| Category |
Possible Disciplines |
Topics |
| Academic Integration |
Education/Enviro Ed |
Research educational opportunities with MARKIM Hall. |
| Academic Integration |
Education/Enviro Ed |
Create database of all sustainability focused classes on
campus. |
| Assessment |
Environmental Studies |
Recommend implementation activities for the Sustainability Plan. |
| Community Engagement |
Art |
Create banners for Zero Waste events. |
| Community Engagement |
Art |
Create logo for sustainability events. |
| Community Engagement |
Education/Enviro Ed |
Create hands-on displays and activities for sustainabilty
tours. |
| Community Engagement |
Environmental Studies |
Analyze options for connecting alumni with sustainability at Macalester. |
| Community Engagement |
Environmental Studies |
Create standardized materials and policies for making all campus events
sustainable. |
| Community Engagement |
Geography |
Create a GIS map of community sustainability businesses/institutions. |
| Community Engagement |
Geography |
GIS map of campus buildings. |
| Community Engagement |
Geography/Environmental Studies |
Develop a neighborhood green building tour (City of St. Paul). |
| Community Engagement |
Psychology |
Behavioral changes - how can psychology and persuasion be used to change environmental behaviors (possible topics: recycling, move out, food waste, recyclemaina, national campus energy challenge). |
| Community Engagement |
Social Science |
Research student or staff sustainability knowledge and attitudes - what
can be done to improve sustainability on campus? |
| Community Engagement |
Social Science |
What are commons attitudes or myths about sustainability on
campus and how can these be changed? |
| Endowment/Budget |
Economics |
Survey College investment practices and analyze financial
opportunities and risks of sustainable investing policies. |
| Endowment/Budget |
Economics |
Research social/environmental impacts of College investments
or investment policies. |
| Endowment/Budget |
Economics |
Research energy efficiency investments - how they compare with stock market. |
| Energy Efficiency/Usage |
Economics |
Analze costs of purchasing renewable energy/offsets, and
predict future market conditions. |
| Energy Efficiency/Usage |
Economics |
Evaluate the effectiveness of CERF. What works? What doesn't work well? |
| Energy Efficiency/Usage |
Economics |
Conduct a cost benefit analysis of Macalester vans - could a more fuel
efficient model create a net gain for the school? |
| Energy Efficiency/Usage |
Environmental Studies |
Create energy usage profile for major campus buildings and
investigate on-campus efficiency investment projects. |
| Energy Efficiency/Usage |
Environmental Studies |
Research the adoption of the energy star mini-fridge policy in the dorms. |
| Energy Efficiency/Usage |
Environmental Studies |
Develop a proposal for a real-time energy/water monitoring
system for campus. |
| Energy Efficiency/Usage |
Psychology |
Research the effectiveness of energy reduction strategies in
dorms and/or offices. |
| Energy Efficiency/Usage |
Psychology/Economics |
Investigate opportunities for energy savings through behavior change, information feedback loops, and outreach. |
| Energy Efficiency/Usage |
Psychology |
How is effective energy monitoring data feedback in reducing
energy use in dorms and/or offices. |
| Food Service |
Environmental Studies |
Create sustainable event policies for catering services. |
| Food Service |
Psychology |
Research reactions to Bon Appetit's Low Carbon Diet Changes
and how to increase acceptance |
| Health |
Environmental Studies |
How are health and wellbeing connected to sustainability and
how well does Macalester rate. |
| Infrastructure |
Biology |
Green Roofs - how is the ecosystem doing, what are insulation and water
savings? |
| Infrastructure |
Biology |
Survey of landscaping plants on campus and create plan to
integrate native species. |
| Infrastructure |
Biology |
Investigate campus weed/pest control policies and make
proposal for integrated pest management system. |
| Infrastructure |
Environmental Studies |
Research light pollution on campus - impact on surrounding
area and create mitigation strategy. |
| Infrastructure |
Environmental Studies/Biology |
Review winter de-icing products and recommend opportunities with the least harmful environmental impact. |
| Infrastructure |
Environmental Studies |
Evaluate light pollution from the campus including an evaluation of the potential of behavioral and process change to immediately reduce Macalester College’s contribution to light pollution. |
| Landscaping |
Biology/Environmental Studies |
Prepare for and help conduct a prescribed burn on the Prairie by the wind
turbine.
Contact: Tom Ibsen, grassrootsresto@gmail.com |
| Landscaping |
Biology/Geography |
Compile a spatial inventory of the plant species distribution on the
Kagin green roof.
Contact: Tom Ibsen, grassrootsresto@gmail.com |
| Materials/Equipment |
Psychology/Environmental Studies |
Develop a paper reduction campaign for the Library and Computer labs. |
| Materials/Equipment |
Environmental Studies |
Investigate non-toxic white board markers, green cleaning
supplies. |
| Transportation |
Environmental Studies |
Research impact of subsidized bus passes and make proposal for
improvements. |
| Transportation |
Geography |
Biking and walking patterns on campus - availability of
alternative transport options, impediments, bike racks? |
| Water |
Biology/Environmental Studies |
Water usage - how is it used and how can usage be reduced
cost-effectively? |
| Water |
Biology/Environmental Studies |
Research raingarden opportunites on campus. |
| Water |
Environmental Studies |
Research water coolers on campus. What is the best
sustainabilty option? |
| Water |
Geography/Geology |
Research location and history of underground river on campus. |
| Zero Waste |
Environmental Studies |
Research the effectiveness of different dorm recycling
container options on recycling rate (could be done in offices too). |
| Zero Waste |
Environmental Studies |
Research zero waste policy on campus. Recommend actions. |
| Zero Waste |
Psychology |
Research reactions to recycling upgrades and impact on recycling rate. |
| Zero Waste |
Psychology/Environmental Studies |
Research the effectiveness of different communication options
on dorm recycling rate (could be done in offices too). |
