How can we ensure dignity and wellbeing for all people, now and in the future, while protecting the earth?s life supporting systems? We?ll explore answers to this question through the transdisciplinary science, philosophy, and practice of sustainability. You?ll develop systems thinking skills to analyze the environmental, social, and economic aspects of complex, interrelated challenges like climate change, global inequality, hunger, and biodiversity loss. Through active discussions, hands-on projects, and examples from UNH and our surrounding community, you?ll learn about the many ways we can take action to create a more sustainable world.

This course explores what sustainability action entails from academic and practitioner perspectives. One of the goals of the course is to encourage strategic thinking and leadership development. We look at the interdependent nature of social and ecological challenges, consider effects of paradigms, mindsets, and power dynamics, and explore sustainability tools including systems thinking, inter-and transdisciplinary approaches, sustainability leadership strategies, effective messaging and communication, creating shared value (CSV), and stakeholder theory and analysis. We apply these tools by brainstorming viable sustainability solutions for business, non-profit, government, educational, or other organizations and provide current and local context for the material we cover.