Showing papers in "Sustainability Science in 2009"

What has to be learnt for sustainability? A comparison of bachelor engineering education competences at three European universities

Abstract: In a period of harmonisation of the higher education system in Europe, a question is if also learning about sustainability at the universities is converging and what advantages this may have. This paper is an effort to present and advance the work on describing desired sustainability competences for engineering Bachelor graduates in three technical universities (Chalmers in Sweden, DUT in The Netherlands and UPC-Barcelona in Spain) using the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) descriptors. The paper also sheds light on whether there is conformity or not in desired sustainability competences (or in how sustainable development (SD) competences are handled) at the three universities. For universities outside the EHEA, this paper gives hints on the type of sustainability competences that will be required from their first-cycle graduates should they want to continue with second-cycle studies within the EHEA. The results show that the three universities follow a similar pattern in the classification of the competences (Knowledge and understanding, Skills and abilities, and Attitudes) and that there are minor divergences with respect to the list of competences and the levels of learning that Bachelor students should have when graduating. Definition of competences is an area that needs development, and this paper is part of a learning process for the three universities. This study shows that there is improvement potential for all three universities when it comes to being explicit and exact in the description of the desired SD learning.

Sustainable engineering education in the United States

Abstract: Sustainable engineering is a conceptual and practical challenge to all engineering disciplines. Although the profession has experience with environmental dimensions of engineering activities that in some cases are quite deep, extending the existing body of practice to sustainable engineering by including social and cultural domains is a significant and non-trivial challenge. Nonetheless, progress is being made, as a recent study undertaken by the Center for Sustainable Engineering in the United States demonstrates.

Toward knowledge structuring of sustainability science based on ontology engineering

Abstract: In sustainability science (SS), it is difficult to identify what needs to be solved, and it is also not clear how to solve the problems that are identified. There has been no consensus on the underlying question of “What is structuring knowledge in SS?” This paper focuses on knowledge structuring accompanied by supporting of thinking. It addresses the key challenges associated with knowledge structuring in SS, identifies the requirements for the structuring of knowledge, proposes a reference model, and develops an ontology-based mapping tool as a solution to one layer of the reference model. First, we identify the important requirements for SS knowledge structuring. Second, we develop a reference model composed of five layers based on three of the requirements. Third, we develop an ontology-based mapping tool at Layer 2 of the reference model for meeting the two major challenges for SS, namely, identifying what problems should be addressed in SS itself and proposing solutions for those problems. The tool is designed to store and retrieve information regarding SS, to provide access to a prototype ontology for SS, and to create multiple maps of conceptual chains depending on a user’s interests and perspectives. Finally, we assess whether the developed tool successfully realizes the targeted part of the reference model for SS by examining the tool’s conformity to the reference model, as well as its usability, effectiveness, and constraints. Although several issues were identified in the prototype ontology and the mapping tool, the study concluded that the mapping tool is useful enough to facilitate the function of Layer 2. In particular, the mapping tool can support thinking about SS from the viewpoint of: (a) finding new potentials and risks of technological countermeasures studied in SS; (b) helping users to get a more comprehensive picture of problems and their potential solutions; and (c) providing an effective opportunity to come up with new ideas that might not be thought of without such a tool.

Evaluating the cost of flood damage based on changes in extreme rainfall in Japan

Abstract: The fourth report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) provoked a significant amount of controversy, as experts have sought to apply it to climate change in Japan. In particular, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transportation, and Tourism (MLIT) organized a committee of experts responsible for implementing flood control policies (MLIT 2008). Japan is particularly vulnerable to flooding because of its steep geography and humid climate characterized by typhoons. Consequently, Japan has been coping with the problem of flood control for a long time (Takahasi and Uitto 2004). The number of floods, and, hence, the damage due to flooding, has increased since 2004. Even though these flood events may not be caused directly by climate change, many researchers are interested in the various problems of climate change and its broader implications for economic development.

