Living Lab Blog
In troubled waters: Assessing the impact of urbanisation on river ecosystems in the West Midlands- Link opens in a new windowRead Virginia Thomas-Pickles's story
'Being involved in the Living Lab has been very rewarding. Gaining real-world experience such as in environmental surveying has been invaluable. Moreover, it is fulfilling knowing that I have and continue to contribute to my community and the advancement of the campus’s sustainability goals'- Virginia Thomas-Pickles, PhD student at GSD.
Determining the concentration of known water quality metrics, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and dissolved oxygen, around campus and assessing their impact on aquatic biodiversityLink opens in a new window- Read Cheryl Yeung's story
'Not only did I gain valuable field work experience, but there were also plenty of networking opportunities. Ultimately, doing a Living Lab project has been a very rewarding experience, knowing that my research will have real-world impacts!'
How Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation drive event participation Link opens in a new window- Read Tom Li's story
'This project not only provided practical advice to enhance event participation but also gave me valuable experience in applying market research methods to sustainability challenges. Most importantly, it reaffirmed how evidence-based, student-focused strategies can create a stronger sense of belonging, raise awareness, and foster a more engaged, sustainability-minded campus community.'
Fishing for DNA: using aquatic environmental DNA to map biodiversity across CoventryLink opens in a new window- Read more about the story behind Mansha Kapur's research
'This project has been a fulfilling opportunity for me to conduct research with tangible value for local conservation while enjoying expansive greenspaces around the city that I didn’t know existed. Thus, I completed my thesis with a rich set of data for our partners, as well as a surprisingly greener impression of Coventry. I hope this case study inspires similar academic and non-profit partnerships to enhance biodiversity monitoring and leverage the power of both eDNA and collaborative science'
Can Behavioural Nudges Promote Sustainable Transport on the U1 and U2 Bus services?Link opens in a new window- Read more about Matt McEwen's experience with Living lab as a BASc Economic Studies and Global Sustainability Development student
'Working through the living lab gave me the opportunity to move beyond the traditional classroom and make a tangible contribution to campus life. The project not only deepened my understanding of behavioural economics in practice but also allowed me to develop hands-on research skills, from ethical design to thematic analysis, within a campus-based context and understanding meaningful impact'