Living Learning Laboratories (LLLs) have been defined in various ways, including being called the “co-creation process in integrating research and innovation in a systematic way, on a given territorial context” (Zen 2017). Other researchers define them as “educational environments to prepare students in higher education for future roles; co-creation, real-life setting, multi-stakeholder participation, multi-method approach, and active user involvement” (van den Heuvel et al. 2021). A testbed-focused definition of LLLs is “a human-centric research and development approach in which ICT [information and communications technology] innovations are co-created, tested, and evaluated in open, collaborative, multi-contextual real-world settings” (Ståhlbröst 2008). Another definition of LLLs refers to “any building or group of buildings that can be experimented on but is being used by real people” (de Chalendar et al. 2024). Most LLL definitions include some emphasis on the context of the work in some human-focused or territorial backdrop, a focus on iterative and active feedback from the system, a prominence for collaborative stakeholders, and key elements of research and education.
IES views LLLs broadly as the use of real-world conditions and systems for informing research and education. LLLs can be place-based or based in non-physical forms, like in the cloud. They can be focused on researchers or students, with varying degrees of involvement. They can be focused on a continued manipulation and active control of a real-world condition or a passive observation of a real-world condition. LLLs can be focused around communities, facilities, or systems with endless opportunities for research, learning, and outreach.
Through partnership with U-M Facilities and other university resources, IES-affiliated researchers have pursued and established LLLs through which data is regularly gathered and further learning and research is now possible. For example, a US Department of Energy funded project that used U-M campus buildings to conduct grid-interactive building experiments led to a perspectives article in Joule on the opportunities and challenges of using networks of campus buildings for LLLs (de Chalendar et al. 2024). Another example of an LLL project on campus is the University of Michigan Blue Electric Bus system, which was introduced into the U-M bus infrastructure following a fuel consumption and operational analysis. IES has compiled an (incomplete) list/map of energy-focused LLLs on campus and in the City of Ann Arbor. (Please let us know if we are missing anything!)
For U-M faculty and staff…
- Please consider applying for our Energy-Focused Living Learning Laboratory Request for Proposals!
- If you lead an energy-focused LLL project, please complete the form with a description of your work so we can include it in our map.
- If you maintain a physical space on campus or in Ann Arbor with potential for LLL energy research, please reach out to [email protected].
- If you have resources, reports, papers, or other products related to LLLs that you would like us to feature on this page, please reach out to [email protected].
Citations
Citations:
Zen, I. S. (2017, September 4). Exploring the Living Learning Laboratory: An Approach to strengthen campus sustainability initiatives by using sustainability science Approach. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 18(6), 939-955. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/IJSHE-09-2015-0154/full/html#ref042
van den Heuvel, R., Braun, S., de Bruin, M., & Daniels, R. (2021). A Closer Look at Living Labs and Higher Education using a Scoping Review. Technology Innovation Management Review, 11(9), N/A. https://timreview.ca/article/1463
Ståhlbröst, A. (2008). Forming future IT: the living lab way of user involvement. Lulea University of Technology – Doctoral Thesis, N/A(N/A), 139. https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2%3A999816&dswid=-7195
de Chalendar, J. A., Keskar, A., Johnson, J. X., & Mathieu, J. L. (2024, January 17). Living laboratories can and should play a greater role to unlock flexibility in United States commercial buildings. Joule, 8(1), 13-28. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S254243512300483X?ref=pdf_download&fr=RR-2&rr=8435f961186e10ee