About
About
The PSU Living Lab program matches motivated faculty and students with University staff to work on projects that support PSU’s campus sustainability goals. Students and faculty across disciplines such as engineering, business, urban planning, arts, and sciences have participated in the program. Staff partners include Campus Planning, Capital Projects & Construction, Transportation & Parking Services, and more. The program is facilitated as a partnership between the PSU Campus Sustainability Office, Facilities & Property Management department, and the Institute for Sustainable Solutions.
Mission
The Living Lab program aims to bridge the gap between opportunities in education and improved campus operations by bringing together a diverse team of campus stakeholders to solve a problem, explore an applied research question, or ignite an initiative that assists the University in achieving its sustainability goals.
Benefits
Operational staff benefit from high-quality research on projects directly targeting campus plans. Faculty benefit from the support of Living Lab team "brokers" to implement course projects that deepen learning by engaging students in real campus sustainability challenges. Students benefit from increased knowledge about a range of sustainability-related topics and by gaining tangible skills through experiential education.