
Apply for Campus Climate Lab Funding
The Boston University Institute for Global Sustainability (IGS), in collaboration with BU Sustainability and the Office of Research, invites research proposals from student and mentor (faculty or graduate student) teams to generate new knowledge on the impacts, adaptation, and/or mitigation of climate change that can be implemented at BU and beyond. The Campus Climate Lab is an opportunity to use the BU campuses as a living laboratory to advance sustainability practices.
Apply by February 8, 2023Proposal development session #1 (virtual) : January 31, 2023 | 10–11 am (REGISTER)
Proposal development session #2 (virtual): February 2, 2023 | 3–4 pm (REGISTER)
Overview
Project ideas can be grounded in any discipline, spanning engineering, humanities, health, social and natural sciences, communications, business, fine arts, etc. Projects can originate from undergraduate or graduate students, faculty, or staff. Projects that support the goals of the University Climate Action Plan or advance the equity and justice aspects of sustainability are especially encouraged. Projects must be grounded on the BU campus, but teams are encouraged to foster connections and impacts in neighborhoods beyond the campus (please note entities external to BU are not able to receive funding).
Information and project brainstorming sessions
Research teams
To help you connect with faculty mentors, we’ve highlighted IGS core and affiliated faculty by their area of research expertise.
Research teams accepted into the Campus Climate Lab will be invited to participate in a luncheon to facilitate connections and exchange ideas across the diverse teams, as well as invited to events throughout the year geared toward the Institute for Global Sustainability (IGS) community.
Apply: How to submit your research proposal
All proposals must be submitted as a single PDF to cclab@bu.edu. Submissions should range 2-4 pages max. Research awards are open to students and faculty of all BU schools and colleges. Proposals will be evaluated by a team of faculty and staff reviewers drawn from IGS affiliates and BU Sustainability.
The deadline for spring 2023 is Wednesday, February 8th, 2023.
Project topic ideas
Learn more about ongoing and past Campus Climate Lab projects.
Equity and justice aspects of climate change
- Identify impacts of BU waste generation on local communities
- Identify the equity and justice aspects of BU energy and material use
- Multimedia, art installation, or street theatre on the intersection of equity and sustainability
Climate preparedness
- Develop early warning capabilities for heat waves and air quality alerts
- Monitor indoor or outdoor air quality on the Charles River and Medical Campuses
- Identify best practices and locations for permeable pavement to reduce flooding
- Identify best practices to reduce the urban heat island effect
Direct emissions
- Research toward reducing BU energy demand by 31% by 2032
- Determine pathways to improve building efficiency
- Explore strategies to shift energy sources toward renewables
- Accurately track, manage, and report carbon sequestration on BU properties
Indirect emissions
- Improve waste stream logistics, metrics, and greenhouse gas accounting
- Develop system for real-time waste/recycling weight and composition data at the container level
- Develop Scope 3 analysis for the University’s supply chain
Funding
Allowable expenses include student salary/stipend, research supplies, analytical costs, and publication/dissemination costs. For parity across projects, the undergraduate student hourly rate will be $14.25/hour with no fringe. The graduate student hourly rate will be $17/hour with 9.9% fringe.
Costs related to the implementation of findings beyond the research project do not need to be included in the project budget.
Anthony Janetos Climate Action Prize
This recognition will be awarded annually each spring to the student or team of students involved in a project through the Campus Climate Lab that is judged to have successfully advanced climate action each year at BU and beyond.