CUSP and the Community
CUSP will establish community alliances where CUSP students can assist with sustainability projects based on action research principles.
The CUSP location in Fremantle will facilitate these developing alliances including:
- East End Association, a group of land owners and community people interested to see the East End of Fremantle developed sustainably, has approached CUSP to provide a research base for their approach to the Fremantle Council and the State Government.
- Ngarluma Aboriginal Sustainable Housing Project, based in Roeburne, will involve several students under the supervision of Peter Newman.
- Association for the Study of Peak Oil (Australia), an organisation with a number of members in Perth (Dr Dave Worth, Dr Dave Bennett, Dr Bruce Robinson; Jeff Pow CBS, Brian Fleay) all of whom do research writing, are willing to supervise research students. An alliance with such a group would be of considerable mutual benefit.
- Habitat for Humanity, chaired by Peter Newman, is an NGO that builds affordable, sustainable houses through 'sweat equity'. They are keen to partner with CUSP to provide students who can help design, project manage and build houses as major demonstrations for the community. Many projects are being planned in regional areas and Perth that can showcase CUSP’s approach to implementing sustainability through demonstrations.
- The CUSP Institute will hold weekly seminars in Fremantle targetting business, community and government officers. These seminars will be a key strategy for increasing CUSP's linkage with these groups and for attracting research projects and students.