Sustainability science: bridging the gap between science and society

Wiek, Arnim; Farioli, Francesca; Fukushi, Kensuke; Yarime, Masaru

doi:10.1007/s11625-011-0154-0

Cited by 120 publications

(102 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…These requirements are that adaptive management for transitions to sustainability are required to be "plurifocal, multi-scale, multi-level and adaptive" [6]. Most importantly, the modeling framework must support and facilitate the creation of a "shared understanding" of the complexities of transitions to sustainability through enabling participation [10][11][12][13].…”

Section: Why Is Complexity Theory Important For Understanding and Manmentioning

confidence: 99%

Linking Complexity and Sustainability Theories: Implications for Modeling Sustainability Transitions

Peter

Swilling

2014

Sustainability

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Abstract:In this paper, we deploy a complexity theory as the foundation for integration of different theoretical approaches to sustainability and develop a rationale for a complexity-based framework for modeling transitions to sustainability. We propose a framework based on a comparison of complex systems' properties that characterize the different theories that deal with transitions to sustainability. We argue that adopting a complexity theory based approach for modeling transitions requires going beyond deterministic frameworks; by adopting a probabilistic, integrative, inclusive and adaptive approach that can support transitions. We also illustrate how this complexity-based modeling framework can be implemented; i.e., how it can be used to select modeling techniques that address particular properties of complex systems that we need to understand in order to model transitions to sustainability. In doing so, we establish a complexity-based approach towards modeling sustainability transitions that caters for the broad range of complex systems' properties that are required to model transitions to sustainability.

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Section: Why Is Complexity Theory Important For Understanding and Manmentioning

confidence: 99%

Linking Complexity and Sustainability Theories: Implications for Modeling Sustainability Transitions

Peter

Swilling

2014

Sustainability

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“…A decade following its inauguration as a new discipline, sustainability science is a vibrant and growing field (Clark 2008), although it is still struggling to fulfill its promise of linking knowledge to action (Wiek et al 2012) and achieving true interdisciplinarity that contributes to the development of feasible and effective solutions (Schoolman et al 2012).…”

Section: The Sustainability Movementmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Wiek et al (2011) acknowledged that field of sustainability has not yet fulfilled its promise and argued that a key constraint is the need for new modes of education and research. He and other colleagues put the challenge this way: "linking knowledge to action for sustainability…re-quires a very different type of research and education… research that generates knowledge that matters to people's decisions and engages in areas where power dominates knowledge; and education that enables students to be visionary, creative and rigorous in developing solutions and that leaves the protected space of the classroom to confront the dynamics and the contradictions of the real world" (Wiek et al 2012).…”

Section: As a Pre-requisition For Enrollment In The Capstonementioning

confidence: 99%

Integration of sustainability in higher education: three case studies of curricular implementation

et al. 2013

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IntroductionThe integration of sustainability into higher education academic programs is occurring at an accelerated pace in response to international and national imperatives to rethink the way higher education serves the needs of society. The necessity of changing higher education combined with increasing demand from students and employers is driving the transformation of existing interdisciplinary environmental education (IEE) programs and the creation of new programs focused on sustainability science and studies education (SSSE). The 2012 census of U.S. 4-year colleges and universities by the National Council for Science and the Environment revealed a sharp increase since fall of 2008 in IEE and SSSE programs-the number of schools offering IEE and SSSE programs increased 27 %, the number of degree-granting programs/ units increased 37 %, and the number of degrees offered increased 57 % (Vincent 2010, Vincent et al. 2012. The number of sustainability degree programs has increased a remarkable 985 % and are offered by 8 % of colleges and universities. Many more schools offer sustainability concentrations within a variety of disciplines and professional fields (Vincent et al. 2012). Published in Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences AbstractThe integration of sustainability into higher education academic programs is occurring at an accelerated pace in response to international and national imperatives to rethink the way it serves the needs of society. Three case studies from the University of NebraskaLincoln, Northern Arizona University, and Kean University (NJ) outlines the academic structure, program, resources, the motivation and mechanisms for curricular change, key sustainability-learning outcomes and program goals, curricular changes, and assessment strategies these institutions used to integrate sustainability into their undergraduate curriculum. These three case studies exhibit several commonalities. They emphasize systems thinking and explicitly link human behavior and ecological processes by including opportunities for students to learn about behavioral sciences, life sciences, Earth and atmospheric sciences, social sciences, mathematics, physical sciences, and information sciences. Another shared attribute is that students are involved in inquiry along with the application of knowledge to real-world problems. All three programs provide opportunities for students to explore technologies, systems of economic production, cultural systems, laws and politics, and ideas and ideologies they currently employ for living with the rest of nature. Each program also provides opportunities for students to reflect and act on viable alternatives and to ask the critical questions to acquire the necessary knowledge, skills, and professional training to make a real difference in the world. Future program assessment processes will need to develop to address the issue of how differing levels and types of sustainability integration into undergraduate programs facilitate the achievement of sustainability-learning ...

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“…However, a focus on local barriers and success factors can limit the generalizability of insights produced through these partnerships. Sustainability science has been prolific in generating theories of urban system functioning, transitions, and transformations but has struggled to achieve the vision of a transformational science that inspired its establishment [25]. Achieving this vision is central to delivering on the SDGs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transferring Sustainability Solutions across Contexts through City–University Partnerships

et al. 2018

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Abstract:The urgency of climate change and other sustainability challenges makes transferring and scaling solutions between cities a necessity. However, solutions are deeply contextual. To accelerate solution efforts, there is a need to understand how context shapes the development of solutions. Universities are well positioned to work with cities on transferring solutions from and to other cities. This paper analyses five case studies of city-university partnerships in three countries on transferring solutions. Our analysis suggests that understanding the interest, the action on sustainability, and the individual and collective sustainability competences on the part of the city administration and the university can help facilitate the transfer of sustainability solutions across contexts. We conclude that the nature of the city-university partnership is essential to solution transfer and that new and existing networks can be used to accelerate progress on the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

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Sustainability science: bridging the gap between science and society

Abstract: [No abstract available

Cited by 120 publications

References 18 publications

Linking Complexity and Sustainability Theories: Implications for Modeling Sustainability Transitions

Linking Complexity and Sustainability Theories: Implications for Modeling Sustainability Transitions

Integration of sustainability in higher education: three case studies of curricular implementation

Transferring Sustainability Solutions across Contexts through City–University Partnerships

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