Introductory description

Sustainability is the most significant societal challenge of our age and it is therefore imperative that all subjects should be engaging with this critical topic that will be so central to their future life and career.

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

The range and order of topics will be decided in collaboration with guest contributors from different university departments, but it is intended to provide an overview of the traditional pillars of sustainability: economic, social, environmental and governance, as well as an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals. The module will addres both the problem of defining what is actually meant by ‘sustainability’ and the challenges to achieving it, from a range of perspectives

To do this will require answering questions that are scientific, philosophical, legal, psychological, social, economic, political and technological. This is why interdisciplinary approach is ideal here.

The module will be taught so as to be accessible to undergraduates from all faculties. Students will not require detailed scientific, mathematical or social science skills or background. It will present the topics below, perhaps with others not currently known, and in an order that will depend on discussions with contributors.

Overview of Weekly Topics:

Week 1 - Introduction to sustainability, climate change and planetary boundaries;
Week 2 - The Sustainable Development Goals - a legal and governance perspective;
Week 3 - Unsustainability: some causes and possible cures - a psychology perspective;
Week 4 - Fuel is free! An energy and engineering perspective on sustainability;
Week 5 - The Economics of sustainability - a market perspective;
Week 6 - Corporate sustainability and sustainable business models;
Week 7 - Managing the environment for future generations - a life sciences and ecosystems services perspective;
Week 8 - Education for sustainable Development;
Week 9 - Sustainability and climate change adaption/mitigation - a political perspective on loss and damage ;
Week 10 - The final session will include a facilitated discussion/debate and revision.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Upon completing this module, students will demonstrate an ability to engage with different outlooks on sustainability and use evidence to evaluate a variety of policies relating to the topic.
• Upon completing this module, students will demonstrate an advanced understanding and critical perspective of the relevance of sustainability discourses for different disciplines.
• Upon completing this module, students will demonstrate articulate and interpret the main theoretical and empirical issues relating to what is sustainable and what is not.
• Upon completing this module, students will demonstrate an ability to articulate a detailed and evidenced-based account of unsustainable economic, environmental and social activities on societies, individuals and habitats.
• Upon completing this module, students will demonstrate critically evaluate the scope and limitations of market influences, law and politics on individual and collective decisions affecting sustainability.
• Upon completing this module, students will formulate advanced mechanisms and policies for adaptation and mitigation, including how these may be funded, that outline a path to achieving sustainability.

Interdisciplinary

The module aims to enable students to engage with different outlooks on sustainability from a variety of disciplinary perspectives.

Subject specific skills

An advanced understanding and critical perspective on the relevance of sustainability discourses for different disciplines;
An ability to engage with different outlooks on sustainability and use evidence to evaluate a variety of policies relating to the topic;
An ability to articulate a detailed and evidenced-based account of unsustainable economic, environmental and social activities on societies, individuals and habitats;
An ability to critically evaluate the scope and limitations of market influences, law and politics on individual and collective decisions affecting sustainability;
Formulate advanced mechanisms and policies for adaptation and mitigation, including how these may be funded, that outline a path to achieving sustainability.

Transferable skills

An advanced understanding and critical perspective on the relevance of sustainability discourses for different disciplines;