Pursuing Sustainability: Managing Complex Social Environmental Systems

This course provides a systems framework for understanding and managing social-environmental systems, with the ultimate goal of inclusive, equitable, intra- and intergenerational human well-being. It explores the roles of natural, human, social, technological and knowledge resources in supporting efforts toward sustainability, and examines the trade-offs, feedbacks, non-linearities and other interactions among different parts of complex systems that must be addressed to avoid unintended negative consequences for people and environment. Finally, it provides an overview of the tools, approaches, and strategies that assist with management of assets for sustainability goals. The course draws on readings from a variety of on-line sources as well as chapters and case studies provided in the required text. Priority given to SUST students. Enrollment open to seniors and graduate students only. Please contact Bhe Balde (ebalde@stanford.edu) for permission code.