The Campus as Lab (CAL) program works actively with student and faculty researchers in using Princeton's campus for sustainability research and experiential learning. Explorations into the physical, operational, behavioral, and cultural dimensions of Princeton can generate new knowledge to advance sustainability on campus, in our broader community, and around the world. The Campus as Lab (CAL) initiative is built on a belief that the impacts of an individual never go unrecognized by the greater community, and the world.
Do you have a project or idea that could benefit from academic collaboration? Complete our Propose a Campus as Lab Project form.
Find a Research Question
Browse a list of curated research ideas from campus operational staff and faculty.
Get Started
The Sustainability Action Plan presents an opportunity to incorporate the University's goals and strategies into your coursework and research projects. We offer numerous paths of exploration.
- As a student, you can have a hand in investigating complex human and environmental challenges by becoming involved in Campus as Lab in various ways.
- As a faculty member, you can be independent project advisors to students researching sustainability-related topics and/or integrate your research into campus projects or site visits.
- As a staff member, you can become involved with our office to gain knowledge, solve an issue, and help spread sustainability knowledge and best practices across campus.
Students
We provide opportunities for students to engage in applied research and course-related projects that utilize Princeton University’s campus as a test bed for sustainability problem-solving. The CAL program encourages students to become involved by developing new ideas and piloting innovative solutions that advance the University’s Sustainability Action Plan.
Research & Coursework
You can use the university as a petri dish for your research project, thesis or dissertation. Through the CAL program you can access data, key contacts, funding, and other information you need, to carry out meaningful research that has tangible outcomes and impacts.
You can also incorporate sustainability into your degree through coursework. For sustainability-related course information, consult course listings of the High Meadows Environmental Institute and the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment.
Research Grants
The CAL program, through the High Meadows Sustainability Fund, offers grants on a rolling basis each academic year to support students seeking to develop solutions that advance the seven overarching goals in Princeton University’s Sustainability Action Plan. Apply Online.
Sources of Inspiration
- Browse our list of interdisciplinary research questions.
- Princeton Environmental Institute’s Senior Thesis Title list
- The Department of Operational Research and Financial Engineering thesis list
- Princeton Laboratory for Energy Systems Analysis (PENSA) thesis list
Washington Road Stream Restoration
Faculty
We work with Princeton faculty directly to promote experiential learning and on-campus sustainability research with broader applications in support of the University’s Sustainability Action Plan.
Independent Projects & Coursework
Integrating your research with the CAL Program is a way to demonstrate or showcase applications that go beyond academiaand have practical outcomes. Do you need real world examples and campus site visits to use in your courses or modules? You can work with CAL staff to have data and information made available to you.
The CAL program encourages faculty to become independent project advisors to students researching sustainability-related topics. Additionally, it supports faculty engaged in coursework and experiences to deepen student excitement in sustainability. Projects may include papers or internships that incorporate sustainability data in teaching and learning.
Operational Projects
Faculty can also partner with Facilities staff to design and implement operational projects to promote sustainable practices on campus. These projects can include volunteer opportunities, student group connections, and campus service projects.
Staff
We collaborate with staff to integrate sustainability learning experiences and research into campus operations and infrastructure projects. We assist with knowledge sharing and coordination between staff and campus researchers to facilitate the development and implementation of sustainability initiatives in support of the University’s Sustainability Action Plan.
Lecturer/Tour Guide
Every year, staff members serve as guest speakers or provide campus tours on topics ranging from Princeton’s energy infrastructure to campus composting. More and more faculty are interested in embedding real-world examples of applied sustainability into their courses.
Semester Projects
Do you have a sustainability-related challenge in your department that could benefit from student analysis? In several courses across many disciplines, students collaborate with staff members to develop interventions to improve campus operations and programming.
Operational Projects
Princeton University views its facilities, operations and capital projects to be seamlessly integrated in the teaching and learning mission of the institution. The 2026 Capital Plan is the University’s most ambitious expansion project in recent history. It presents significant opportunities to develop solutions to sustainability problems in a real-world setting. You can collaborate with faculty on research projects that contribute to a sustainable campus within the framework of plans implemented by capital project design teams. We attempt to identify opportunities for testing or implementing innovative sustainable solutions in on-going campus development and construction.
