The Office of Sustainability and the Environment (OSE), in collaboration with Landscape Services and Athletic Grounds, is launching an Organic Turf Pilot Project on campus. Three designated sites will transition to organic turf management practices, focusing on soil health and microbial communities.

Soil testing has been conducted, and an industry leader in natural turf consulting will provide expert guidance for the transition. This consultant will work closely with campus land managers to prescribe best practices and ensure a successful shift from conventional methods to organic management.

We are seeking:

• A faculty mentor interested in sustainability, environmental science, or related fields to provide academic leadership and integrate research into this pilot.
• A student researcher eager to gain hands-on experience in applied sustainability, field experimentation, and stakeholder collaboration. The student will have the opportunity to document and explore the transition process, contributing valuable insights to the future of sustainable land management.

Research Possibilities:

This pilot opens the door to a wide range of research topics, including, but not limited to:

• Measuring carbon sequestration potential in organically managed turf
• Assessing water needs, retention, and drought resistance under organic practices
• Explore current land management policies, design standards, IPM, etc. and conduct data-driven assessments
• Comparing the effectiveness of organic inputs versus conventional methods
• Evaluating the economic costs and benefits of turf management strategies

These questions not only advance academic knowledge but also provide practical data to inform campus operations and broader sustainability efforts.

Benefits for Faculty:

• Opportunity to integrate real-world sustainability practices into teaching and research
• Collaborate with campus operations and external consultants on a project
• Contribute to the university’s leadership in sustainable land management

Benefits for Students

• Gain hands-on research experience in soil health, turf management, and sustainability
• Work directly with campus stakeholders and industry experts
• Develop skills in data collection, analysis, and applied experimentation
• Engage with meaningful, real-world challenges that connect classroom learning to practice

Students and faculty interested in contributing research to this project are invited to email us at sustainability@uiowa.edu.  Please include the following information with your email:

• Your name
• Your area of study
• A brief description of a research project idea you would be interested in pursuing that relates to the organic turf pilot.