Comparative analysis of socio-economic and environmental performances for Chinese EIPs: case studies in Baotou, Suzhou, and Shanghai

Abstract: To decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, the Chinese government proposed the circular economy (CE) strategy as part of its 11th 5-Year Plan. This strategy expands the application of CE from individual enterprises to eco-industrial parks (EIPs) and to the cities, provinces, and regions. We carried out field studies in three EIPs in Baotou, Suzhou, and Shanghai. In this paper, we discuss the current state of CE and the sustainable development of EIPs in China. We first provide detailed information on the three EIPs' infrastructures, preferential policies, CE frameworks, and eco-chains. We then examine the status of sustainable development in the three EIPs from the perspectives of socio-economic, resource and material efficiency, and environmental performance. The results indicate that the overall performance of the three EIPs is reasonably good with respect to socio-economics, resources and materials, and efficiency and environmental protection, whereas green management is rather weak and thus requires further improvement. We found that the CE frameworks along with eco-chains within the EIPs are effectively improving resource and material efficiency. Moreover, we demonstrate that there are positive associations among socio-economic, resource and material, and environmental indicators. Given the large presence of EIPs in the local economies, these results suggest that EIPs play a key role in promoting sustainable development in China.

Agroforestry in the Western Ghats of peninsular India and the satoyama landscapes of Japan: a comparison of two sustainable land use systems

Abstract: Agroforestry in the Western Ghats (WG) of peninsular India and satoyama in rural Japan are traditional land-use systems with similar evolutionary trajectories. Some of their relevance was lost by the middle of the twentieth century, when modern agricultural technologies and urbanisation engineered shifts in emphasis towards maximising crop production. There has been, however, a resurgence of interest in traditional land-use systems recently, in view of their ability to provide ecosystem services. Both agroforestry and satoyama are thought to be harbingers of biological diversity and have the potential to serve as “carbon forests.” Carbon (C) stock estimates of the sampled homegardens in WG ranged from 16 to 36 Mg ha−1. Satoyama woodlands owing to variations in tree stocking and management conditions indicated widely varying C stocks (2–279 Mg ha−1). Agroforestry and satoyama also differ in nature, complexity, and objectives. While agroforestry involves key productive and protective functions, and adopts ‘intensive management’, the satoyama woodlands are extensively managed; understorey production is seldom a consideration. Differences in canopy architecture (multi-tiered structure of agroforestry vs. the more or less unitary canopy of satoayama) and land ownership pattern (privately owned/managed agroforestry holdings vs. community or local government or privately owned and mostly abandoned satoyamas) pose other challenges in the transfer and application of knowledge gained in one system to the other. Nonetheless, lessons learnt from satoyama conservation may be suitable for common pool resource management elsewhere in Asia, and aspects relating to understorey production in agroforestry may be relevant for satoyama under certain scenarios.

Advancing sustainability science: report on the International Conference on Sustainability Science (ICSS) 2009

Abstract: As a new discipline, sustainability science poses a challenge to researchers focused on issues in sustainable development world wide. Although definitions vary, three characteristics appear to be fundamental: sustainability science is transdisciplinary, provides integrated analysis, and is aimed at action. There is clearly a need for such a science to address complex contemporary issues. Yet the question remains how to go about advancing this new integrated approach. The ICSS2009 conference was organized to address this question. This article, based on the conference report, provides a summary of the deliberations and highlights recommendations to advance this new science including creation of a global network of networks in sustainability science.

Sustainability education and a new master’s degree, the master of sustainability science: the Graduate Program in Sustainability Science (GPSS) at the University of Tokyo

Abstract: The University of Tokyo started its Graduate Program in Sustainability Science (GPSS), offering a master of sustainability science degree, in 2007. The GPSS curriculum consists of: (1) knowledge and concept oriented courses, which cover sustainability-related subjects from a holistic viewpoint; (2) experiential learning and skills oriented practical courses, which offer practical exercises to acquire the skills and sensibility required of future leaders; and (3) the Master’s thesis, for which students are encouraged to address complex sustainability problems through a transdisciplinary approach. Sustainability science is not a discipline that can be defined simply by the subjects it deals with, but is an academic field characterized by core principles that include holistic thinking, transdisciplinarity, and respect for diversity. The GPSS has been designed so that students may gain the capacity to understand and practice these principles. The present paper describes how the GPSS has defined sustainability education and designed its curriculum accordingly.

