About the Oikos Project                                 

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The Oikos Project is an initiative of Lester B. Pearson College developed under the directorship of David Hawley.

Our Mission is to integrate sustainable practices into all campus operations and develop the college as a leader in modeling social and environmental responsibility.

BACKGROUND

Project Title: OIKOS

The title for this project comes from the Greek etymological root of both words 'economics' (oikonomia) and 'ecology' (oikologia).  'Oikos' means the 'household', 'home', or 'family'.   By this definition, Ecology is the study of the home, whereas economics is its' management.   In the Pearson context 'oikos' can be taken literally to represent the houses on campus or the campus as a whole family.   However, oikos also encompasses the allocation of the inputs (energy, employees, finance, students, nutrients, air, water, etc) and the production of outputs (nutrients, green house gas emissions, waste, alumni, etc) involved in providing and maintaining the systems that keep everyone alive, happy, warm, and well. Ultimately, we all live within and depend upon one common oikos: planet earth.   Broadly, the 'study' and 'management' of the Pearson oikos is a central theme of the work being initiated through a grant received from the Ivey Foundation.  

Project Proposal

In the fall of 2007 David Hawley, Director of Pearson College, and other campus community members worked with two Pearson graduates to draft a proposal for a Director initiated Grant through the IVEY Foundation.   The proposal, to coordinate several sustainability initiatives at the college, was approved on November 28, 2007.

The IVEY project proposal (now titled the “Oikos project”), consists of three main sections: (1)Planning, (2)Implementation, and (3)Sharing. The first section involves examining current practices and trends relating to energy and material procurement and use at the college; developing policies and planning for achieving long term goals; and integrating sustainable practices into all aspects of college operations. The second section is where physical infrastructure changes will be made: to conserve water; by investing in renewable energy heating for the swimming pool; and by further developing opportunities for growing food on campus.   The third section of the project proposal is focused on sharing the results and lessons learned by integrating real-time monitoring technology and feedback systems with web based dashboard indicators.  

Project Funding: IVEY Foundation

The IVEY Foundation, incorporated in 1947, is a private charitable foundation located in Toronto, Canada. Founded by the late Richard G. Ivey, LL.D., Q.C. and his son, Richard M. Ivey, C.C., LL.D., Q.C. the Foundation has made grants totaling $67.8 million since its inception.