About the Program

Sustainability, as a concept, is complex and interdisciplinary. It requires the involvement of diverse peoples, fields and expertise. We want to continue to grow by hearing from and working side by side with our community of students, faculty, researchers, and staff on sustainability solutions. That is why the Sustainability Living Lab Funding Program (SLLFP) was developed in 2020 following the launch of our Sustainability Action Plan, which itself resulted from several years of stakeholder consultations and Concordia community input.

The SLLFP funds small-scale innovation and supports forward-thinking Concordians to experiment with interventions that build a culture of sustainability in the context of societal challenges. By encouraging partnerships and collaborations between faculty, staff and student leaders, this funding program strives for project longevity, a cross-disciplinary approach, diversification of viewpoints and expertise, and measurable progress towards the commitments of the Sustainability Action Plan and beyond. Through the focus on campus operations and community, projects provide meaningful experiential learning opportunities for students of all disciplines, backgrounds and perspectives.

Each year, up to $80,000 is made available for eligible projects through a partnership between the Sustainability Action Fund (SAF) and the Office of Sustainability under the VP, Services and Sustainability.

In order to further the program’s impact, SAF and the Office of Sustainability have implemented an updated application process: SLLFP 2.0. This new process was developed to strengthen and simplify the drafting and application process for project applicants, and to diversify the project selection committee to ensure inclusion of students, faculty, and staff. Through the selected application periods, SAF’s Project Coordinator and the Concordia Office of Sustainability’s Sustainability Living Labs Coordinator will partner and liaise to better support project leads.

How did the SLLFP begin?

Application Periods

The application periods will occur three times a year corresponding with the Fall, Winter and Summer terms. The project selection committee consists of SAF staff and Board members, Office of Sustainability representatives, as well as Concordia faculty and staff to ensure a well rounded community approach. To verify your eligibility for the SLLFP, please consult our application page.

We always aspire to have a collaborative dialogue to best understand the needs, challenges and opportunities of our Concordia community. Do not hesitate to let us know about your ideas, observations, and projects by contacting us at SLLFP@concordia.ca