possible students projects

Possible Student Research Projects Contact the Sustainability Office, unless noted differently (shansen@macalester.edu; jlee@macalester.edu)
Category	Possible Classes	Topics
Academic Integration	Education/Enviro Ed	Research educational opportunities with the IGC
Academic Integration	Education/Enviro Ed	Create database of all sustainability focused classes on campus
Assessment	Environmental Studies	Update the 2004 State of the Campus report
Community Engagement	Art	Create banners for Zero Waste events
Community Engagement	Art	Create logo for sustainability events
Community Engagement	Education/Enviro Ed	Develop sustainability tour activities for middle school and high school tours
Community Engagement	Environmental Studies	Analyze options for connecting alumni with sustainability at Macalester
Community Engagement	Environmental Studies	Create standardized policies for making all campus events sustainable
Community Engagement	Geography	GIS map of community sustainability businesses/institutions
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) Contact: Christie Manning
Community Engagement	Social Science	Research student 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	Energy efficiency investments - should part of the endowment be invested in campus efficiency rather than 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	Balance CERF's books and create accounting system Contact: Jeff Evans
Energy Efficiency/Usage	Economics	Cost benefit analysis of Macalester vans - could a more fuel efficient model create a net gain for the school?
Energy Efficiency/Usage	Economics	Cost Benefit analysis of renewable energy installations on campus - particularly geothermal heating/cooling for central plant
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 energy star mini-fridges for dorms, furniture (new,used,recycled,rapidly renewable)
Energy Efficiency/Usage	Psychology	Research the effectiveness of energy reduction strategies in dorms and/or offices
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 event policies for catering services - what to use or not to use and why
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. Contact: Jerry Nelson
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
Materials/Equipment	Environmental Studies	Investigate non-toxic white board markers, green cleaning supplies
Social Equality	Social Science	Research attitudes towards LGTBQ faculty, staff, students on campus
Transportation	Environmental Studies	Research carpool incentives and options for Macalester and create a proposal for the College (Walk to Work Program)
Transportation	Environmental Studies	Research impact of subsidized bus passes and make proposal for improvements Contact: Matt Kazinka
Transportation	Geography	What are commuting patterns to/from/around campus?
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	Calculate campus storm water run off and create mitigation plan
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	Track electronic waste on campus - how it is handled and how can the college mitigate the environmental impacts
Zero Waste	Environmental Studies	Analyze options for reducing Waste from spring move out Contact: Hannah
Zero Waste	Environmental Studies	Analyze the feasibility of food waste recycling (hog feed-Ramsey County schools program) or food waste composting Contact: Jodi Taitt
Zero Waste	Psychology	Research reactions to recycling upgrades and why rates have not risen
Zero Waste	Psychology/environmental Studies	Research the effectiveness of different communication options on dorm recycling rate (could be done in offices too)
	Biology/environmental studies	Prepare for and help conduct a prescribed burn on the Prairie by the wind turbine Contact: Tom Ibsen, grassrootsresto@gmail.com
	Biology/geography	Compile a spatial inventory of the plant species distribution on the Kagin green roof Contact: Tom Ibsen, grassrootsresto@gmail.com
	Education/Enviro Ed	Create hands-on displays and activities for sustainabilty tours
	Environmental Studies	Research water coolers on campus. What is the best sustainabilty option?
	Environmental Studies	Research zero waste policy on campus. Recommend actions.
	Environmental Studies	Develop a proposal for a real-time energy/water monitoring system for campus.
	Geography/Geology	Research location and history of underground river on campus.

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