Campus as Lab Initiative Expands Hands-On Sustainability Opportunities for Students

Columbia University’s Office of Sustainability is expanding opportunities for students to engage in real-world sustainability projects through its Campus as Lab (CAL) initiative. This effort aligns with Plan 2030, the university’s strategic sustainability roadmap, which highlights Culture Change and Campus as a Living Lab as a key implementation area. Through CAL, students are able to gain hands-on experience tackling campus sustainability challenges, working alongside faculty, operational staff, and industry professionals.

“CAL is about leveraging the power and enthusiasm of our students to help solve campus sustainability challenges,” said Daniel Allalemdjian, Director of Sustainability and Transportation. “There are multiple pathways for students to get involved—through capstone projects, independent research, and student-led sustainability clubs that provide real-world experience on critical topics .”

In the past year, Columbia has increased its capacity to develop and support CAL projects. A new internship role within the Office of Sustainability has been instrumental in expanding opportunities, particularly in collaboration with the Climate School.

One such success story is the work of the student-led Electric Vehicles Organization (EVO), which was established in 2021 and gained status as an official Columbia club in 2023. EVO’s mission is to “integrate Columbia University students into the sustainable transportation ecosystem on campus, in NYC, and across industry.” Last semester, EVO partnered with Columbia Transportation and the Office of Sustainability to assess fast-charging infrastructure for the University’s growing electric fleet. Their consulting project provided critical policy and financial insights to guide decision-making for Columbia’s fleet electrification goals.

For the EVO consulting team, this project marked a significant milestone. “This was our first time diving into the world of consulting,” said Enzo Cremers, an MA Climate and Society student who focused on assessing policy incentives. “CAL provided us with a structured way to apply our skills to a real-world project and see tangible outcomes.”

James Novick-Smith, a graduate student in the School of Professional Studies Sustainability Management (SUMA) program who led the consulting project, expressed appreciation for the support from the Office of Sustainability. “It was an incredible experience to work with like-minded students on a project that will directly impact Columbia’s fleet transition,” he said. “This hands-on work even helped me secure a job in the sustainability consulting field after graduation.”

Anusha Jain, another SUMA student and EVO’s Assistant Vice President of Professional Development, emphasized how the experience contributed to her professional growth. “We conducted fleet calculations, examined how other universities approached electrification, and developed a roadmap for Columbia’s fleet transition. I’m excited to see how our recommendations are implemented over time.”

For Henry Sherrington, also a SUMA student, the project was an eye-opener. “It really showed the complexities of electrifying a fleet in an institution like Columbia. I gained invaluable insight into the procurement process and how energy companies collaborate with universities on sustainability initiatives.” 

But these students’ CAL experience does not end there. Building on the success of their fast-charging consulting project last fall, EVO intends to expand their focus, pursuing additional consulting opportunities, both within Columbia and beyond. With a membership of over 100 Columbia graduate students and EV enthusiasts, the organization is leveraging its expertise to support a broader range of EV initiatives. Following their CAL collaboration, EVO has even introduced a new leadership role fixed to adopting additional opportunities for the group’s consulting efforts and fostering partnerships both on and off campus.

Beyond EVO, Columbia’s commitment to CAL continues to grow, with more projects on the horizon. “We’re doing a lot of amazing sustainability work on campus,” said Jason Smerdon, a faculty member at the Climate School and a key advocate for CAL. “One of our main goals is to increase student involvement in sustainability planning and operations. Through capstones, independent research, and student-driven initiatives, CAL is creating pathways for students to contribute meaningfully to Columbia’s sustainability efforts.”

With the success of EVO’s project and other CAL initiatives, the program is proving to be a powerful model for experiential learning. As Plan 2030 advances, Columbia is set to offer even more opportunities for students to engage in sustainability problem-solving—turning the campus itself into a dynamic, hands-on learning environment.