Green IT Lab

Research in the Green IT lab deals with the social impacts of information technologies, in particular regarding environmental issues and interactive education systems. With skyrocketing global demand for finite natural resources, some scenarios predict severe shortages. Yet, Professor Bill Tomlinson’s groundbreaking work offers a compelling alternative. “Information and communication technology have brought forth the most powerful suite of tools that humanity has ever had,” he points out.

Led by Tomlinson, researchers in this lab are trailblazing the field of “greening through ICT,” designing new environment-friendly technologies that help us reduce our environmental impact. Their work on the Plant Guild Composer is just one example: The system is an online design tool that seeks to support the creation of backyard agricultural ecosystems — enabling people to grow food locally and without having to rely on external inputs (like fertilizer and excessive watering) that many current food production systems require.