Through the Reinvention Fund, the Sustainability Institute’s internal grant program, Penn State has invested more than $875,000 in collaborative projects intended to improve and expand sustainability efforts across the institution. Faculty/staff teams have received $773,485, and an additional $102,884 was dedicated to support proposals submitted by student teams.
“These resources have been contributed from all of our functional units—Student Affairs, Undergraduate Education, Research, Outreach and Finance & Business—and represent an institutional commitment to sustainability,” explained Provost Nick Jones.
“These resources have been contributed from all of our functional units — Student Affairs, Undergraduate Education, Research, Outreach and Finance & Business — and represent an institutional commitment to sustainability.”
-- Provost Nick Jones
A total of 87 proposals were received from teams representing 13 of Penn State’s Commonwealth Campuses. Twenty-two proposals were selected to be funded, demonstrating innovative ideas from five of Penn State’s campuses—Great Valley; Harrisburg; New Kensington; Schuylkill; and University Park.
The Reinvention Fund portfolio composition is based on a strategy of relatively strong investments in teaching and learning-focused projects and the exploration of transformational efforts at department, college and campus scales.
The funded projects represent a tactical approach to explore the Living Laboratory theme of Penn State's Sustainability Strategic Plan, an immersive learning environment that utilizes the physical spaces, relationships, policies and processes of campuses and communities as hands-on learning opportunities.
“The project portfolio provides the tools for innovation across the functions of education, research, outreach, operations and governance to support the continued transformation into a Living Laboratory for sustainability at an aggressive pace,” explained David Riley, program manager of the Reinvention Fund.
The investments also represent a diversity of campus locations, communities and place-based approaches.
“We have invested most heavily in projects that will utilize our campus and community resources to dissolve the traditional boundaries of our classrooms and operational programs to create experiential learning opportunities,” said Riley.
“We have invested most heavily in projects that will utilize our campus and community resources to dissolve the traditional boundaries of our classrooms and operational programs to create experiential learning opportunities.” -- David Riley, program manager
With the support of an outstanding review panel, and a detailed programmatic and strategic review of the project proposals, the following projects have been selected for full or partial funding:
• A Demonstration Project of Virtual Reuse Marketplace for Salvaged Goods, Penn State Harrisburg - Robert Bylone, Jr.
• An Immersive and Multi-disciplinary Experience in Sustainable Energy and Business, Penn State Great Valley - James Nemes
• Building a Sustainable Business Development Learning Factory, Penn State Great Valley - Barrie Litzky
• Building Sustainable Communities through the Digital Global Classroom, University Park - Erica A.H. Smithwick
• Center for Sustainability Communication, University Park - Denise Bortree
• Climate Change + Conflict Management, University Park - Lara Fowler
• Community Solar on State: A Living Laboratory Framework for Outreach, Education and Research, University Park - Jeffrey Brownson
• Development of a Student-Centered Penn State Sustainability Metric - The PawPrint, University Park - Andy Lau
• Development of Sustainable Social Network and Social Marketing Resources for Promoting University-based Activity Transportation, University Park - Melissa Bopp
• Enhancing Educational Opportunities in Biological Pest Control and Reducing Pesticide Application to Improve Sustainability, University Park - Scott DiLoreto
• EPICS: Penn State Schuylkill as a Living Laboratory for Sustainability, Penn State Schuylkill - Stephen Couch
• The Everyday Practice of Food Consumption and Waste Reduction, New Kensington - Ruth Ann Herstek
• Greener Game-days: Making Penn State Athletics Events More Sustainable, University Park - Judd Michael
• Infusing Concepts of Sustainability throughout the Recreation, Park and Tourism Management (RPTM) Curriculum, University Park - Peter Newman
• Learning Together: Sustainability and Penn State's Living Laboratory, University Park - Elaine Brzycki
• MorningStar Permaculture Learning Centre, University Park - Peter Aeschbacher
• Scholarship, Sustainability and Civic Engagement: Fostering Long Term Partnerships for Community Change, University Park - Timothy Kelsey
• Shaver's Creek Discovery Semester - Reinvented!, University Park - Mark McLaughlin
• Staff Fleet EV Operation with Solar Offset, University Park - Stephen Oskin
• Statewide Implementation of Promoting Healthy People/Healthy Environments through Medical Waste Reduction Strategies in Clinical Nursing Simulation Laboratories, University Park - Darlene Clark
• Storied Images: Marcellus Shale, University Park - Steven Rubin
• Sustainable Watersheds Program, University Park - Matt Royer
“We were inspired by the innovation and diversity of all of the proposals received,” said Denice Wardrop, director of the Sustainability Institute. “We extend our profound appreciation to the teams. They truly represent innovation on an unprecedented scale.”
For more information about the Reinvention Fund or sustainability at Penn State, visit www.sustainability.psu.edu. Questions about the Reinvention Fund should be directed to [email protected].
Whitney Lloyd
Public relations and marketing coordinator, Sustainability Institute
