The Campus as a Living Laboratory: Macalester College Case Study

Abstract

All higher education campus buildings and grounds can be studied, analyzed and even manipulated for research and education. However, higher education faculty do not typically use their own campus as a living laboratory. At most institutions, a student’s education does not link to the local context, and students are unaware of an institution’s sustainability footprint. This paper analyzes the effectiveness of one living laboratory case study at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA. This paper describes Macalester College’s living laboratory program and the classes, independent studies, and academic internships that have used the living laboratory approach. The schools’ program strengths and weaknesses are analyzed by using the “Eight Elements to Building a Living Lab” framework identified by the Sustainability Education and Economic Development (SEED) Center’s “The Campus as a Living Laboratory” guidebook. Recommendations to improve the living laboratory program are also included.