Education for sustainable development: the challenge of trans-disciplinarity

Abstract: Article is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use. The MIT Faculty has made this article openly available. Please share how this access benefits you. Your story matters. \"Sustainability Science\" is an emerging discipline that seeks to understand the interactions within and between global, social, and human systems, the complex mechanisms that lead to degradation of these systems, and the concomitant risks to human well-being and security. It also seeks to provide the vision and methodology that will lead to restoration of these systems. A particular challenge is how to transform the educational system and process to make this possible. The goal of sustainability education (Education for Sustainable Development, ESD) is to equip the younger generation with leadership skills, management capabilities, and the broad knowledge needed to create the new systems that can lead to global sustainability. Recognizing the critical importance of ESD in the quest for sustainability, the Editors of Sustainability Science have invited contributions to this Special Feature Issue from several educational institutions which are leading the way in ESD. We invite and encourage those engaged in ESD to prepare and submit articles for future issues which delineate how the emerging intellectual discipline of Sustainability Science is having a transformative impact on curricula and education, and we look forward to ESD being a regular topic area in this journal. The articles in this Special Feature Issue deal with a wide range of ESD initiatives taking place in universities around the world. In Japan, the Integrated Research System for 2 Sustainability Science (IR3S), of which Sustainability Science is the official journal, is a multi-university research and education initiative. Uwasu et al. describe the new Masters level educational program of the Research Institute for Sustainability Science, which is the implementation of IR3S at Osaka University. Onuki and Mino provide a report on the purposes and structure of the Graduate Program in Sustainability Science recently established at the University of Tokyo. University in Pittsburgh) has been conducting a survey and analysis of the sustainability content of engineering school curricula. Allenby et al. present initial findings from this

Relationship between the riverine nitrate–nitrogen concentration and the land use in the Teshio River watershed, North Japan

Abstract: The present research investigated the relationship between nitrate–nitrogen (NO3–N) in river water and the land use/land cover (hereafter, land use) in the Teshio River watershed located in northern Hokkaido island to understand the effect of human activities such as agriculture, forestry, industry, and urbanization in the drainage basin on the river ecosystem quality and services. River water was sampled at nine points seasonally during a 2-year period and the nutrients concentration was measured. Land use profiles were estimated at two spatial scales, riparian and sub-catchment, for each sampling station. The spatial pattern of water quality in the Teshio River showed increased NO3–N levels associated with agriculture and urban expansion, and forest reduction in the watershed. Land use at the riparian scale closely reflected that at the sub-catchment scale, which masked the unique riparian buffer effect on the river water condition. The increased agricultural and reduced forest area in the riparian zone, especially in the upper middle reach, could be a possible reason for a decline of ecosystem service for the provisioning of clean water and habitat for aquatic organisms. Measures towards sustainable and more nature-friendly agricultural management are necessary in the area to protect the Teshio River ecosystem and its ecosystem services.

Sustainability assessment with time-series scores: a case study of Chinese provinces

Abstract: Asian nations are currently facing a number of challenges, including environmental degradation and growing societal inequalities, in the course of their rapid economic growth and industrialization. Under such conditions, it is of critical importance to develop appropriate assessment tools with which to comprehensively measure the sustainability status of a region in order to guide its transformation into a sustainable society. This paper proposes a method of sustainability assessment consisting of the three components of environment, resource, and socio-economic with aggregated time-series scores. This method can demonstrate the relative sustainability scores of targeted regions for different time periods, thereby, enabling the comparison of relative sustainability status for different regions over these periods. We carried out a case study of Chinese provinces for the years 2000 and 2005 using the proposed method and confirmed its applicability as the indicative type of sustainability assessment at the regional level, while actually investigating the sustainability status and its chronological changes. The results indicated that aggregate sustainability index scores improved between 2000 and 2005 in most provinces, mainly due to significant improvement in the scores for the socio-economic component, whereas the scores for the environment component deteriorated in some provinces over the study period. Our method proves to be effective in analyzing the relative sustainability status among targeted regions for different time periods in the form of aggregate scores, paving the way for practical applications, such as policy analysis, in the pursuit of a sustainable society.

