Sustainable World: Approaches to Analyzing and Resolving Wicked Problems is the first introductory textbook to offer a comprehensive overview of the problem solving methods used by sustainability scientists to resolve real-world sustainability problems. The books content is based on an undergraduate sustainability course taught by the author in the School of Sustainability at Arizona State University and was reviewed by world renowned sustainability scientist faculty from the School. The course is taken by a diverse group of students ranging from sustainability to business majors. Thus, the book is appropriate for a wide range of undergraduates, advanced high school students, and also as an introduction to the sustainability science problem solving approach for any interested reader. It is perfect for a stand-alone course focused on sustainability problem solving, whether inside the classroom through case studies or out in the real-world. The book is a reasonable length, such that it can be used as supplemental reading for any course in any discipline that is focused on using disciplinary knowledge to resolve real-world sustainability problems.
Sustainable World: Approaches to Analyzing and Resolving Wicked Problems' content draws from a wide range of disciplines that define the emerging 21st century field of sustainability science, including anthropology, business, ecology, economics, science and technology studies, sociology, urban planning, and major others. The books focus is on developing five key sustainability competencies (system thinking, normative, anticipatory, strategic, and interpersonal) that foster the knowledge, skills, and understandings needed by change-agents to resolve sustainability problems in the real-world. The book includes an introduction to sustainability and socio-ecological system complexity and also to each component of the sustainability science problem solving approach: current state analysis, future scenarios, visioning, and transition strategies. Core Questions and Key Concepts structure each chapters content. End-of-chapter case studies, discussion questions, and projects allow for exploration and application of concepts.
