Do you want to be a part of a sustainability project at OSU's Corvallis campus? Have a project to contribute? Use this list to check what projects are available and get ideas for your own!
The projects in this list offer opportunities for deeper student engagement around sustainability. These projects use the Corvallis campus as a “living lab”, merging education, research and operations to provide students with real-world skills and experience.
If you have a project to share, please email [email protected] to include it in the list.
For service projects with community organizations (off campus), please check out the awesome list of projects with Community Engagement & Leadership!
Accessibility
|
Project |
Description |
Contact |
Volunteers Needed |
Start Date |
Estimated Duration |
|
ADA Restroom Access Assessment |
Assess and record restroom conditions and accessibility (full stalls, handles etc.). |
1 min, 6 max |
Flexible |
6-10 hours |
Education and Outreach
|
Project |
Description |
Contact |
Volunteers Needed |
Start Date |
Estimated Duration |
|
Corvallis Consumption GHG |
Help estimate or measure greenhouse gas emissions from consumption of food, goods and materials in the Corvallis community. Work with the Corvallis Climate Action Advisory Board and City staff to produce estimates. |
1 min, 4 max |
Variable, depending on partner organization availability. At least 1 month notice required. |
2-3 quarters |
|
|
Waste reduction outreach |
Join the Waste Watchers club at their weekly meetings (to plan events and marketing) or volunteer at one of their many activities (staffing events, tabling, etc.). |
Andrea Norris - Campus Recycling |
1 min, 10 max |
Ongoing except summer |
1-4 hours |
Energy
|
Project |
Description |
Contact |
Volunteers Needed |
Start Date |
Estimated Duration |
|
Solar Panel Washing and Output Study |
Visually inspect equipment and wiring, wash the solar panels, and analyze real time monitoring to see if washing the panels improves solar production. |
3 min, 10 max |
Ongoing |
2-6 hours |
|
|
Heat Recovery Analysis |
Assess and calculate feasibility of rebuilding existing HVAC heat recovery systems on campus. Determine where best to install new heat recovery systems. |
1 min, 2 max |
Flexible |
1-3 quarters |
|
|
Burning Renewable Fuels in OSU Energy Center |
Conduct economic analysis of available fuels and price points for supplying a meaningful amount of renewable fuel (liquid or gas) to the OSU Energy Center. |
1 min, 2 max |
Flexible |
1 quarter |
Food Systems
|
Project |
Description |
Contact |
Volunteers Needed |
Start Date |
Estimated Duration |
|
OSU Food Pantry Garden Parties |
Seasonal garden tasks to support organic produce grown for the OSU Food Pantry. Tasks may include planting starts, weeding, harvesting, watering, turning compost, mulching, preparing seed tape, etc. |
Eric Beeler - Community Engagement & Leadership |
1 min, 15 max |
Ongoing |
1-2 hours |
|
Solar Crop Production Research |
Plant sampling, soil moisture studies, irrigation of small crop plots, plant pathology, mulch study. |
Chad Higgins - CBEE |
1 min, 2 max |
Spring quarter |
1 quarter |
Landscaping and Natural Features
|
Project |
Description |
Contact |
Volunteers Needed |
Start Date |
Estimated Duration |
|
Bioswale Cleanup |
Remove invasive species and weeds from bioswales throughout campus. |
3 min, 15 max |
Ongoing |
2-4 hours |
|
|
Oak Creek Cleanup |
Riparian area invasive species removal (blackberries and ivy). |
3 min, 7 max |
Ongoing |
2-4 hours |
|
|
Solar Field Cleanup |
Invasive species removal in and around large solar arrays (blackberries and ivy). |
3 min, 7 max |
Ongoing |
2-4 hours |
|
Project |
Description |
Contact |
Volunteers Needed |
Start Date |
Estimated Duration |
|
Repair Fairs |
Offer a fix it skill, host a D.I.Y. demo, or serve in an event support role (greeter, photographer, etc.) |
John Deuel - Campus Recycling |
1 min, 10 max |
Once per academic term |
1-4 hours |
|
Waste reduction outreach |
Join the Waste Watchers club at their weekly meetings (to plan events and marketing) or volunteer at one of their many activities (staffing events, tabling, etc.). |
John Deuel - Campus Recycling |
1 min, 10 max |
Ongoing except summer |
1-4 hours |