Sustainability Research Unit Inventory

Our understanding of sustainability englobes both human and environmental concerns, and the inventory was created based on keywords from the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Sustainability Research Unit Inventory is designed to categorize U of T’s research activity by mapping its research centres/institutes (“research units”) to the relevant SDGs by keyword, and serve as a tool which researchers at or outside of U of T may access if they are looking to collaborate with other research units or affiliated researchers across disciplines on multi-, inter- and/or transdisciplinary projects. The inventory also serves to increase the visibility of such research units, making it more accessible for faculty, students, and researchers to add sustainability content to their work. Not including academic departments, Extra-Departmental Unit (EDU):A’s* and EDU:B’s**, the inventory includes 129 sustainability-oriented research units. Source: U of T Guidelines for Extra-Departmental Units.

Source: The full list of Academic Units (Departments & EDUs) maintained by and made available on the website of the Office of the Vice-Provost, Academic Programs.

*EDU: A is a multidisciplinary, multi-divisional or multi-departmental unit designed to foster research and teaching in a well-established and well-defined area of academic study and scholarship

  • May hold primary academic appointments (e.g. majority budgetary appointments of 51% or more)
  • Offers degree programs where the number and research strength of faculty is appropriate
  • May administer research funds
  • The Director is appointed under the University’s Policy on Appointment of Academic Administrators

**EDU: B is a multidisciplinary, multi-divisional or multi-departmental unit designed to foster research and teaching in a new or highly specialized area of academic study and scholarship

  • May not hold primary academic appointments (e.g. can only make minority budgetary appointments of 49% or less)
  • Offers degree programs where the number and research strength of faculty is appropriate
  • May administer research funds
  • The Director is appointed under the University’s Policy on Appointment of Academic Administrators

Methodology: The team identifed the website of each research unit, and looked for sections in the website labelled “About,” “Research,” or “Research Highlights.” Once a page (or several) that gave a good idea of the contributions/aspirations of the research unit was found, an SDG-keyword search was conducted. (The list of SDG keywords is updated by CECCS and is used in all of its sustainability inventories.) A manual review was conducted on all keyword matches for direct relevance of the SDG with which the keyword is associated.

Disclaimer: The following table contains the inventory. If you are a member of the U of T community and you believe a research unit should be added to or removed or information edited from the inventory, please contact us.

Sustainability Research Unit NameAffiliated Academic UnitOther Units InvolvedKeywordSDGs
Joint Centre for BioethicsDalla Lana School of Public HealthFaculty of Law, STGhealth, institution, educat.SDG3, SDG4, SDG16
Waakebiness-Bryce Institute for Indigenous HealthDalla Lana School of Public Healthhealth, educatSDG3, SDG4
Centre for Critical Qualitative Health Research Dalla Lana School of Public HealthFactor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, STG,
Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, STG,
Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, STG,
Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, STG
health, innovat., educatSDG3, SDG4, SDG9
Institute for Life Course and AgingFactor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Workhealth, women, educat., povertySDG1, SDG3, SDG4, SDG5
