Explore Stanford’s Campus as a Living Lab for Sustainability

Student
Positions

Gain career-building opportunities to lead innovative sustainability projects alongside subject matter experts.

Academic-Operational
Partnerships

Harness Stanford’s resources and ecosystems to test theories and develop sustainable solutions.

Tours

Witness innovative systemic practices through an experiential tour of Stanford’s sustainable systems.

Course
Collaborations

Transform theoretical knowledge into tangible solutions for real-world sustainability challenges.

Stanford’s campus is a dynamic living laboratory for sustainability in action.

Through the Living Lab, we activate the campus as a testbed for innovation, where students, staff, faculty, and partners work together to address real operational challenges and pioneer breakthrough solutions in climate, energy, waste, land use, and more. This collaborative ecosystem accelerates actionable, research-informed strategies that strengthen resilience, advance equity, and contribute to more just and sustainable futures. In the process, it cultivates the next generation of systems-change leaders prepared to make meaningful impact both locally and globally.

Call for Living Lab Proposals Now Open

Advance your sustainability priorities through hands-on student collaboration that drives innovation and measurable impact for your department and across campus. Submit proposals by December 15, 2025 for Fellowship projects or January 15, 2026 for Internship positions.

Project ideas from operational partners, faculty, research teams, and students are also welcome year-round to help transform Stanford’s campus into a living laboratory for sustainability. Selected projects are matched with qualified student fellows and interns each spring.

Submit Proposals for Living Lab

Review Ideal Living Lab Project Criteria

Advance Stanford’s operational sustainability goals with scalable, high-impact solutions that extend beyond campus.
Address real university challenges in energy, waste, water, carbon, transportation, resilience, and other sustainability areas.
Engage a student fellow or intern working a set number of hours per week to contribute creativity, leadership, and added capacity.

“The living lab will put Stanford at the forefront of producing leaders who will lead the resilience and decarbonization efforts of all sectors of the economy” Bruce Cain, Professor of Political Science at Stanford University and former Director of the Bill Lane Center for the American West

Recruitment for Student Positions Opens Soon

Through paid sustainability roles across the university, students engage in valuable experiential learning opportunities that enhance their leadership and professional skills. For students seeking fellowship and internship opportunities: Positions will be posted in January 2026, check back in winter quarter to apply for your preferred positions.

Explore Student Positions

This Year’s Program Profile

Course Collaborations

Some of Stanford’s academic courses provide students with the opportunity to address real-world sustainability challenges and develop practical, impactful solutions. By harnessing the collective expertise and creativity of faculty, staff, and students, these unique courses transform the campus into a living laboratory, fostering interdisciplinary learning and driving meaningful progress in sustainability.

Explore Course Collaborations

Stanford Central Energy Facility from outside

Tours

Journeying through the vibrant Stanford campus and its cutting-edge facilities offers a unique opportunity to learn beyond the classroom. Through guided, self-guided, and virtual tours accessible to a global audience, Stanford community members and visitors can gain valuable insights and inspiration from the university’s innovative sustainable systems and initiatives.

Explore Tours