School of Public Policy 122 - Creating A Sustainable Future

This course introduces you to how science and policy can create a more sustainable future at the local, regional, national, and international levels. To make sustainable change, it is critical that we understand both the fundamental science and the drivers of policy change. This course is designed to help you understand: (1) how science has shaped our understanding of many sustainability challenges; (2) how our earth systems interact with our social and built systems; (3) the science behind sustainability problems, including climate change, biodiversity conservation, energy, water, and food; (4) the various ways science is used in decision-making and policy to advance sustainability; and, (5) how scientists, governments, industry and civil society can work together to use science and policy to create a more sustainable future. Creating a sustainable future will require interdisciplinary collaborations between scientists, policy-makers, communities and other stakeholders. This course will give you the opportunity to model those collaborations through course content focused on both science and policy, and through activities that bring diverse sets of students together to learn and co-create sustainable solutions. (Gen. Ed. SB, DG)