Promoting Sustainability through Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Action: The 2023 STTPA Conference
As 2023 comes to a close and climate change and other societal challenges grow in complexity, the path towards a sustainable and equitable future becomes even more difficult to pursue. Increasingly, the interconnectedness of the world’s most pressing issues, whether it be environmental challenges or compromised Indigenous rights or unsustainable business practices, are being emphasized more than ever as global leaders, academics, students, and community members strive towards an evidence-based approach to sustainability. One such initiative is the 2023 Sustainability: Transdisciplinary Theory, Practice, and Action (STTPA) Conference, which was recently organized at the UTM campus by the Institute of Management and Innovation (IMI) from October 11 – 13th. The STTPA Conference is an opportunity for diverse voices to not only engage in meaningful dialogue about sustainability, but also to share and collaborate towards a greater transdisciplinary understanding of sustainability-focused theories, practices, and actions.
Indeed, the intersectional framework of the conference, and it's bringing together of perspectives from academics, industry members, professionals, cultural and community leaders, Aboriginal peoples, and students is what makes the STTPA Conference different among others in its category. Dr. Shashi Kant, Director of the MScSM Program, and who spearheaded both the 2019 and 2023 STTPA Conferences, says that “sustainability is not divisible, and we [must] look at it holistically, [...] and all stakeholders should be involved” Dr. Kant goes onto add that the main driving force behind his enthusiasm and passion for this Conference is that “there is no conference that brings all different perspectives and stakeholders together at the same platform.”
During the Conference, different communication platforms ranging from poster presentation to panel discussions to workshops, not only underscored theories of sustainability but also discussed how to implement sustainability principles through practices and action. The Conference’s importance is further underscored by its unwavering commitment to engage diverse thinkers, but also to platform the perspectives of those who have been historically underrepresented in such affairs, such as Indigenous peoples and artists. Most importantly, the Conference allows for the diversifying and deepening of our understanding of sustainability and how it can inform action.
Halyna Zalucky, a personal and organizational coach whose field of expertise lies in working with individuals and organizations to promote holistic wellness, was a panelist for “Love, Planetary Citizenship, and Sustainability” and a workshop leader for “Having Tea with our Lizard Self.” Both talks centered around the importance of preserving and promoting self-love in pursuing sustainability. Drawing from insights gained from her personal experiences, Zalucky phenomenally conveys how and why true sustainability must be aligned with personal wellness and development. Zalucky’s professional drive is deeply driven by her personal journeys: “since beginning my journey of self-exploration over ten years ago, I have come to appreciate how important it is to be self-aware and self-compassionate as a foundation for showing care towards other human and non-human beings around us.” She hopes that “participants of both events gained a broader and deeper perspective on sustainability as it relates to self-awareness, self-compassion, and self-care.”
Another incredible panelist, Amy Geisberger and her colleagues led a discussion titled “Decarbonization Roadmap: Overcoming challenges and harnessing innovative technology and financing solutions for sustainable transformation.” The way we harness and use energy is key to a decarbonized economy, or a society less reliant on carbon-emitting, non-renewable energy sources. Geisberger opens her discussion on the basis that certain business financing models will promote greater success in decarbonization efforts than others, and that industries/organizations need to be aware of this: “it’s important to [discuss various sustainable finance models] because in order to get these big decarbonization projects done, [companies] need to understand their options for making projects a reality.” Geisberger’s efforts in sustainable development are motivated by her philosophy that sustainability is all about action: she says that “[sustainability] means making operational and building decarbonization a reality. It also means being inclusive and caring for those we directly or indirectly impact – all stakeholders, including the environment.” To know more about Geisberger’s philosophy towards sustainability, click here to learn how she and her company, Siemens, approaches sustainability and innovation.
Wesley Gee, Principle and Chief Sustainability Officer at Work Design, hosted a session to share insights, trends, and best practices relating to Work Design’s annual research on sustainability communication, which includes key topics such as materiality, sustainability standards, and digital strategy. Gee explains that “with the multitude of options available through web, social, video, and illustrations, there is a further interest (and willingness to invest in) how to effectively connect others [to] sustainability – beyond informing, to engaging and learning from others.” Gee and the Works Design team are devoted to ensuring that these insights – and their work – can help other companies pursue sustainability, specifically as it relates to measurement, management, engagement, and reporting. When asked what a sustainable future looks like, Gee believes that “while there will always be environmental, economic, and social challenges, our solutions [must] be aimed at strengthening our collective capabilities, consciousness, and resiliency. It will be aimed at valuing the things that truly matter for people and the environment to live and thrive.” For more information about Work Design’s sustainability efforts, click here.
Moving forward, Kant says that his future vision for the Conference aims at vastly increasing the number of stakeholders and participants involved. With majority of speakers being academics, Kant hopes that more artists, Indigenous members, and industry leaders can run multiple individual sessions and contribute their unique perspectives to the broader sustainability conversation. Speakers such as Zalucky, Geisberger, and Gee have expressed the importance of these conferences, but wish to see more engagement from Indigenous leaders and youth, as well as more rapport about how the “sustainability space is changing over time”, as Gee puts it.
The STTPA Conference, with its interdisciplinary lens into sustainability, hopes to foster meaningful discussions on evidence-based solutions to the world’s most pressing issues. John Robinson, a professor at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, and the School of the Environment, introduced the Conference’s first keynote speaker, Kai Chan. Robinson, with strong professional backgrounds in climate change and sustainability, believes that “sustainability can be usefully seen as an emergent property of conversations and decisions about desired futures that are informed by some understanding of the ecological, social, and economic consequences of different courses of action. It’s about what kind of world we want to create.” That is why conferences such as the STTPA are critical in paving the way for sustainability to be a mainstream consideration in decisions that shape our future!
Conference Information
The 2023 STTPA Conference was jointly organized by Programs at the Institute for Management and Innovation, including the Master of Science in Sustainability Management Program, the Master of Management of Professional Accounting Program, and the Master of Urban Innovation Program.
Special thanks to Professor Shashi Kant, Conference Chair, and Michelle Atkinson, Conference Secretary.