After facing all those challenges with my initial idea, I started thinking seriously about how I should adjust my research focus. A sustainable campus includes so many areas — energy use, space planning, greenery, transportation, waste management, and more — and it’s just not realistic to cover everything in one dissertation. When I first started, I was really enthusiastic and wanted to explore all of these aspects. But as I dug deeper, I realized that trying to cover too much might make my work unfocused and shallow. With a limited word count, trying to include everything would only lead to surface-level analysis.

Even choosing a case study has been tricky. The EFI building, where I spend most of my time, definitely has some sustainability issues worth discussing. But I don’t know much about the building’s history, structure, or energy system. Things I’ve noticed — like lights being on at night or how space is used — might just be surface-level issues. There could be technical reasons or management decisions behind them that are way more complex than I realize. Without professional knowledge, my observations and analysis might end up being too subjective or oversimplified.

Given my lack of both technical knowledge and hands-on experience, plus the real challenges I’ve run into, I started rethinking my approach. I need to find a way to stay connected to the topic of sustainable campuses, but also make better use of my own background and strengths. This doesn’t mean I’m giving up on the original topic completely — it’s more about adjusting my perspective and narrowing the scope.

During this reflection process, I also started to realize that sustainability isn’t just about technical solutions. It’s also about society, culture, education, and management. Since my background is in journalism and communication, maybe I should shift my focus toward things like information sharing, public engagement, or policy communication. These areas might be a better fit for my skills and knowledge.

Also, I’ve realized that a good piece of research doesn’t need to cover everything. It can be deep and meaningful even if it focuses on just one angle. For example, maybe I could look into students’ environmental awareness and behavior or evaluate the impact of a specific sustainability policy on campus. A more focused approach like this might actually lead to more useful insights.

So now, I’m thinking it’s better to explore the idea of a sustainable campus from a more specific and manageable angle, rather than trying to cover all the technical and operational details. This thought process has helped me come up with a new research direction — one that still fits with my interest in sustainability, but also avoids the challenges that come with my limited technical background.

Although adjusting my plan has been a bit tough, it’s helped me see the real purpose of doing research — it’s not about trying to do everything, but about digging deep into a topic that matters. Instead of forcing myself to do something outside my skillset, I’d rather find a topic where I can really contribute. This adjustment not only makes the project more doable, but also gives me a better chance of producing work that has real value.

Adjusting My Research Direction and Finding a New Focus / Yunyi Yang / Future Infrastructure, Climate Change and Sustainability: KIPP & Futures Project (2024-25) by is licensed under a