IÖR-Forum

Dominant modes of knowledge production are not enough for science to become a critical lever for sustainability transformation(s). Prof. Horcea-Milcu will first give a brief introduction into the two main streams of sustainability science and focus on characterizing transformative sustainability science. Second, by applying the perspective of transformative sustainability science, she will look into the less visible and less considered dimensions of sustainability transformation(s), i.e. inner worlds and why they matter. Third, as an example of inner dimensions of sustainability transformation(s), she will talk about values and how they can be conceptualized as leverage points, emphasizing a corresponding novel vocabulary when linking values and sustainability transformation.
In the end, based on previous arguments, she will propose an unconventional definition for sustainability. Throughout the presentation, she will emphasize and clarify hidden assumptions and distinctions which operate at the science|society and knowledge|action interfaces, which help push the boundaries of how to research and how to think about and for sustainability (transformations).

Our speaker:
Andra Milcu is a sustainability scientist with a background in exploring social-ecological systems and experience in place-based transdisciplinary co-creation. As one of the four co-directors of the Kassel Institute for Sustainability, she is focusing on advancing the theory and practice of transformative sustainability science. In her research, she is interested in how to consciously mobilize and activate core human values and inner worlds as leverage points for sustainability transformation. Andra stands for kindness. She is a lead author for three assessments of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), including the transformative change assessment.