Educational initiative of Osaka University in sustainability science: mobilizing science and technology towards sustainability

Abstract: One of the most important and yet difficult challenges that modern societies face is how to mobilize science and technology (S&T) to minimize the impact of human activities on the Earth’s life support systems. As the establishment of inter-disciplinary education programs is necessary to design a unified vision towards understanding the complexity of human nature, the Research Institute for Sustainability Science (RISS) launched a new program on sustainability science in April 2008. The program expects to address the issue of how to use knowledge more effectively to understand the dynamic interactions between nature and human society. This paper first offers an overview of international and Japanese initiatives on sustainability education in which we highlight the uniqueness of the attempt by the Integrated Research System for Sustainability Science (IR3S). The paper then introduces the RISS program for sustainability science, addressing the principles and curriculum design of the program. The paper discusses the main problems and constraints faced when developing the program, such as institutional barriers in building a curriculum and obtaining cooperation from faculty. To challenge these barriers and limitations, the RISS uses the program as a platform to disseminate the idea of sustainability science across the university. This attempt helps us to obtain the continuing cooperation necessary to improve and maintain the program.

Impact of global warming on agricultural product markets: stochastic world food model analysis

Abstract: Climatic change through global warming and drought is a major issue for agricultural production. Most researchers who discuss the effects of such changes on agriculture report estimated yield changes based on crop process models. However, studies focusing on the impact of climatic change on agricultural product markets are very rare. This paper examines the relationship between climatic change and world food markets, i.e., the supply and demand of crops, by using a stochastic version of a world food model, the International Food and Agricultural Policy Simulation Model. The results suggest that variations in the production of maize and soybeans in some major producing countries will be large, and variations in the producer prices of all crops will increase. Countries that suffer higher price risk because of high sensitivity to temperature fluctuations may need to consider changes in cropping patterns.

Resilience and collapse of artisanal fisheries: a system dynamics analysis of a shellfish fishery in the Gulf of California, Mexico

Abstract: Analyzing different pathways by which social–ecological systems can loose resilience and enter trajectories of collapse constitutes an important aspect of our quest towards understanding resource sustainability. This paper’s goal was to better understand the effect of a particular class of disturbance—the accumulative effects of routine stressors—in the context of marine social–ecological systems. To that effect, we built a system dynamics model using empirically collected institutional and biological field data of an artisanal fishery in the Gulf of California, Mexico. Among our findings, we identified different scenarios under which even very small endogenous changes in the relationship between ecological and institutional variables can send a seemingly resilient system into a trajectory of collapse. We discuss why these types of disturbances are so difficult to prevent and be identified by the users of the resource, as well as potential strategies to address these challenges.

Mapping the global supply and demand structure of rice

Abstract: Rice plays a major role in the global supply and demand for sustainable food production. The constraints of maintaining sustainable rice production are closely linked to the relationship between the distribution patterns of human activity on the planet and economic growth. Global patterns of rice production can be mapped by using various criteria linked to domestic income, population patterns, and associated satellite brightness data of rice-producing regions. Prosperous regions have more electric lighting, and there are documented correlations between gross domestic product (GDP) and nighttime light. We chose to examine global rice production patterns on a geographical basis. For the purposes of this study, each country is considered to be made up of regions, and rice production is discussed in terms of regional distribution. A region is delineated by its administrative boundaries; the number of regions where rice is produced is about 13,839. We used gridded spatial population distribution data overlain by nocturnal light imagery derived from satellite imagery. The resultant relationship revealed a correlation between regional income (nominal values of GDP were used) and rice production in the world. The following criteria were used to examine the supply and demand structure of rice. Global rice consumption = “caloric rice consumption per capita per day” multiplied by “regional population values”. Regional rice yields = “country-based production” divided by “harvested area” (multiple harvests are taken into account). Regional rice production = “regional harvested areas” multiplied by “rice yield values”. We compared regional rice consumption and production values according to these methods. Analysis of the data sets generated a map of rice supply and demand. Inter-regional shipping costs were not accounted for. This map can contribute to the understanding of food security issues in rice-producing regions and to estimating potential population values in such regions.

