Undergraduate student recording data during a Great British Beach Clean

What is Living Labs?

Living Labs links practice, teaching and research at the University of St Andrews. It is a style of research that has a direct and positive impact in the local environment and community. Through practical, detailed and applied learning opportunities, Living Labs can enhance student experience.

Transition facilitates Living Labs for students at all levels, connecting you with the people across the University and local community. There is a wealth of projects, activities and initiatives that available to research and help develop.

For operational and professional staff Living Labs is an opportunity to tap into student research to improve sustainability in their own operations. We also encourage research into Transition activities to advance our work, scholarship and the wider sustainability agenda in St Andrews and beyond.

Living Labs is where you can think global and act local through research! Email us to arrange a meeting.

Earn coursework credit, develop professional skills, gain first-hand work experience, and advance the University of St Andrews’ sustainability goals. All undergraduate and postgraduate students are able to select one of these projects as part of their dissertation/thesis/research project.

Projects range in topic, scope, and size. They all involve working with a staff ‘client’ on a current sustainability challenge in St Andrews.

Project outcomes can include: analysis ahead of hiring a consultant, quantitative or qualitative primary research, evaluations of existing projects, business plan development or communication plan development, procurement evaluations, testing of new ideas or technologies and behaviour change research.

Click below to scroll through possible research topics. These are examples, not compulsory research topics. Email us to arrange a meeting.

Available Projects