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The first CSIR-hosted symposium on sustainability science, a relatively new field of research, was held in Pretoria in August. The focus was on the outcome of a two-year research project in sustainability science that was initiated by the CSIR and its research partners in 2006. The intention is to publish the results in a reference book scheduled for publication in 2008.
The symposium, facilitated by CSIR Natural Resources and the Environment, focused on three broad areas of research, namely:
- The development of conceptual frameworks to guide the practice of sustainability science
- Building understanding of complexity theory, resilience theory and transdisciplinarity (as key elements of sustainability science)
- The application of sustainability science in a number of case studies, traversing areas in which the CSIR and its research partners have well-developed competencies (e.g. integrated regional development planning, urban settlement planning, conservation planning, water resource management and environmental assessment).
The project team and chapter authors presented the results of their respective research projects while the audience jointly built an understanding of the concept. "Sustainability science amounts to more than the sum of the individual contributions of each of the speakers," said Dr Alex Weaver, theme convenor and research group leader. "We encouraged broad participation and the thematically related sessions and subsequent discussion sessions allowed for lively and value-adding debate and ultimately summarised key learning points."
The outcome of the discussions will be documented and form the basis for formulating a set of principles or guiding framework for sustainability science.
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