Applications of a hydro-biogeochemical model and long-term simulations of the effects of logging in forested watersheds

Abstract: We simulated hydrological and biogeochemical responses to logging in a forested watershed to determine the vulnerability and/or resiliency of the forest ecosystems in the Lake Shumarinai Basin in northern Hokkaido, Japan. We used a biogeochemical model (PnET-CN) and a rainfall–runoff model (HYCYMODEL) to predict ecosystem responses. The PnET-CN model simulated well the observed NO3− concentrations in streamwater, particularly at high concentrations during snowmelt; however, the model could not simulate small increases in NO3− during the summer. By considering hydrological processes within the watershed and combining the model with the HYCYMODEL (PnET + HYCYMODEL), the seasonality of streamwater NO3− concentrations was better simulated. Using these models, the long-term effects of logging were simulated for coniferous, deciduous, and mixed forests. NO3− concentrations in streamwater increased in response to the logging disturbance in both coniferous and deciduous forests. In the coniferous forest, NO3− concentrations reached a maximum 10 years after logging, and high concentrations persisted for 30 years. In contrast, NO3− concentrations in the deciduous forest reached a maximum within 3–4 years and recovered to pre-disturbance levels after 15 years. We also used the models to determine the effects of different sizes and types (coniferous, deciduous, and mixed forest) of logging areas on Lake Shumarinai. The model results indicated that large areas of cutting require more than 100 years for complete lake recovery. Whereas the annual discharge to the lake minimally increased, the annual NO3− load greatly increased. Our simulation results elucidate the vulnerability and resiliency of forest ecosystems and provide valuable information for ecosystem management.

A plea for more education for sustainable development

Abstract: In April 1989, I became president of the University of Tokyo and served in that capacity for 4 years. During my tenure, I argued that universities must be centers of scholarship that contribute to the sum total of human wisdom on a level that transcends disciplinary distinctions, such as between science and the humanities. Toward that end, I fought for increases in research spending and improvements to the research and education facilities at Japan’s universities, which were in poor condition at the time. In 1995, the Japanese government implemented the Basic Law on Science and Technology and followed up in 1996 with the Science and Technology Basic Plan. This plan, which is revised every 5 years, has helped spur a dramatic increase in competitive funding and other outlays for science and technology research. Even so, research and education in Japan still face many problems. First of all, funding for the humanities and social sciences is far too meager. If we are to contribute to the advancement of humanity, we must encourage the balanced development of both the hard sciences and the humanities, for which the latter area in particular requires more investment. Second, funding remains woefully insufficient for education on all levels—primary, secondary, and higher. From the standpoint of long-term policy for our nation, substantive improvement in this area should be a major priority for Japan. The University of Tokyo, like other universities, has recently seen criticism aimed at the ‘reductionist’ fragmentation of academic disciplines, with many voices calling for a merging of the sciences and humanities. While I strongly advocate balanced development in both areas, I personally consider it impossible for any one individual to master the entire spectrum of knowledge. Therefore, I think it is unrealistic to expect all students and researchers to gain a comprehensive knowledge of both the sciences and humanities. What I do hope is that scholars in either area will acquire a certain degree of familiarity with the other. At universities, this can be achieved by requiring a minor as well as a major of students. For this same reason, is it not unrealistic to envision a generation of sustainable development ‘specialists’ whose perspective simultaneously encompasses the entire field? What research for sustainable development demands is, if anything, increasingly specialized work by experts in such fields as energy, food, and water; however, they must also be capable of collaborating in the overall effort to solve global environmental problems. What is important here is that the specialists in these diverse fields expand their perspective beyond their particular area of expertise enough to create a cooperative framework for combating these global environmental problems together. To pick one example, the energy field alone requires specialists in thermal power, nuclear power, new energy sources, energy conservation, carbon capture and storage (CCS), and so on. It also needs experts with an interest in the mixing of energy sources, as well as social scientists to aid in such tasks as the diplomatic negotiations required to achieve a balance of national interests in the resolution of global energy issues. We need to establish venues where A. Arima (&) Japan Science Foundation/Science Museum, 2-1 Kitanomaru-koen, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0091, Japan e-mail: arima@jsf.or.jp

Effect of a global warming-induced increase in typhoon intensity on urban productivity in Taiwan

Abstract: A number of scientists have recently conducted research that shows that tropical cyclone intensity is likely to increase in the future due to the warming effect of greenhouse gases on surface sea temperatures. The aim of this paper is to establish what would be the likely decrease in the productivity of urban workers due to an increase in tropical cyclone-related downtime. The methodology used simulates future tropical cyclones by magnifying the intensity of historical tropical cyclones between the years 1978 and 2008. It then uses a Monte Carlo simulation to obtain the expected number of hours that a certain area can expect to be affected by winds of a given strength. It shows how annual downtime from tropical cyclones could increase from 1.5% nowadays to up to 2.2% by 2085, an increase of almost 50%. This decrease in productivity could result in a loss of up to 0.7% of the annual Taiwanese GDP by 2085.

