Life Cycle Assessment of Scientific Research: Evaluation of Desktop - Research Projects - Formulation of Goal and Scope and Development of Life Cycle Inventory-Data Questionnaires

Abstract

While researchers actively engage and develop a framework to measure the environmental impact of achieving sustainability, paradoxically, the environmental evaluation of research activities that may take significant resources is often overlooked. DLR launched an internal project called Vorhaben Klimabilanz to examine the climate impact of scientific research at a project level. This master’s thesis is part of the Vorhaben Klimabilanz, presenting the preliminary stage of carbon emission estimation for the selected DLR research projects following the life cycle thinking. However, with the absence of a standardized pre-defined life cycle framework to conduct an environmental assessment at a project level, accordingly, this study adopts some aspects of LCA of Product and Organizational LCA and adds some modifications to find a suitable framework to conduct the so-called LCA of a scientific research project. Following the stage of the LCA Framework based on ISO 14044, this study primarily analyses the first two phases: Goal and Scope definition and part of the Life Cycle Inventory. This research proposes that working hour personnel is the best available functional unit for LCA of a (desktop)research project in hand. The LCA of (desktop-)research project considers the project-specific process (direct activities including the scientist working hour profile, commuting, traveling, events, and desktop research workstation) and overhead process (indirect activities including supporting staff activities, infrastructure, energy consumption, as well as scientists’ building, energy, and ICT usage). Due to the aggregate data in the overhead process, a specific data proportion method is required to determine each respective desktop research project’s input share. As a continuation step in the LCI phase, data questionnaire templates are provided as a supporting instrument for data collecting. In the end, the findings of this study provide support for setting the groundwork for the development of LCA at the project level as well as support long-term sustainability monitoring