Reconstructing Sustainability Science: Knowledge and action for a sustainable future (The Earthscan Science in Society Series)
Language: English
Pages: 130
ISBN: 0415632625
Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub
The growing urgency, complexity and "wickedness" of sustainability problems―from climate change and biodiversity loss to ecosystem degradation and persistent poverty and inequality―present fundamental challenges to scientific knowledge production and its use. While there is little doubt that science has a crucial role to play in our ability to pursue sustainability goals, critical questions remain as to how to most effectively organize research and connect it to actions that advance social and natural wellbeing.
Drawing on interviews with leading sustainability scientists, this book examines how researchers in the emerging, interdisciplinary field of sustainability science are attempting to define sustainability, establish research agendas, and link the knowledge they produce to societal action. Pairing these insights with case studies of innovative sustainability research centres, the book reformulates the sustainability science research agenda and its relationship to decision-making and social action. It repositions the field as a "science of design" that aims to enrich public reasoning and deliberation while also working to generate social and technological innovations for a more sustainable future.
This timely book gives students, researchers and practitioners a valuable and unique analysis of the emergence of sustainability science, and both the opportunities and barriers faced by scientific efforts to contribute to social action.
environment dynamics underlying many pressing environmental problems (Carpenter et al. 2009; Ostrom 2007;Turner et al. 2003a). As the research agendas for sustainability have developed so too have the programmatic elements of a growing scientific field including the establishment of research and education institutions and dedicated academic journals. Much of the activity in institutionalizing sustainability science has been centered around the American Association for the Advancement of Science
that better science will lead to more sustainable use of natural resources – ‘[w]e conclude that sustainable use of resources is feasible, but the only way to achieve this goal is by improving our understanding of ecological systems.’ Many sustainability scientists, however, have recognized the limitations of this model. A central component of sustainability science is that research ought to be place-based (Kates et al. 2001; Turner et al. 2003a). This is in part because sustainable development
that better science will lead to more sustainable use of natural resources – ‘[w]e conclude that sustainable use of resources is feasible, but the only way to achieve this goal is by improving our understanding of ecological systems.’ Many sustainability scientists, however, have recognized the limitations of this model. A central component of sustainability science is that research ought to be place-based (Kates et al. 2001; Turner et al. 2003a). This is in part because sustainable development
Rittel, Horst 6, 10n Robinson, John 33, 39–40 Rotmans, Jan 31, 33, 39, 88 Sagoff, Mark 42, 52 Sarewitz, Daniel 55, 57 satisficing solutions 82 science and technology studies (STS): constructivist analysis 19–22; reconstructivist approach 23–4 science of design: design imperatives 88–92, 89, 93; design of solutions 80–1; reasoning and deliberation processes 85–7; reconstruction objectives 81, 92–4, 93; sustainable solutions, design of 82–4; transition management and arenas 87–8 scientific
Potential technological or policy solutions to wicked problems such as climate change often divide as many interests as they bring together. Furthermore, owing to normative and empirical complexity, solutions to wicked problems often end up leading to the proliferation of additional, unforeseen problems (Latour 1993; Scott 1998). Yet it is also the case that, before modern sewage and sanitation systems, the problems of water-borne disease, water quality and public health were wicked.2 This is an