Land use and cover change in Japan and Tokyo’s appetite for meat

Abstract: Urban consumption of ecosystems services such as food generates environmental impacts at different geographical scales. In the last few decades Tokyoites have shown an increasing appetite for meat. This study examines the environmental implications of Tokyo’s increasing meat consumption by analyzing how this trend has affected land use and cover change in areas near and far away. Historical databases (1970–2005) are employed in order to explore meat consumption patterns in Tokyo and to relate it with beef and pork production in areas within the country and abroad. It also integrates the historical analysis of production and consumption patterns with a discussion of the drivers (e.g., wealth, price, policies and seafood availability) behind these trends. We identified that meat production in Japan followed three distinct phases between 1877 and 2005. In the first period it took 50 years for production to increase by 50%, while during the next phase production showed the same growth in just half the time. Major changes in land use/cover change because of domestic meat production occurred mainly during the second phase and, thereafter, when domestic production declined and was substituted to a great extent by imports. Despite the increasing consumption of imported meat, Tokyo relies greatly on domestic meat produced in its neighboring prefectures. The paper concludes that regional planning can be used as an effective instrument to protect the environment and secure protein for the population of mega-urban areas such as Tokyo.

Linking human security to natural resources: perspective from a fishery resource allocation system in Chilika lagoon, India

Abstract: Human security is linked to people’s access to natural resources and vulnerabilities to environmental change. In the case study of Chilika lagoon, the findings reveal that insecurity linked to natural resources is largely embedded in the historical process of resource allocation among stakeholders, rather than on the presence of resource stocks. The insecurities are strongly tied not only to allocation changes, but also to multiple factors (environmental, technological, and demographic factors). Based on the Chilika lagoon experience, this article develops a pathway toward a clear understanding of the linkage between human security and natural resources in a local context.

Use of collective action for land accessibility among settled Fulani agro-pastoralists in southwest Nigeria

Abstract: Having identified the use of collective action in gaining access to land in an earlier study, this study examined the forms of collective action being utilised by settled pastoralists in southwest Nigeria for land accessibility and use. The justification for this lies mainly on the optimism of the group theory that individuals with common interests would voluntarily act to further those interests. Six Fulani communities were selected purposively and data were collected from 120 settled agro-pastoralists. Interviews and focus group discussions were used to generate data on social features, livelihoods and collective action. Nine forms of collective action were identified, which were based on social networks and organised effort towards peaceful co-existence. Most of the collective action were rated effective by pastoralists in enhancing their land access. However, using the complete model with the Logit link function in the ordinal regression procedure, the study identified five of the collective actions with a higher probability (P < 0.05) of removing land restrictions, which were forms of use, farm size, grazing distance, grazing fields and land title restrictions. The most relevant problems to the effectiveness of collective action in the study area were the unwillingness of host communities and the non-participation of pastoralists. It is, therefore, recommended that settled pastoralists invest more on social networks in order to build stronger linkages with pastoral and host communities. This will enhance the ability to engage positively in the spheres of market and civil society. The organised efforts for peaceful coexistence will reduce the incidence of internal conflict.

Building a freshman-year foundation for sustainability studies: Terrascope, a case study

Abstract: Terrascope is a freshman learning community at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in which teams of students work to find solutions to large ‘unsolvable’ problems and to communicate about those problems with a wide variety of audiences in multiple formats. The program strongly promotes students’ autonomy in focusing and structuring their work, and student projects culminate in public presentations, both to general audiences and to panels of technical specialists. Students who have completed the program tend to show strong engagement with environmental and sustainability issues, as well as the skills and experience to work intensively on such issues within multidisciplinary teams. Here, we present the program as a case study, with some discussion of the factors that are key to its operation.