Centre for Analytics and Artificial Intelligence EngineeringFaculty of Applied Science and EngineeringUniversity Health Networkhealth, energy, industr., educat., water, innovat.SDG3, SDG4, SDG6, SDG7, SDG9
CRANIA NeuroModulation InstituteFaculty of Applied Science and Engineeringhealth, innovat., infrastructureSDG3, SDG9
Centre for Global EngineeringFaculty of Applied Science and Engineeringfood, water, sanita., energy, poverty, educat., innovat., agricultur., health, women, solar, girlSDG1, SDG2, SDG3, SDG4, SDG6, SDG7, SDG9
Identity, Privacy and Security InstituteFaculty of Applied Science and EngineeringFaculty of Information, STG
rights, consum, industr, innovat, educat, health, foodSDG2, SDG3, SDG4, SDG9, SDG12, SDG16
Institute for Leadership Education in EngineeringFaculty of Applied Science and Engineeringeducat., inudstr., institutionSDG4, SDG9, SDG16
University of Toronto Robotics InstituteFaculty of Applied Science and Engineeringinnovat., health, industr.SDG3, SDG9
Institute for Sustainable EnergyFaculty of Applied Science and Engineeringenergy, inclusiv., industr., environment, solar, windSDG4, SDG7, SDG9
BiozoneFaculty of Applied Science and Engineeringwater, health, food, production, energy, forest, renewable, greenhouse gas, waste, agricultur, environment, industrSDG2, SDG3, SDG6, SDG7, SDG9, SDG12, SDG13, SDG15
University of Toronto Transportation Research InstituteFaculty of Applied Science and EngineeringDepartment of Civil and Mineral Engineering, STGresilien., urban, cities, socio-economic, environmentSDG1, SDG11, SDG13
Toronto Institute of Advanced ManufacturingFaculty of Applied Science and EngineeringDepartment of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, STG,
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, STG,
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, STG,
Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, STG,
Institute for Aerospace Studies, STG,
Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, STG
economic growth, innovat., infrastructure, energy, educat., industr., production, consum., wasteSDG4, SDG7, SDG8, SDG9, SDG12
Institute for Water InnovationFaculty of Applied Science and Engineeringwater, innovat., industr., environment, waste, energy, pollut.SDG6, SDG7, SDG9, SDG12, SDG13, SDG14, SDG15
Centre for Aerial Robotics Research and EducationFaculty of Applied Science and EngineeringInstitute for Aerospace Studiesindustr., educat., infrastructure, agriculture, natural resource, innovat., waterSDG2, SDG4, SDG9, SDG12
Centre for Advanced Coatings TechnologiesFaculty of Applied Science and Engineeringindustr., innovat.SDG9
Centre for Advanced Diffusion-Wave TechnologiesFaculty of Applied Science and Engineeringenvironment, energy, industr., health, solarSDG3, SDG7, SDG9, SDG13
Southern Ontario Centre for Atmospheric Aerosol ResearchFaculty of Applied Science and EngineeringFaculty of Arts and Science, STGhealth, environment, industr., urban, pollut.SDG3, SDG9, SDG11, SDG13, SDG15
Toronto Nanofabrication CentreFaculty of Applied Science and EngineeringEdward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, STGeducat., industr., innovat., energy, renewable, health, environmentSDG3, SDG4, SDG7, SDG9, SDG13
Centre for Healthcare EngineeringFaculty of Applied Science and EngineeringDepartment of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, STGhealth, educat.SDG3, SDG4
Intelligent Transportation Systems Centre and TestbedFaculty of Applied Science and EngineeringDepartment of Civil and Mineral Engineering, STGwell-being, inclusiv., citySDG3, SDG4, SDG11
Centre for Management of Technology and EntrepreneurshipFaculty of Applied Science and EngineeringDepartment of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, STGinnovat., industr.SDG9
Lassonde Institute for MiningFaculty of Applied Science and EngineeringDepartment of Civil and Mineral Engineering, STGpollut, environment, climate, recycl, natural resource, waste, urban, industr, innovat, energy, water, socio-economicSDG1, SDG6, SDG7, SDG9, SDG11, SDG12, SDG13, SDG14, SDG15
