Education and Research

Our campus gardens enable faculty to include valuable hands-on learning in their courses. They also provide space and resources to accommodate a variety of research topics.

Connecting to the Classroom

The NIU Institute for the Study of Environment, Sustainability and Energy is a key partner of Edible Campus and leads our work in curricular connections to the classroom. Their efforts have resulted in education and research across disciplines in all seven colleges, including in the following classes:

• Entrepreneurship (Christine Mooney, Ph.D., College of Business)
• Sustainable food systems (Kristen Borre, Ph.D., College of Liberal Arts and Sciences)
• Solar watering and lighting (William Mills, Ph.D., College of Engineering and Engineering Technology)
• Art and design (John Siblik, M.F.A., College of Visual and Performing Arts)
• Nutrition and dietetics (Jeanne Isabel, Ed.D., MLS, SH, College of Health and Human Sciences)

Promoting Sustainability

Food systems innovation is a pillar of the Northern Illinois Center for Community Sustainability (NICCS). Our synergy with the center helps ensure that the importance of sustainable food systems is emphasized by not only providing fresh food to the community, but also by focusing research projects on creating new knowledge, informing policy-making and inspiring action. NICCS and the Illinois Innovation Network also provide research opportunities for faculty.