It's why something as simple as an Open House to welcome over 100 faculty and staff, and to introduce opportunities for collaborating on sustainability across disciplines, is a top priority for the UBC Sustainability Hub and their partners in the Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability.
Regarded as a leader in sustainability initiatives among post-secondary institutions, placing 4th in the world in the latest QS rankings, it is vital that UBC continues to come up with creative ways to help our future leaders connect and collaborate. Even those with the strongest ambitions and enthusiasm may struggle to learn about all the sustainability opportunities available to them, while balancing an ever-busy schedule.
Connecting across disciplines is at the heart of the Faculty and Staff Open House, hosted by the UBC Sustainability Hub and partners in the Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability (CIRS).
Held in November (and potentially again next spring—watch this space), the Open House aims to create a dedicated space for faculty and staff members from various disciplines to get acquainted with each other, to learn about the plethora of funding opportunities and supports that can help bring their sustainability-related teaching and research initiatives to life, and to plant the seeds of future interdisciplinary collaborations.
Getting face time with funders, partners
New faculty and staff were greeted by teams from a diverse group of funders and partners based who call the CIRS building home. Ranging from UBC Psychology Labs to the Centre for Community Engaged Learning, climate specialists in Campus + Community Planning, the Campus as a Living Lab support team, and many more. Posterboards, engagement tables, and projections helped attendees navigate the space looking for new opportunities.
“These conversations sparked ideas and opened possibilities for collaboration, which I believe will strengthen the collective impact of sustainability efforts.”
Likewise, attendees—with their own sustainability-related goals and interests—got the chance to have up-close-and-personal, high-energy interactions with potential new funders and partners. For example, they discovered how funding opportunities, like the Sustainability Education Fellows Program, and other supports, such as the Sustainability Teaching Resource Library, could make achieving their current projects a reality—or even spark ideas for new ones.
For everyone involved, the Open House gives them a chance to have their questions answered in real-time and meet the faces behind different programs and initiatives.
Giving faculty and staff from various disciplines the information and resources they need to put their sustainability-related ideas into action also emphasizes how an interdisciplinary approach is essential to meet UBC’s broader sustainability and well-being commitments.
“[I appreciated] meeting with other colleagues who I don't often get to see, but have had past projects or collaborations with. Some of these folks are in the building [while] others are across campus.”
Together, these one-on-one exchanges can set the stage for future interdisciplinary collaborations between faculty and staff. And one day, we’ll invite them to come back to CIRS to share it with the next group.