Centre for Advanced NanotechnologyFaculty of Applied Science and Engineeringinnovat., infrastructure, industr.SDG9
Pulp and Paper CentreFaculty of Applied Science and Engineeringindustr., energy, environment, educat., forest, innovat., institution, waterSDG4, SDG7, SDG9, SDG13, SDG15
Centre for Maintenance Optimization and Reliability EngineeringFaculty of Applied Science and Engineeringindustr., infrastructure, healthSDG9
Centre for Resilience of Critical InfrastructureFaculty of Applied Science and Engineeringinfrastructure, resilien., industr., environmentSDG9, SDG11
Centre for Research in Sustainable AviationFaculty of Applied Science and EngineeringInstitute for Aerospace Studies, STGinstitut, pollut, environment, greenhouse gas, climate, production, industr, innovat, educatSDG4, SDG9, SDG13, SDG15
University of Toronto Institute for Multi-Disciplinary Design and InnovationFaculty of Applied Science and EngineeringDepartment of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, STGeducat., industr., innovat., environmentSDG4, SDG9
Centre for Power and InformationFaculty of Applied Science and EngineeringFaculty of Applied Science and Engineeringenergy, infrastructure, industr., educat., renewabl., environment, wind, solar, institution, consum., resilien., innovat.SDG4, SDG7, SDG9, SDG13
Centre for Computational Science and EngineeringFaculty of Applied Science and EngineeringFaculty of Applied Science and Engineeringenergy, water, health, urban, industr., environmentSDG3, SDG6, SDG7, SDG9, SDG11
Building TallFaculty of Applied Science and EngineeringDepartment of Civil and Mineral Engineeringbuildings, environment, resilien., water, industr., workerSDG6, SDG8, SDG9, SDG11, SDG13
CANSSI Ontario at UofTFaculty of Arts & ScienceinfrastructureSDG9
Asian InstituteFaculty of Arts & Scienceno match; added after manual reviewSDG9, SDG13, SDG16
Archaeology CentreFaculty of Arts & Scienceclimate, gender, innovat., agricultureSDG2, SDG4, SDG5, SDG9, SDG13
Centre for EthicsFaculty of Arts & Scienceeducat., healthSDG3, SDG4
Centre for Global Change ScienceFaculty of Arts & Scienceenvironment, ocean, climate, greenhouse gas, ecology. forest, water, educat.SDG4, SDG6, SDG13, SDG14, SDG15
Jackman Humanities InstituteFaculty of Arts & Scienceinclusiv., peace, environment, labour, climate, weather, energy, food, poverty, justice, cities, trade, educat., women, worker, consum.SDG1, SDG2, SDG4, SDG5, SDG7, SDG8, SDG10, SDG11, SDG12, SDG13, SDG16
Centre for the Study of KoreaFaculty of Arts & ScienceAsian Institute, STGwomen, gender, educat.SDG5
Statistics Canada Research Data CentreFaculty of Arts & Scienceinnovat., employmentSDG8, SDG9
Centre for the Study of the United StatesFaculty of Arts & Scienceinstitution, weather, environment, climate, industr.SDG13, SDG16
Centre for the Analysis of Genome Evolution and FunctionFaculty of Arts & Scienceinnovat., environment, water, production, educat.SDG4, SDG9, SDG12, SDG13, SDG14
Institute of Islamic StudiesFaculty of Arts & ScienceEmmanuel College,
Faculty of Law, STG,
University of Toronto Mississauga,
University of Toronto Scarborough
citySDG10, SDG11, SDG16
The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Centre for Buddhist Studies at the University of TorontoFaculty of Arts & ScienceUniversity of Toronto Mississauga,
University of Toronto Scarborough
educat., citiesSDG4, SDG11
School of CitiesFaculty of Arts & ScienceFaculty of Applied Science and Engineering, STG,
John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design, STG,
Joseph L. Rotman School of Management, STG,
University of Toronto Mississauga,
University of Toronto Scarborough
urban, educat., cities, inclusiv., institution, governanceSDG4, SDG11, SDG16
Institute of Iranian Studies Faculty of Arts & Scienceinstitution, educat., well-being, peace, health, citiesSDG3, SDG4, SDG11, SDG16
Centre for Research in Early English DramaFaculty of Arts & ScienceVictoria College, STGeducat.SDG4
