High Meadows Foundation Sustainability Fund
FY 09 Awards Granted
Education and Research Initiatives
The Princeton Environmental Institute (PEI) - "Environmental challenges and sustainable solutions for protecting water resources: tracking the impact of land use and sustainable practices on a regional watershed." Funding provided for 3 years of study addressing campus impacts on Lake Carnegie water quality. Project includes an in-depth comparative academic study of the Butler College green roofs with conventional roofing systems in the same building complex. PI: Eileen Zerba, EEB
Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) - "Mitigation of Nitrogen Runoff from the Princeton University Campus." Funding provided for 2 years of study addressing the enhancement of campus stormwater detention basins for mitigation of nitrogen runoff. PI: Peter Jaffee
Woodrow Wilson School, STEP Program - "Climate change and air polution: regional and global analysis of benefits and tradeoffs of emission reduction options." This two-year project examines the influence of present and potential future emissions of air pollutants on global air quality, human health and climate change. It also seeks to explore possible policy mechanisms for mitigating harmful emissions. PI: Denise Mauzerall
Program in Environmental Studies, PEI - "Sustainable Agriculture and Food Course Development." This one-year effort is to refine existing courses and create new courses to meet increasing student demand for courses focused on sustainable food systems and their role in addressing global challenges. Funding contingent on departmental course approval. PI: Xenia Morin.
Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) - "A Sensor Network Over Princeton University." This two-year project will deploy a wireless environmental sensor network over the Princeton campus and the development of a new generation of trace gas sensors providing information about environmental conditions over the monitored area, including building energy use, water flux, and surface flux of CO2. PI: Elie Bou-Zeid.
School of Architecture, student project - "EcoRedux: Design Remedies for a Dying Planet; Educational Web Resources." This one-year project, accompanied by an exhibition that opened in December 2008 in Athens (Greece), will document the disciplinary transformation of sustainable architectural design originating in the 1960s. Student researchers: Lydia Kallipoliti, Alicia Imperiale
Civic Engagement Initiatives
School of Architecture - "Princeton's Exterior Pathways: Lighting Analysis and Sustainable Prototypes." A team of students in the School of Architecture, in collaboration with the PU Facilities Department, will collect empirical data during the summer of 2009 about the existing campus pathway lighting, while, in parallel they will develop alternative designs for illumination that embrace sustainable technology. PI: Paul Lewis
Office of Information Technology - "Toward Print-Less and Paper-Less Courses: Pilot Amazon Kindle Program." To encourage students to work with documents online rather than rely on printing, Princeton and Amazon propose to conduct a pilot project to test the effectiveness of Kindle technology. PI: Serge Goldstein, Steven Sather
Student Environmental Communication Network (SECN) - "Communicating Sustainability 2009" project. Summer Training Intensive for Princeton students. A five-week program building on the successful implementation of "Communicating Sustainability 2008" training students to explore pressing issues in sustainability through audio and video production. Project director: Shana Weber, Office of Sustainability
Outdoor Action (OA) - Starting with the planning and research that took place in summer 2008 with support from the High Meadows Foundation, Outdoor Action launched a new initiative to become as sustainable as possible, both on and off the trail. This proposal is to expand on that Outdoor Action Sustainability Initiative. Our goal is to continue to utilize the forum that Outdoor Action provides to disseminate sustainability information to over 900 students annually. Project director: Rich Curtis
Forbes Garden Project - A student initiative to implement sustainable food systems programs at the new 79 Alexander Street demonstration garden plot. The garden now features 2500 sq. ft. of growing beds, a food washing and preparation area, and seating for gatherings and events. Student contacts: Ruthie Schwab, Elena Dillard
Greening Princeton Farmers' Market - The first truly student-run local farmers markets in the country, this funding allowed the market to obtain permits, publicize the event, and continue through Fall 09. Student contacts: Ruthie Schwab, Stephanie Hill, Emma Hare
Department of Chemical Engineering - "1-Day Sustainability Conference Featuring Princeton Research." This fall 2009 conference is intended to increase awareness and unite an interdisciplinary sustainability movement at Princeton University, by focusing on current sustainable research at Princeton, specifically in the realms of technology, policy, ethics, and economics. Student contacts: Nathalie Pinkerton, Joseph Roy-Mayhew
Office of Sustainability - "Intern Program." This funding will allow continued internships in areas including communicating sustainability, bike and pedestrian initiatives, web development, energy solutions research, Princeton Environmental Network (PEN) coordination, and others. Program director: Shana Weber
SEAS Office of Communications - "Engineering Sustainability Video Storytelling Program." This program seeks to produce a library of student-generated videos, which collectively document Princeton Engineering’s current contributions toward a sustainable world — from cutting-edge research in energy technologies to conservation efforts aimed at retrofitting aging systems; as well as better prepare a new generation of engineers to play a leadership role in the future of sustainability by teaching them how to explain technology in broadly accessible terms. Project director: Teresa Riordan
Students United for a Responsible Global Environment (SURGE) - "PowerShift 2009 Delegation to Washington, D.C." Funding provided support to approximately 50 Princeton students to attend 3 days of conferences, presentations, and leadership training to impact climate change legislation. Student director: Danny Growald '11
Student Design Agency - "Design for Social Causes" Conference 2009. Funding supported elements of the conference with a specific sustainability focus, including speakers and a sustainable design contest. 115 student attended representing 25 institutions. More information can be found at the conference website. Student contact: Alyce Tzue '10