Sustainability: Awareness and Practices Among College Students
Jade Stetson
Co-Presenters: Individual Presentation
College: The Dorothy and George Hennings College of Science, Mathematics and Technology
Major: Biology/Enviornmental Option
Faculty Research Mentor: Sharmistha Das Iyer
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to assess the sustainability knowledge of undergraduate students and see if that had any influence over the way students practiced sustainability in their lives. A survey was distributed to students through email and in-person interactions to collect demographic information and multiple-choice responses and open-ended responses on sustainability knowledge and behaviors. Therefore, this study was a mixed methods study, using both qualitative and quantitative questions to collect data. Data was collected for two weeks where 36 participants responded to the 10 question survey. Students displayed a basic understanding about sustainability and a greater capacity of understanding for the concepts of sustainability. Students also reported moderately practicing several listed behaviors relating to sustainability and mentioned what drives them to be sustainable, including the environment and impact for future generations. This study has plainly shown what concepts Kean students find important to sustainability, how often these students practice sustainability and what motivates them to be sustainable which can help further sustainability movements and efforts on college campuses.