Trudeau Centre for Peace, Conflict and JusticeFaculty of Arts & Sciencepeace, justice, educat., povertySDG1, SDG4, SDG16
Centre for South Asian StudiesFaculty of Arts & ScienceAsian Institute, STGforestSDG15
Koffler Scientific ReserveFaculty of Arts & Sciencebiodivers., educat., ecolog., conserv., environment, forestSDG4, SDG13, SDG15
Centre for Global Social PolicyFaculty of Arts & ScienceDepartment of Sociology, STGgender, institutionSDG5, SDG16
Centre for the Study of Global JapanFaculty of Arts & ScienceFaculty of Arts and Science, STGrights, gender, institution, climate, energy, inclusiv., equalitySDG5, SDG7, SDG13, SDG16
Centre for the Study of PainFaculty of DentistryFaculty of Medicine, STG,
Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, STG,
Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, STG
educat., healthSDG3, SDG4
McLuhan Centre for Culture and TechnologyFaculty of Informationhealth, environment, infrastructure, justice, women, gender, cities, well-being, educat., institution, innovat., resilien., worker, wage, labour, queer, industr.SDG3, SDG4, SDG5, SDG8, SDG9, SDG11, SDG13, SDG16
Knowledge Media Design InstituteFacultly of Informationjustice, environment, educat., pollut., health, rights, inclusiv., industr., innovat., infrastructure, queerSDG3, SDG4, SDG5, SDG9, SDG13, SDG14, SDG15, SDG16
iSchool InstituteFacultly of Informationeducat. innovat., institutionSDG4, SDG9, SDG16
Digital Curation InstituteFacultly of Informationinnovat., educat., institution, infrastructure, health, inclusiv.SDG3, SDG4, SDG9, SDG16
Centre for Sport Policy StudiesFaculty of Kinesiology and Physical Educationrights, peace, justice, institution, inequality, worker, labour, girl, equality, women, gender, equitable, educat, well-being, healthSDG3, SDG4, SDG5, SDG8, SDG16
Centre for Motor ControlFaculty of Kinesiology and Physical Educationhealth, industr., educat., institution, infrastructureSDG3, SDG4, SDG9, SDG16
Mental Health and Physical Activity Research CentreFaculty of Kinesiology and Physical Educationhealth, infrastructure, well-being, educat., innovat.SDG3, SDG4, SDG9
David Asper Centre for Constitutional RightsFaculty of Lawrights, educat., justice, institution, innovat.SDG4, SDG9, SDG16
Centre for Innovation Law and PolicyFaculty of Lawinnovat.SDG9
Centre for the Legal ProfessionFaculty of Laweducat., innovat.SDG4, SDG9
Centre for Transnational Legal StudiesFaculty of Laweducat., institutionSDG4, SDG16
Music and Health Research CollaboratoryFaculty of Musichealth, educat.SDG3, SDG4
Institute for Music in CanadaFaculty of Musicinclusiv.SDG4
Centre for the Study of Nineteenth-Century MusicFaculty of Musicgender, institutionSDG5, SDG16
Global Cities InstituteJohn H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Designcities, industr. innovat., urban, governance, health, sustainable developmentSDG3, SDG9, SDG11, SDG16
Centre for Biocomposites and Biomaterials ProcessingJohn H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Designnatural resource, industr., environment, innovat., energy, forest, climateSDG7, SDG9, SDG12, SDG13, SDG15
Centre for Landscape ResearchJohn H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Designinfrastructure, climate, cities, urban, innovat., solar, educat, resilien.SDG4, SDG7, SDG9, SDG11, SDG13
Desautels Centre for Integrative ThinkingJoseph L. Rotman School of Managementeducat.SDG4, SDG9
Rotman Institute for International BusinessJoseph L. Rotman School of Managementtrade, consum.SDG10, SDG12
Capital Markets InstituteJoseph L. Rotman School of ManagementFaculty of Law, UTSGeducat., innovat., climate, environment, governanceSDG4, SDG9, SDG13, SDG16
Centre for Health Sector StrategyJoseph L. Rotman School of Managementhealth, educat., innovat., industr.SDG3, SDG4, SDG9
India Innovation InstituteJoseph L. Rotman School of Managementinnovat., poverty, climateSDG1, SDG9, SDG13
