Sustainability Networks Research

Greetings dear people,

When I emailed this group last week posing a question about collaboration models, I'd thought I was creating a public post. I wasn't. Ta-da! Three of you responded and asked me to post this publicly. I look forward to co-creating a valuable conversation here with all of you. Thanks for your input thus far! If I compile an organized summary of the responses as needed for my organization's inquiry, I will definitely share it with all of you. Below are the three responses you sent -- cut & pasted anonymously since they weren't posted publicly -- authors can claim if they desire. Here, first, is the original post:

From: rios
Sent: Fri Jan 30, 2009 (16:24)
Subject: universities responding to societal needs

Greetings all:

I think I've found a good place to ask this question!

Where are there models of universities doing an outstanding job of serving their region's needs?

We're looking in the area of ecosystem research. However, some of the best models for university-community/regional partnerships may not be specifically focused on environmental science.

We’re interested in the model of how all the key players work together. What is the university doing to serve the community outside the institutional walls? And how is the university benefiting?

Jessica Rios

Assistant Manager

Center for Ecosystem Research

CSU Chico

jmrios@csuchico.edu">jmrios@csuchico.edu

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hi jessica got your note from wiser earth and I really am not sure what you are asking since almost all "research" universities have groups working in areas from clean water and ecology and having groups like Engineers withouth borders working internationally or med schools working on environmental problems there are a few, like Evergreen in Washington State that have a strong community/environmental focus and there is even an association for green university programs. Many have environmental institutes such as Center for global environmental education at Hamline in St. Paul, MN best t _____

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Subject - RE: universities responding to societal needs
Hi there!
 
If you're interest is not limited to Western universities the Jimma University in Ethiopia has a really great project starting up called "Post-Harvest Management to Improve Livelihoods Project".
 
It is a combination of International Organizations and Universities as well as Jimma University, working with the local population to reduce post-harvest losses as this has been identified as a key issue facing the rural community in Ethiopia.
 
Jimma University's school of agriculture will also be offering condensed Bsc and Msc in Post-Harvest Management as part of the project.
 
You can check it out at http://nsac.ca/international/International_Projects/Current_Projects/Ethiopia_UPCD/PHMILFact%20Sheet.pdf
 
Please let me know if you would like further details, as I will be travelling to Ethiopia this summer to work on the gender and HIV and AIDS component of the project mandate.
 
Kind Regards,
C

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Subject - RE: universities responding to societal needs
Jessica~
 
This IS a phenomenal subject, and close to my heart.  Are you just messaging me on this, or is their a group/project page on this item?? I could not find this topic as a thread, and I am still get a handle on all WE features.
 
In any event, I am familiar with Washington State University projects/centers that work well and a lot: the Extension offices and the Center for Social and Environmental Justice. They use outreach and collaborative partnership approaches to tie locals to their food sources, and other resources. I imagine that the university benefits in the sense that its students benefit from real, hands on projects that have direct connection to social justice issues across the board.
 
I would love to see the discussion at large on this too, if you can provide the link to those discussions / or set it up as a board.
 
best to you and yours,
h

Hi Jessica et al:

I work with Fairleigh Dickinson University's Institute for Sustainable Enterprise and am an advisory board member emeritus at the University of Michigan's Erb Institute for Sustainable Enterprise. Both of these University programs are doing fabulous work to integrate sustainability principles, research and teaching throughout their schools and into the greater communities and stakeholder networks.

Along with AASHAE, FDU collaborates with other NJ Universities through New Jersey Higher Education Partnership for Sustainability (NJHEPS).

For your question applied for ecosystems research, I would approach it a different way. I might start with the Millenium Ecosystem Assessment which was a recent state of the globe collaborative effort of something like 1,500 scientists. You probably are already familiar with it. So if we looked at those 1,500 scientists my guess is that 100's are affiliated with Universities. I believe that every one of these scientists and their representative schools are demonstrating what it means to be collaborating on a vital research service for their local community and for the world.

As for most professors and Universities, they are in it for some measure of personal and enterprise recognition. However for this project, I also believe their motivation was also strongly driven by their professional passion and belief that this project was contributing to a greater purpose then their individual or organizational interests.

If these Schools and other organizations that chose to contribute their time, resources and intellect to the initiative want some ROI publicity, I hope you can give them some by publishing every one of their names in whatever report you publish.

BTW, I support all work intended to better understand and value ecosystems and ecosystem services. I will be back if I learn more. 

I am looking forward to what you have found. Part of the plan I have seen "in the works" for Washington state is to strengthen the ag school networks that exist naturally across the state, nonetheless the social justice and environmental programs.

exciting stuff!

heather