|
Call for Abstracts
You are invited to submit an abstract for peer review to the 4th NZSSES International Conference, Transitions to Sustainability, to be held at the University of Auckland, New Zealand from 30 November to 3 December 2010. Abstracts should not exceed 300 words and are due 16 April 2010. Click here to jump to the full instructions for authors.
Paper Themes
Evolutions in Technology
For many, technology holds the key to future sustainability, but what is sustainable technology? Technology in itself provides major benefits but also presents substantial risk through its impact and consumption of resources from extraction to recycling to disposal. Papers are sought that can outline the evolution of systems, product use, consumer product development and services into ones that are sustainable.
Limits to Growth
While we have been able to overcome many limitations using technology, there is increasing recognition that there are limits to growth in populations, in resource use and in environmental degradation. However, there is a lack of understanding of those limits and how they are defined, and the risks that result from exceeding those limits. Papers are sought that will discuss the limits of human and environmental systems, current and future risks in exceeding those limits and how understanding limits can be used in shifting societies towards sustainability.
New Economics of Sustainability
For the last half-century at least, economic growth (usually defined in terms of GDP) has been seen as the cornerstone of any country's political-economic policies. What about alternatives such as the Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI)? At a time when it is becoming increasingly urgent that the extraction of resources and emissions of pollutants be reduced to sustainable levels as soon as possible, the desirability of economic growth is increasingly being questioned. Papers are sought that will examine alternative models and frameworks for a new economics of sustainability.
Beyond today's infrastructure
The infrastructure that serves our societies today was built to support increasing demand to meet our modern lifestyles. Our existing community paradigm including global markets, individual demands, centralisation of services, and immediate access to goods and information is no longer sustainable. How can we rethink our infrastructure so it becomes the foundation of a sustainable society? Papers are sought that examine how infrastructure can be overturned, renovated, or developed to shape the future.
Resilient Societies
In times of crisis it is individual and group behavior that governs our ability to adapt. How do we enable society to positively absorb change and rise to further challenges? How do we collectively embrace new lifestyles that move beyond our reliance on current infrastructure, technology and excess consumption? Papers are sought that will offer new approaches to societal decision making, better understanding of society’s interface between services, demands, and behaviour, and identify necessary social changes.
Embedding Sustainability
How will we make sustainability a part of our daily lives? How will we educate society to meet this challenge so that sustainability becomes common practice? Sustainable outcomes will be achieved more quickly once people grasp the need for change, understand the benefits and then convert this knowledge into new behavioural patterns. Papers are sought that will address how we embed sustainability into school curriculums, tertiary institutions, professional development and every day learning experiences.
Instructions for Authors
Download: Call for abstracts as a PDF (600 kB PDF)
Abstracts are to be received on or before Friday, 16 April 2010.
Please note that:
- The word limit for abstracts is 300 words
- Abstracts must be written in Microsoft Word version 6.0 or higher
- The required format is: Times New Roman size 12 font, single spaced, justified
Authors are requested to put the following information at the beginning of their abstracts:
- Last name, title, first name
- Other authors (same format)
- University, institute or company affiliation
- Full mailing address, telephone and fax numbers, and email address
- Title of the paper
- Intended category
Accepted papers will be published in the Conference Proceedings*. The Peer Review Panel will announce which abstracts are chosen in the week of 10 May 2010.
Submit via email to Vicky Adin at vicky@nzsses.org.nz
* In order for their paper to be published in the Conference Proceedings, all authors must:
- Register before close off;
- Pay the associated conference fee;
- Attend the conference; and
- Present their paper.
|