Martin Prosperity InstituteJoseph L. Rotman School of Managementproduction, governance, infrastructure, innovat., educat., institution, industr., wage, workerSDG4, SDG8, SDG9, SDG12, SDG16
Centre for Real Estate and Urban EconomicsJoseph L. Rotman School of Managementurban, industr., educat., cities.SDG4, SDG9, SDG11
Centre for Pharmaceutical OncologyLeslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacyinfrastructure, innovat., educat.SDG4, SDG9
Centre for Practice ExcellenceLeslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacyhealth, innovat., educat., infrastructureSDG3, SDG4, SDG9
Comparative, International and Development Education CentreOntario Institute for Studies in EducationDepartment of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning, STG
Department of Leadership, Higher and Adult Education, STG
educat., governance, equalitySDG1, SDG4, SDG8, SDG16
Centre de recherches en éducation franco-ontarienneOntario Institute for Studies in Educationeducat., justiceSDG4
Centre for Educational Research on Languages and LiteraciesOntario Institute for Studies in EducationDepartment of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning, STGeducat.SDG3, SDG4
Fraser Mustard Institute for Human DevelopmentOntario Institute for Studies in EducationFaculty of Medicine, STG
University of Toronto Mississauga
Faculty of Arts & Science, UTSG
University of Toronto Scarborough
health, well-being, educat.SDG4
Centre for Integrative Anti-Racism StudiesOntario Institute for Studies in Educationeducat., inclusiv.SDG4, SDG9
Institute for Knowledge Innovation and TechnologyOntario Institute for Studies in Educationinnovat., educat.SDG3, SDG4, SDG16
Dr. R. G. N. Laidlaw CentreOntario Institute for Studies in Educationinclusiv., educat., justice, well being, healthSDG4, SDG16
Centre for Leadership and DiversityOntario Institute for Studies in Educationeducat., justiceSDG4, SDG5, SDG9, SDG13, SDG16
Centre for Media and Culture in EducationOntario Institute for Studies in Educationeducat., environment, justice, innovat., womenSDG4, SDG13, SDG16
Centre for Science, Mathematics and Technology EducationOntario Institute for Studies in Educationenvironment, justice, educat., well-being, institut.SDG1, SDG4, SDG8, SDG16
Social Economy CentreOntario Institute for Studies in Educationemployment, justice, poverty, educat.SDG4
Atkinson Centre for Society and Child DevelopmentOntario Institute for Studies in Educationeducat.SDG4, SDG16
Centre for Urban SchoolingOntario Institute for Studies in Educationurban, justice, innovat., gender, educat.SDG1, SDG4, SDG8, SDG16
Centre for Learning, Social Economy and WorkOntario Institute for Studies in EducationDepartment of Leadership, Higher and Adult Education, STGemployment, educat., justice., povertySDG4, SDG16
Centre for the Study of Canadian and International Higher EducationOntario Institute for Studies in EducationDepartment of Leadership, Higher and Adult Education, STGeducat., governance, institutionSDG4, SDG16
Indigenous Educational Research CentreOntario Institute for Studies in EducationDepartment of Curriculum, Teaching and Learningeducat., institutionSDG3, SDG5
Centre for Diversity in Counselling and PsychotherapyOntario Institute for Studies in EducationDepartment of Applied Psychology and Human Development, STGgender, healthSDG3, SDG4, SDG9
Banting and Best Diabetes CentreTemerty Faculty of Medicineeducat., health, innovat.SDG3, SDG4, SDG9
Centre for Faculty DevelopmentTemerty Faculty of Medicinehealth, educat., inclusiv., innovat.SDG3, SDG4, SDG9
Centre for Advancing Collaborative Healthcare & EducationTemerty Faculty of MedicineFactor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, STG,
Faculty of Dentistry, STG,
Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, STG,
Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, STG,
Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, STG
health, innovat., educat.SDG3, SDG4
Centre for Quality Improvement and Patient SafetyTemerty Faculty of MedicineHospital for Sick Children,
