Jennifer Russell, assistant professor of sustainable biomaterials at Virginia Tech, uses a unique approach to biological systems analysis. By looking at a facility as an organism, she compares the material inflows with the material outflows (trash) to determine the health of the facility. In Russell’s examination of the outflows of a Retirement Unlimited, Inc. (RUI) senior living residence, she found not only food waste, but also a lively dialogue about sustainability with its residents and an extended commitment. Russell hopes to build on this foundation of research by obtaining sponsored research grants in order to have broader impacts and improve sustainability at assisted living facilities.