University of Texas at Arlington
ER-15: Sustainability Research Identification

A definition of sustainability in the curriculum was developed by the Working Group on Research, Curriculum, and Community Engagement of the University Sustainability Committee. The working group has 15 faculty members representing 11 academic departments, 2 staff members, 1 student members, and 1 external community member. Sustainability research traverses the sciences, politics, engineering, economics, culture, the arts, humanities, and ethics. It can include environmental research examining how individuals, communities, economies, and cultures interact with the non-humans and ecosystems around them, so that we can better understand how these interactions might take place in ways that permit humans, non-humans, and ecosystems to thrive. Sustainability research builds on environmental research to recognize accelerating environmental destruction and to seek development of theories, practices, institutions, and values that repair past damage, prevent ongoing damage, promote social justice, and enhance human and non-human welfare.

Research on sustainability was identified by the Working Group on Research, Curriculum, and Community Engagement by asking faculty members to self-identify such research and by asking department chairs to identify such research in their units. This group periodically reviews the list of such research.

In addition to the URL entered above, the following URL has more information about those involved in sustainability research: http://www.uta.edu/sustainability/academics/faculty-experts.php.