Education for Sustainability: Continuing the Discussion
Date and time
Location
75A Chancellors Circle
Bistro Two O Five 205 UMSU University Centre Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 CanadaDescription
Continuing the conversation of education for sustainability at the University of Manitoba.
This event will feature a discussion with Dr. John Robinson from the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto. As one of the creators of the University of British Columbia's Pathways to Sustainability model, Dr. Robinson will discuss the complexities and best practices of introducing education for sustainability at the university level (see the summary of Dr. Robinson's presentation below).
Following Dr. Robinson's presentation, the results of the first round of U of M discussions will be presented and the next steps for the University will be discussed.
RSVP by Friday, September 21. A light lunch will be provided.
BIOGRAPHY
John Robinson is a Professor at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, and the School of the Environment, at the University of Toronto; an Honorary Professor with the Institute for Resources, Environment & Sustainability at The University of British Columbia; and an Adjunct Professor with the Copenhagen Business School. At the University of Toronto, he is also Presidential Advisor on the Environment, Climate Change and Sustainability. Prof. Robinson’s research focuses on the intersection of climate change mitigation, adaptation and sustainability; the use of visualization, modelling, and citizen engagement to explore sustainable futures; sustainable buildings and urban design; the role of the university in contributing to sustainability; creating partnerships for sustainability with non-academic partners; and, generally, the intersection of sustainability, social and technological change, behaviour change, and community engagement processes.
Making a Difference: Universities as Living Labs and Agents of Change
The social contract between universities and the society’s they serve is changing. It used to be enough for universities to do research and educate students. Increasingly, however, we are being asked to engage tangibly and actively with the problems faced by the societies which fund us. I will explore the challenges and opportunities facing universities attempting to respond to this demand with regard to sustainability. Based on an agenda which moves beyond harm reduction to what we call regenerative sustainability (human activity that improves both human and environmental wellbeing), and using examples from UBC, Copenhagen Business School, Chalmers University of Technology, and U of T, I will outline an agenda for transforming the campus into a living laboratory of sustainability, where faculty, staff and students, along with private, public and NGO sector partners, use the university’s physical plant, as well education and research capabilities, to test, study, teach, apply and share lessons learned, technologies created and policies developed.
Organized by
The University of Manitoba simultaneously pursues ecological, social and economic sustainability. Our approach supports regeneration, participation and resource efficiency. We grow opportunities: our present actions ensure future generations can achieve levels of well-being that are at least as great as those achieved now.
Planning for sustainability at the University of Manitoba is integrated at all levels. The University’s mission statement and values reflect sustainable thinking, and our operations – from cleaning, to energy management, to purchasing – strive to promote well-being while reducing environmental impact.