'Towards sustainable cities and communities (TOWARDS)' explores local transformations in the face of global challenges.
Part of NMBU's Sustainability Arenas 2021- 2024.
Click here for more information in Norwegian
TOWARDS supports the transformation of cities and communities towards socially just and sustainable futures. Complex global challenges like climate change, COVID-19 and rapid urbanisation bring into stark relief the deeper health and well-being dimensions of sustainable development, including social belonging, everyday interactions, and the environmental quality of local surroundings.
However, rising polarization, crises of legitimacy and social inequalities highlight the ethical and equity dilemmas inherent in any practical solutions aimed at sustainability transformations.
TOWARDS fosters interdisciplinary co-learning regarding transformations towards sustainable development in cities and settlements, through:
Through these experiments and analyses, we bring into dialogue the development contradictions and dilemmas inherent in sustainability transformations across disciplines. Innovating to support local transformations also requires transforming how we conduct research and teach, including a closer integration between research, education and public engagement. For this purpose, TOWARDS serves as a thinktank that opens up space for deliberation between researchers, students, civil society and public and private sectors actors.
Master Theses Scholarship
TOWARDS announces six scholarships each year up to NOK 8 000 for students that are writing their MSc thesis about transformation towards sustainable local communities, relating to green technologies, social justice and health, or lived environments. The scholarship covers travel expenses, accommodation expenses, course and conference fees, publishing etc. The funds are distributed twice a year with application deadlines on March 1st and October 1st.
See more on nmbu.no. Queries should be sent to pauline.rutten@nmbu.no
Masterclass Lillestrøm
TOWARDS organizes an interdisciplinary master class in 2023 to gain greater insight into the breadth of sustainability challenges across disciplines. The masterclass explores transformation in Lillestrøm, covering master theses (individual or in group) that adress sustainability challenges in Lillestrøm within the themes green technologies, social justice and health and lived environments.
For more information, contact ingrid.odegard@nmbu.no
Seminars
TOWARDS functions as a think tank to open up space for deliberation between researcher, students, civil society and public or private sector. Seminars serve as a foundation to facilitate discussion across sectors and disciplins and allow for innovative thinking relating to local transformations.
Want to join a seminar? Check out our news and findings page or contact pauline.rutten@nmbu.no
Co-lead of the Sustainability Arena TOWARDS
Administrative Coordinator of the Sustainability Arena TOWARDS
Research Institutes in Norway Oslo Met University, Urban climate governance group (Hofstad, Millstein), expertise in local climate governance, civil society engagement, and health inequalities.
Research Institutes abroad Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford (Schipper), expertise in climate change adaptation and development interventions, societal transformation towards climate resilient development, science-policy engagement. Institute of Sustainability Governance, Germany (Heinrichs), professor in sustainability and politics, expertise in urban sustainability transitions in Europe, engaged in science-policy partnerships in promoting artful and sensory-informed policymaking to support municipal sustainable development in Lower-Saxony. STEPS Centre, University of Sussex (Smith), expertise in critical analysis of environmental policy processes, and research into relationships between technology, society and sustainable developmentGovernment actors Lillestrøm municipality (Berit Irmgard Hessel, Seniorarchitec, Byplan, byutviklingsavdelingen) Viken Fylkeskommune Private sector Snøhetta (Tor Olav Mørseth, Managing Director and Thea Kvamme Hartmann, landscape architect) Boasson landscaper (Sigurd Lerum Boasson, CEO) cCHANGE Oslo (Linda Sygna, co-founder with Karen O’Brien), collaborates with government, research, education, corporate, and civil society organisations to carry out practical actions to support sustainability transformations Civil society organizations FAGUS, network organization for the landscape sector (Mari Myhrene, CEO) Handikapforbundets ungdomsorganisasjon (Nikita Abbas) Save the Children Fund (Marius Rohdin Karlsen, Senior Advisor, inclusion of persons with disabilities)
Funded as part of NMBUs sustainability arenas
Contact info
Click above to findspecific contact info.