Fourth Forum on Sustainability Science Programs
at the 2010 AAAS Annual Meeting
Thursday, February 18, 2010 - San Diego, CA

The focus of this year's Forum is on "Core Competencies in Sustainability". The program also includes a networking reception and poster session for sustainability science research.

The goal for the 2010 Forum is to emerge with a vetted set of core competencies in sustainability for each academic level (Undergraduate, Masters, and PhD). Previous discussion on course content and curriculum development at the 2009 Forum in Chicago revealed that an important prerequisite to such development is having a clear understanding of the core competencies in sustainability expected of program graduates.

In preparation for the 2010 Forum, we are currently conducting a literature review and a series of surveys. The survey linked to this e-mail represents a large-scale attempt to compare core competencies in sustainability across programs and scientific communities. We will solicit input now through August 31st and compile a list of core competencies in sustainability which will be available for review via email this fall. Based on this review and additional sources (literature review and other surveys), a consolidated draft list will serve as the starting point for our Forum's discussions at the Annual Meeting in February 2010.

We currently welcome any submissions regarding core competencies / learning outcomes in sustainability (i.e., what students must know in order to graduate). We are particularly interested in the perspectives from sustainability science programs which focus on the way in which science and innovation can be conducted and applied to meet human needs while preserving the life support systems of the planet. Any programs which study nature-society interactions and apply their resulting
knowledge to create sustainability transitions are encouraged to participate.

Submissions are being accepted via an online survey:
http://sustainabilityscience.questionpro.com.

Please note that the survey is expected to take 20-30 minutes to complete and cannot be saved; please be sure to give yourself enough time to complete it.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions and be sure to stay on the lookout for additional information later this summer regarding the poster session.

Annual Meeting Website

Amy Fuller, Program Associate
Arnim Wiek, Assistant Professor
AAAS Center for Science
Arizona State University
School of Technology, and Sustainability
afuller@aaas.org
arnim.wiek@asu.edu
202-326-6492
480-965-2387