UW Sustainability Courses - Regional Sustainable Development

WORKING TOWARD REGIONAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - Community Responses to Sustainability Challenges : Welcome

"Working Toward Regional Sustainable Development" will be offered during Fall semester 2007. It is part of the Nelson Institute’s Community Environmental Forums, which bring together speakers and audience members from all segments of the community -- businesses, state and local government, non-profit organizations, academia and others -- to learn about and discuss some of the most pressing issues facing the environment of Wisconsin, Dane County, and Madison. The goal of these community forums is to facilitate positive, productive and insightful interactions between community members and UW-Madison students and faculty during each six-part series.

“Working Toward Regional Sustainable Development” will feature presentations on local and regional efforts toward sustainability in energy consumption, neighborhood design, business activities and other aspects of community life. We will talk about eco-villages, the growth of “sustainable communities” in Wisconsin, and efforts underway in a variety of communities to embrace the tenets of sustainability.

At the very core, this is a class about sustainability: Meeting the needs of the current generation without sacrificing the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Balancing economic, environmental and social considerations. Thinking holistically instead of reductionist thinking. Recognizing and respecting the relationship of people and nature.

Participants in this forum, whether they be community members or students, will be given the tools, the examples and the encouragement to bring change to the communities that they are a part of. We cannot wait for others to bring this change. The time for action is now. The chance for success has never been higher.

For more information about the course, contact Steve Pomplun (spomplun@wisc.edu) or Tom Eggert (Thomas.Eggert@Wisconsin.gov).