SUSTAINABILITY 1: SUSTAINABILITY

Main objective: to introduce and illustrate the modern methodological approaches to the study of sustainability derived from the so-called "Systems Thinking". Since the 80s, it has allowed to develop the quantitative scientific study of systems since then considered unmanageable, due to the complexity of their dynamics.
The instructional goals of the course are:
1) development of the capability to apply to the study of complex systems an integrated quantitative approach;
2) development of the capability to address critically the various narratives used when talking about sustainability, with reference to the different levels of policy-making and intervention;
3) development of the capability to link concepts and theories to the experimental activity, also with reference to other courses.

1. Knowledge and understanding
1.1. To know and understand the main elements which the various definitions of sustainability and sustainable development are based on.
1.2. To know and understand the application fields of different approaches to sustainability and sustainable development based on different Weltanschauungen.
1.3. To know the principles of operation and the setting up of the analytical and graphical tools used in the study of complex systems following a Systems Thinking approach.

2. Capability of applying knowledge and comprehension
2.1. To use the learned tools of 1.3. paragraph in the setting up of the activity of analytical study of sustainability.
2.2. To use critically the learned narrative structures that describe the approaches to integrated sustainability.

3. Capability of judgement
3.1. To evaluate and choose critically the most suitable experimental approaches for the study of the sustainability of a system, pointing out the possible need for complementary techniques to guarantee the logical consistency and the reliability of the study.
3.2. To integrate the study based on Systems Thinking with the information obtainable by different approaches, or related to different theoretical frameworks.

4. Communication skills
4.1. To communicate both the knowledge and the effects of its application using the proper scientific language.
4.2. To interact with the teacher and with the other students in a constructive way, in particular during the experimental working groups activity.

5. Capability of learning
5.1. To take comprehensive and rigorous notes, even by the interaction with the other students.
5.2. To properly select the bibliographic references for the study, even by the interaction with the teacher, most of all for those contents that are not easily found in a single textbook.
5.3. To be sufficiently autonomous in the collection and processing of experimental data, both by oneself and within a working group.

Required preparatory knowledge
None.

Given the heterogeneity of the audience, no preparatory knowledge is indicated.

1) Sustainability and Sustainable Development: from the Brundtland report to the different schools of thought.
2) Integrated sustainability: the necessity of quantitative approaches.
3) Principles of Systems Thinking. The systems zoo.
4) Archetypes, systemic diagrams and simulators.
5) Self-organization. Critical states. Emergent properties.
6) Principles of emergy analysis. Emergy and integrated sustainability.
7) Case studies.

Reference books and material will be provided or indicated by the lecturer.

Based on exercises performed in group during the lectures as well as on homework group work assignments.

Lectures and working groups.

written and oral

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Climate change and energy" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development