Graham Scholars Program: sustainability education through an interdisciplinary international case study

Abstract: A course for upper division undergraduate students was developed in response to a request for a cross-disciplinary course in environmental sustainability with an emphasis on an international issue. The topic selected for the course focused on the energy needs for Chile and a proposal for five hydropower projects on the Baker and Pascua Rivers in the Patagonia area. Collaborations between the University of Michigan (USA) and the University of Concepcion (Chile) to develop the course led to a plan to offer a parallel course at both universities, with the students of both courses participating in a site visit to Patagonia. The courses were structured to enhance learning through interdisciplinary team-based activities. The courses were taught in a seminar format, with invited lecturers to provide background information on technical, environmental, economic, social, and political issues surrounding hydropower development in general and the proposed projects in particular. The students combined this information with insights obtained during the site visit to prepare a variety of course products, notably an assessment of the concerns of the various affected stakeholder groups. Assessment of the course outcomes is discussed.

Sustainability of silicon feedstock for a low-carbon society

Abstract: We need to ensure the sustainable management of advanced materials, such as purified silicon, that contribute to a low-carbon society. Because a drastic increase in the demand for photovoltaic (PV) systems is tightening the supply of silicon for PV cells, the sustainability of silicon feedstock needs to be explored. For this purpose, a material flow analysis of silicon in Japan from 1996 to 2006 is presented in this paper. Our analysis finds that rapid growth in demand for polycrystalline silicon (pc-silicon) and single crystalline silicon (sc-silicon) has changed the structure of the purified silicon supply. The strong demand for purified silicon for solar cells is responsible for this change. While off-grade silicon obtained as a by-product of electronic-grade silicon (EG-Si) covered the demand for solar sells before 2000, pc-silicon is currently produced independently for solar cells via an energy-intensive process. Analysis of the resource effective-use index (REI), which indicates how effectively purified silicon is used, shows progress in the effective use of pc- and sc-silicon. REI analysis indicates that the effective use of pc-silicon is reaching a maximum, while the effective use of sc-silicon is advancing, with a corresponding increase in price. To ensure a sustainable supply of silicon feedstock, this paper proposes four solutions: (1) production of solar-grade pc-silicon by a less costly and less energy-consuming method; (2) reduction in the amount of crystalline silicon per watt in solar cells; (3) acceleration of the development and deployment of other solar cell types; and (4) reuse and recycling of solar cells in the future.

Managing tricky decentralised competencies: case study of a participatory modelling experiment on land use in the Lake Guiers area in Northern Senegal

Abstract: We describe an action-research project whose objective was to help stakeholders at different organisational levels achieve sustainable land management by developing mediation models and tools. We chose to test a specific approach called companion modelling in the framework of a multidisciplinary research partnership and a formal local partnership (a ‘users committee’) involving an array of stakeholders at different organisational levels. The study area covers 10,000 km2 of agro-pastoral land around Lake Guiers in northern Senegal. We conducted studies to update the knowledge base of the area and organised six field workshops that clearly revealed three important tool functions to support decision-making on land use at different scales, i.e. understanding maps, monitoring and evaluating land tenure, and foreseeing changes in land use. We found that a toolbox approach was the best way to implement the three functions and overcome the constraints faced by the research team and those linked to the timing of the project. Therefore, we produced five simple complementary tools aimed at various users: a farm-level optimisation model (for researchers and technical services), a database for land allocations and a discussion tool to assess the impact of land allocation decisions (for the rural council), a paper atlas (for local players) and a regional land use change simulation model (for regional and national planners). Participants were able to work with paper maps, to interpret computer-generated simulations of land use change and understand the strengths and limitations of each. Self-assessment of the research process emphasised the importance of the context and the critical role played by social capital at both the research and the field level, which, in turn, emphasised the need for major improvements in the design and implementation of a quality process for participatory modelling. It turns out that action-research may be an effective way to undertake sustainability science.

Sustainability applied to the design of water treatment plants in Iraq

Abstract: From the standpoint of international organisations, sustainability is an important aspect of assistance design and provision in developing countries The paper analyses how technical options or projects can be considered to address the needs of drinkable water in Iraq, and why the sustainability of the project is a key factor in guaranteeing the durability and the efficacy in time of the action The design suggested in this paper can update current technology in Iraq in terms of water treatment process for medium size plants, and help resolve the major problems faced today