this transformation. According to The Times Higher Education’s student experience tracker survey, a remarkable 86 percent of participants believe that universities should play a significant role in realizing the United Nations’ Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs).
Across the globe, colleges and universities are proactively engaging in sustainability initiatives. They are weaving sustainability into their institutional strategies, enhancing curricula, and seeking research funding that supports their communities and society at large.
Institutions of higher learning possess a unique platform to foster sustainability improvements through their research and thought leadership, fueled by the enthusiasm of students and faculty. The results of these efforts can positively influence not only student bodies and campus environments but also extend to broader communities, and in some instances, have a global impact.
Sustainability as a Central Institutional Focus
For instance, the University of West Virginia (UWV), the largest public research university in its state, has set a clear goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2040, adhering to the Scope 1 and 2 Greenhouse Gas Protocol. Their commitment has earned them recognition from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), awarding UWV the first Gold rating in West Virginia. The university is implementing various initiatives including banning single-use plastics, launching the Eco-Gardens program, and enhancing recycling and composting efforts. Future expansions include the Green Learning Center, which will serve as a hub for faculty and students collaborating on sustainability projects, aiming for net-zero emissions and LEED Platinum certification.
Student and faculty advocacy for sustainability has driven substantial investment in educational and research opportunities at UWV. The institution has established centers that gather students, faculty, and industry leaders to advance its sustainability objectives. The Climate Action Hub provides critical insights to empower communities to make informed environmental decisions. Additionally, the Institute for Sustainable Innovation (ISI) fosters an environment for research aligned with the UN’s 17 SDGs, promoting a just and sustainable world. Over 500 faculty members from diverse disciplines have registered as Affiliate Faculty with ISI.
Fostering Community Innovation and Beyond
Educational institutions are harnessing digital technologies and cross-sector partnerships to fast-track and amplify their sustainability innovations. For example, the University of Southern California (USC) has launched the USC Digital Solutions Center (DSC) in collaboration with AWS, offering students hands-on experience in addressing complex challenges faced by public sector organizations. Through the DSC program, students, faculty, and innovation experts utilize the Amazon Working Backwards methodology and AWS technology to create impactful solutions for local communities.
One noteworthy project involved developing a digital prototype to combat illegal dumping for the City of Los Angeles. The solution incorporates high-altitude imagery analysis, low-altitude drone data, ground-based cameras, and a citizen-reporting app, all feeding into a cloud-based system to monitor and manage mitigation efforts effectively.
The DSC team also designed a tool for the California Environmental Protection Agency to enhance the accuracy of pollution data processing and reporting. They created a web portal and analytics suite for NatureServe, aimed at accelerating conservation actions by providing rapid data access for decision-makers.
“The DSC presents a significant opportunity for us to positively influence not just USC but communities statewide and globally. By leveraging our innovative processes alongside public sector expertise, we can tackle pressing challenges,” stated Jane Doe, the founding director of DSC. “The enthusiasm from students for DSC positions highlights the strong desire for projects that contribute to public sector solutions.”
Advancing Sustainability through Cloud-Based Research
Higher education institutions are increasingly investing in research on environmental health issues as part of their commitment to addressing conservation challenges and climate change.
As climate change urgency escalates, research entities are collaborating and utilizing open data, particularly historical datasets such as weather and geospatial data, to better understand and address ecosystem changes. For instance, a collaboration with the Digital Earth Project on Zanzibar Island has allowed students to enhance their geospatial analysis skills using a wealth of satellite imagery data. Through the Amazon Sustainability Data Initiative, AWS is providing massive storage for satellite datasets at no cost, enabling greater access for research and collaborative sustainability efforts.
Research and innovation often go hand in hand, as demonstrated by USC’s DSC partnership with the Marine Research Institute, which evaluates the effects of offshore wind energy on deep-sea ecosystems. The DSC team employs machine learning and image recognition to classify marine life, producing over 20,000 labeled images that inform potential impacts caused by offshore wind technology. This project utilized AWS services, including AWS Elastic Beanstalk for application deployment and Amazon EC2 for running code, showcasing the practical application of cloud technology in research.
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