UBC’s SEEDS (Social Ecological Economic Development Studies) Program unites campus operations and academics to advance the university’s commitment to sustainability and enhance UBC’s reputation as a sustainability leader.

Coordinated by the university’s Campus Sustainability group, the SEEDS Program brings together staff, faculty and students to work collaboratively on the development and implementation of projects that apply the “Campus as a Living Lab” concept and address real-life campus sustainability challenges.

SEEDS projects cover everything from climate change and food security, to transportation, energy conservation, water and waste management and more. Recent projects include a trial incorporating worm composting in food services buildings, an experiment to harness energy from an elevator to power lights, and the development of a program for reusing UBC furniture that would otherwise end up in the landfill

UBC SEEDS is Western Canada’s first academic program that combines the expertise and commitment of staff, the academic and research experience of faculty, and the energy and enthusiasm of students to integrate sustainability on campus. Since 2000, SEEDS has produced over 700 student reports and engaged over 4,000 participants in developing and implementing a wide variety of sustainability projects on campus.

HOW DOES THE SEEDS PROGRAM WORK?

SEEDS projects are initiated by staff with ideas for integrating sustainability into their area of operations. SEEDS Program Coordinators match staff and their project ideas with faculty and students (4th year undergraduate and graduate) looking for applied, accredited research opportunities, and provide ongoing support to the team throughout the project.

All SEEDS projects are incorporated into existing courses (found in the UBC Course Schedule) and include directed studies. Projects must also meet three criteria:

• Involve collaboration between UBC staff, faculty and students
• Involve a real-life, operational sustainability issue at UBC
• Contribute to academic credit for students

WHY PARTICIPATE IN SEEDS?

The SEEDS program reinforces UBC’s position as a leader in sustainability, facilitates partnerships that change campus culture, and provides measurable financial savings to the University. And the SEEDS program has a number of benefits for individual participants as well, including:

Benefits for Staff:

• Form collaborative partnerships with faculty and students to explore and demonstrate sustainability in your area of operations
• Gain access to current academic research and rich intellectual resources
• Get support from SEEDS Program Coordinators from project inception to completion

Benefits for Faculty:

• Integrate real-world sustainability projects into classroom curriculum
• Actively contribute to moving the campus towards sustainability
• Enhance the quality and impact of UBC’s student research and scholarship on applied sustainability

Benefits for Students:

• Earn course-based credit for applied research projects
• Gain real-world sustainability experience, skills and knowledge                                  
• Work with staff to produce results that will advance sustainability at UBC
• Access enriched educational opportunities

Another valuable outcome of SEEDS is a publicly accessible, rich library of project research papers that enables UBC to continue to build contributions towards campus sustainability.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - CLICK HERE

2010-2011 SEEDS PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS - CLICK HERE

WANT TO GET INVOLVED?

Contact Brenda Sawada or Liska Richer, UBC SEEDS Coordinators, and get involved today.