Sustainability science II
Deepen your understanding of sustainability science, together with leading scholars and practitioners. This course builds on Sustainability Science I. We explore how concepts of resilience and biosphere stewardship can be used to analyse and navigate the challenges and opportunities of sustainability, with a particular focus on business in the second module.
In this new course you will learn from sustainability scientists who are elaborating different aspects and frontiers in sustainability science, including if and how businesses can engage in resilience thinking and biosphere stewardship. You will also meet guest speakers who are working at the interface of sustainability science and business practice.
You will learn about systems thinking, resilience strategies and biosphere stewardship, the history of these concepts and how they have influenced business practice.
You will explore cases that illuminate key aspects of resilience and stewardship and illustrate different theories of how to shift corporate actions towards more sustainable practices.
You will advance your understanding of key debates in sustainability and business and further develop your capacity to engage with them and make well-informed arguments.
The course is offered as a part of the Bachelor Program “Business, Ethics and Sustainability”.
Information for admitted students autumn 2024
Congratulations! You have been admitted at Stockholm University and we hope that you will enjoy your studies with us.
In order to ensure that your studies begin as smoothly as possible we have compiled a short checklist for the beginning of the semester.
Follow the instructions on whether you have to reply to your offer or not.
universityadmissions.se
Checklist for admitted students
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Activate your university account
The first step in being able to register and gain access to all the university's IT services.
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Register at your department
Registration can be done in different ways. Read the instructions from your department below.
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Read all the information on this page
Here you will find what you need to know before your course or programme starts.
IMPORTANT
Your seat may be withdrawn if you do not register according to the instructions provided by your department.
Information from the department - courses
Welcome to autumn term 2024 at BIG! Open here, read and let us know if you have any questions.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you are registered on the correct course. If you do not register then your place can go to a reserve. However, it is important that you only register on courses that you do intend to take, or you are taking a place from another student.
Registration period for autumn 2024
Note! In order for us to efficiently be able to help all students, before registering make sure to carefully read our information to admitted students.
- Registration for all courses opens 5th August and closes Sunday just over a week before the course starts, apart from courses starting at beginning of term. Registration for these courses closes already August 21!
- Traineeships, research traineeships and degree projects are open for registration throughout the semester (see more information in the link above).
If you have trouble registering, please contact our student office latest on the last registration day. Otherwise you will loose your place on the course.
Reserve place
If you have been given a reserve place you may be admitted if someone declines their place. In which case you must confirm that you want the place by attending the reserve roll call for each course. The exception is traineeships, research traineeships and degre projects where an apporved work plan is required to be admitted, for more information see the link below.
More information about your studies with us
On our website you will find more information about your studies with us.
Welcome activities
Stockholm University organises a series of welcome activities that stretch over a few weeks at the beginning of each semester. The programme is voluntary (attendance is optional) and includes Arrival Service at the airport and an Orientation Day, see more details about these events below.
Your department may also organise activities for welcoming international students. More information will be provided by your specific department.
Find your way on campus
Stockholm University's main campus is in the Frescati area, north of the city centre. While most of our departments and offices are located here, there are also campus areas in other parts of the city.
Read more
For new international students
In this new course you will learn from sustainability scientists who are elaborating different aspects and frontiers in sustainability science, including if and how businesses can engage in resilience thinking and biosphere stewardship. You will also meet guest speakers who are working at the interface of sustainability science and business practice.
You will learn about systems thinking, resilience strategies and biosphere stewardship, the history of these concepts and how they have influenced business practice.
You will explore cases that illuminate key aspects of resilience and stewardship and illustrate different theories of how to shift corporate actions towards more sustainable practices.
You will advance your understanding of key debates in sustainability and business and further develop your capacity to engage with them and make well-informed arguments.
The course is offered as a part of the Bachelor Program “Business, Ethics and Sustainability”.
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Course structure
Modules
The course consists of two parts:
- Resilience strategies: theory and practice, 10 credits
- Corporations and sustainable development in the Anthropocene II, 5 credits
Teaching format
We mix different teaching formats to make the most of your learning experience – including lectures, seminars, exercises and group work.
This is an on campus, full time course and your participation in the learning activities is crucial for reaching the learning goals. Lectures are typically scheduled in the mornings of Tuesdays and Thursdays. Seminars take place in the afternoons of Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Friday mornings or afternoons. Mondays and Wednesdays are set aside for self-studies and group work, to the extent possible.
Assessment
We assess knowledge based on written exam, written and oral presentation and opposition.
Examiner
Lisen Schultz
E-mail: lisen.schultz@su.se
Lisen Schultz is a sustainability scientist at the Stockholm Resilience Centre (SRC), and program director for the SRC’s Executive program in resilience thinking, which connects CEOs of influential companies to the frontiers of sustainability science. Lisen has a PhD in natural resource management from Stockholm university.
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Schedule
The schedule will be available no later than one month before the start of the course. We do not recommend print-outs as changes can occur. At the start of the course, your department will advise where you can find your schedule during the course. -
Course literature
Note that the course literature can be changed up to two months before the start of the course.
Biggs, R., Schlüter, M. & Schoon, M. L. (Eds.) Principles for building resilience: Sustaining ecosystem services in social-ecological systems. Cambridge University Press 2015. The e-book version is available with open access at cambridge.org via the Stockholm university library.
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Course reports
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More information
Core teaching team
Associate professor Thorsten Blenckner is a biologist and limnologist at the SRC who aims to contribute to a sustainable world by advancing and integrating quantitative analyses, particularly focusing on marine systems. His research has focused on resilience, tipping point analyses and ocean health, providing insights that inform management of e.g. The Baltic Sea.
PhD Susa Niiranen is a researcher at the SRC who studies marine food web dynamics and how they respond to changes in multiple environmental and anthropogenic stressors, often using modelling approaches. Niiranen holds an MSc in hydrobiology from the University of Helsinki and a PhD in marine ecology from Stockholm University.
PhD Malin Jonell is a researcher at the SRC and the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Her research focuses sustainable (blue) food production and consumption. She looks specifically at the potential role of markets, trade and the private sector in driving positive change in local and global food systems. Jonell holds a MSc in Marine Ecotoxicology and received her PhD in Systems Ecology, focusing on eco-certification of aquaculture, from Stockholm University.
PhD Peter Søgaard Jørgensen is a researcher at the SRC and deputy director of the Global Economic Dynamics and the Biosphere programme at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences Sciences. His research focuses on the broader interacting evolutionary dynamics of the biosphere and cultural and technological evolutionary dynamics of human society. Particular lenses of this research are transformations in global health, the global food system and other production systems, and global economic dynamics (e.g. consumption as it relates to planetary boundaries).
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Contact
Student office- Visiting address
Arrheniuslaboratory, room E315
Svante Arrhenius väg 20C
- Office hours
Mon-Thur: 13.00-15.00
- Irregular office hours
Note! Closed June 11!
Closed for midsummer, June 21, and then stay closed till August 9. We answer e-mails to info.big@su.se all summer.
Study counsellor for basic level
- Visiting address
Arrheniuslaboratory, room E315d
Svante Arrhenius väg 20 C
- Office hours
By request