Sunnybrook Health Science Centre
health, educat.SDG3, SDG4
Global Institute for Psychosocial, Palliative and End-of-Life Care (GIPPEC)Temerty Faculty of Medicinehealth, educat.SDG4, SDG9
Heart and Stroke / Richard Lewar Centre of Excellence in Cardiovascular ResearchTemerty Faculty of Medicineinnovat., educat.SDG3, SDG4, SDG9
McLaughlin CentreTemerty Faculty of Medicineeducat., infrastructure, healthSDG3
Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative DiseasesTemerty Faculty of MedicinehealthSDG3
Temerty Centre for AI Research and Education in MedicineTemerty Faculty of MedicinehealthSDG2, SDG3, SDG4, SDG16
The Joannah and Brian Lawson Centre for Child NutritionTemerty Faculty of MedicineDepartment of Family and Community Medicine, STG,
Department of Nutritional Sciences, STG,
Department of Paediatrics, STG
Fraser Mustard Institute for Human Development,
Hospital for Sick Children,
Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital,
Mount Sinai Hospital
nutrition, health, educat., foodSDG3, SDG4
Transplantation InstituteTemerty Faculty of Medicinehealth, educat.SDG3, SDG4
Wilson Centre for Research in EducationTemerty Faculty of Medicinehealth, educat.SDG3, SDG4
Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care MedicineTemerty Faculty of MedicineDepartment of Anesthesia, STG,
Department of Medicine, STG,
Department of Paediatrics, STG,
Department of Surgery, STG
health, educat.SDG10, SDG13, SDG16
G8 Information CentreUniversity of Toronto Libraryinstitution, environment, tradeSDG1, SDG3, SDG11
Centre for Child Development, Mental Health, and PolicyUniversity of Toronto Mississaugahealth, resilien., poverty, wellbeing, peaceSDG3, SDG16
Centre for Medicinal ChemistryUniversity of Toronto Mississaugahealth, institutionSDG4
Professional Accounting CentreUniversity of Toronto Mississaugaeducat.SDG3, SDG4, SDG7, SDG11, SDG13, SDG15
Centre for Urban EnvironmentsUniversity of Toronto Mississaugaurban, cities, rural, environment, energy, climate, biodivers., health, resilien., educat.SDG1, SDG10, SDG13, SDG16
Department of Global Development Studies (GDS)University of Toronto Scarboroughjustice, inequality, poverty, environmentSDG4
Centre for Planetary ScienceUniversity of Toronto ScarboroughFaculty of Arts and Science, STG,
University of Toronto Mississauga
educat.SDG2, SDG3, SDG5, SDG8, SDG12
Culinaria Research CentreUniversity of Toronto Scarboroughfood, labour. production, health, genderSDG16
Centre for Disability Studies University of Toronto ScarboroughjusticeSDG3, SDG9, SDG13
The Environmental Nuclear Magnetic Resonance CentreUniversity of Toronto ScarboroughDepartment of Physical and Environmental Sciences, UTSCenvironment, innovat., healthSDG9, SDG13, SDG14, SDG15
Centre for the Neurobiology of StressUniversity of Toronto ScarboroughDepartment of Biological Sciences, UTSCenvironment, infrastructure, innovat., conserv.SDG13
Plant Cellular and Molecular Processes GroupUniversity of Toronto ScarboroughDepartment of Biological Sciences, UTSCenvironmentSDG4, SDG11
Centre for EthnographyUniversity of Toronto ScarboroughDepartment of Anthropology, UTSCeducat., urbanSDG7, SDG9
Centre for Quantum Information and Quantum ControlFaculty of Arts & Scienceno match; added after manual reviewSDG9
Centre for EntrepreneurshipFaculty of Arts & Scienceno match; added after manual reviewSDG16
Clarkson Centre for Business Ethics and Board EffectivenessJoseph L. Rotman School of Managementno match; added after manual reviewSDG16
Michael Lee-Chin Family Institute for Corporate CitizenshipJoseph L. Rotman School of Managementno match; added after manual reviewSDG4
Centre for Research on Biological Communication SystemsUniversity of Toronto Mississaugano match; added after manual reviewSDG3, SDG14, SDG15
Integrative Behaviour and Neuroscience GroupUniversity of Toronto ScarboroughDepartment of Biological Sciences, UTSCno match; added after manual review