Computing has a strong role to play in sustainability.  It has a significant footprint itself  but perhaps even more important is the role that computing can play in enabling sustainable practice in other areas.

Recognising this dual role has been the focus of our work.

The New Zealand Computer Society is currently developing professional standards, and we are contributing to these.  Following work by members of the school, the National Advisory Committee on Computing Qualifications has adopted a policy statement on computing education for sustainability.  That policy, like the Otago Polytechnic approach, recognises the role of every graduate in a sustainable future.  The policy has been implemented in significant curriculum reviews of the "NACCQ Blue Book" - the curriculum document for non-degree computing programmes at OP and nationally.   We are also lobbying on the international stage, having run a workshop for the international the Association of Computing Machinery, have completed a survey of values of computing education practitioners, and have a negotiated a draft policy statement.  This is important as it places computing sustainability as the industry increasingly focusses on professionalism and internationalisation.

The Bachelor of Information Technology has adopted a sustainability as a theme.   Matching the dual role of computing this has had effect in both computing impact, and the facilitation role.  In considering our own footprint, assessment tasks have been developed in "green IT procurement", e-waste, energy management and so on.  In using IT, sustainability is being seen as a the context for several courses.   Software Engineering, for example, is developing an information infrastructure for the Living Campus.  Sustainability is also a strong  theme for our capstone projects.  These include working with a community based stream restoration, developing science and sustainability multimedia systems for Portobello Marine, and heritage projects for museums and community groups.   A major, externally funded research project SimPa, also has a strong sustainability theme.

Associate Professor Samuel Mann maintains a blog that is predominantly dedicated to computing sustainability.

Visit: http://computingforsustainability.wordpress.com/

• Massive problem has evolved in the industry in the form of e-waste – there is an impact from making IT products and using IT  (waste created by increases in working, travelling shopping etc online
• IT can also be part of the solution when they’re making, using and applying IT
• Experienced a change in attitude to the concept of sustainable practice.  One year ago made presentation on sustainability in computing education to NACCQ and people walked out of the workshop, however NZCCQ has now adopted a policy statement regarding sustainability and now things are moving quite quickly.
• Looking at re-writing the graduate profile and integrate down into learning objectives
• General courses have adopted sustainability themes in assessment tasks
• Third year projects have shown strong sustainability themes e.g. Portobello Marine Work, Community Walks, Kaikorai Stream, SIMpa

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