Living Lab Toolkit:

Processes and digital support systems for high-impact sustainability projects

A living lab is a given place where problem-based teaching, research and applied work combine to develop actionable solutions that make that place more sustainable. For PSU’s campus living lab, this requires a joint commitment from students, faculty, staff and local residents to design, implement, adapt and teach new approaches that address issues of equity, economy and ecology.

DEFINITION OF ‘LIVING LAB’ AT PSU

project criteria

• Place. Reflects PSU’s commitment to our campus and neighborhood

• Sustainability. Strives to implement lasting change to make a given place more resource efficient, equitable, and ecologically balanced, acknowledging a resource-finite world.

• Real-world learning. Links knowledge to action with problem-based, results-oriented learning opportunities

• Fit. Supports PSU’s sustainability vision and advances campus and neighborhood priorities

• Adaptive. Takes an open-ended approach where ongoing assessment, capturing and reporting contributes to the collective knowledge base and improves future projects

• Collaborative Action. Fosters deep engagement with community members that leads to on-the-ground project implementation

needs

• Means to connect classes and students to campus projects

• Means for communication between operations and academics

• Means for streamlined communicationswith facilities staff to use time more efficiently

• Provide transparencyfor how students, faculty, staff and/or community can engage in campus sustainability

• Provide comprehensive record of projects successes and failures

opportunities

• More classes bring sustainable campus operations into curriculum

• Student projects better align with campus needs and community needs and interests (e.g. Climate Action Plan goals, SOMA EcoDistrict)

• Tap into student leadership, wherein more experienced project leaders train incoming students

• Integrate with Solutions Generator and other funding programs

tools / approaches

• Web-based portal to submit, catalog, track, and engage in campus sustainability projects

• Central repository for campus sustainability data and “who to contact” for what campus research needs

• A forum to propose projects• Increased outreach to classes about project

opportunities • Seed the Solutions Generator with project ideas

that meet campus needs

LIVING LAB PROJECT PORTALan applied sustainability project clearinghouse

ideas

• FoodHub

• ioby

• fmyi

• Museum of the City

• Smarter Cities

• Hands On Portland

• UC Santa Cruz Project Clearinghouse

• Web-based platform

• Searchable database

• Social networking

• Resource sharing

• Project management

• Data management

• Team-based contact management

membership-based business to business platform and marketplace, a Craigslist.com “wanted” to find and fill needs. Profile page and searchable directory

FOODHUB

ioby

web-based “crowd-resourcing” platform with online searchable database that connects people and money to site-based projects

fmyi (for my innovation)

membership-based social networking-style interface with resource sharing, project and data management features, and team-based contact management to track interactions with stakeholders

MUSEUM OF THE CITY

‘virtual museum’ web-based multimedia portal with online searchable database and resource sharing (coming soon) for publishing research work, abstracts, essays, and other documentary presentations

Smarter CitiesA PROJECT OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL

web-based multimedia resource portal for and about cities, where students, policy makers, city planners, business leaders, community groups and urban dwellers can learn about best practices, initiatives, share ideas and solutions, and post news, events and opportunities

Hands OnGREATER PORTLAND

web-based volunteer resource organizing platform with online searchable database to connect volunteers to volunteering opportunities (salesforce software technology)

web-based resource platform with online searchable database to connect students, faculty, and staff to campus projects, post project ideas, get involved and learn about completed projects

UC Santa Cruz Sustainability Project Clearinghouse