Five open access eBooks on sustainability
Students are increasingly expecting universities to be sustainable, and it’s one of the key factors in their decision-making when selecting an institution.
From teaching to operational practices, universities are well positioned to show leadership on sustainability, both locally and globally.
It’s not just about greening their own campuses – there’s also a need to prepare students for the green jobs boom. In fact, there’s already a huge demand for these skills, and so universities are adapting their curricula to equip graduates accordingly.
No wonder then that two of the most used books in the Kortext Open Resources Collection (KORC) – which contains over 17,000 open access, free-to-use titles – for 2023/24 were on sustainability-related topics.
Bearing this in mind, we’ve handpicked five eBooks on sustainability from KORC to inspire students, academics and librarians.
1. Transformative Pathways to Sustainability: Learning Across Disciplines, Cultures and Contexts, edited by Adrian Ely
This book looks at the neglected role of transdisciplinary research in driving social transformations for sustainable development. It presents global case studies from the Pathways Transformative Knowledge Network, focusing on agriculture, energy and urban systems. By combining empirical data with theoretical analysis, it offers valuable insights.
2. Transforming Education for Sustainability: Discourses on Justice, Inclusion, and Authenticity, edited by MarÃa S. Rivera Maulucci et al.
The text explores how educators across various disciplines integrate sustainability into their teaching, with a focus on justice, authenticity and inclusivity. It highlights how sustainability education addresses complex issues like climate change and biodiversity, engaging students in active learning, decision-making and research, which creates empowering experiences.
3. Technology and Sustainable Development: The Promise and Pitfalls of Techno-Solutionism, edited by Henrik Skaug Sætra
This study questions whether technology can solve the problems it has created, addressing social, economic and environmental challenges. It examines topics like AI, education and innovation, framed within the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Combining theoretical perspectives with case studies, it asks whether technology ultimately helps or hinders us.
4. Situating Sustainability: A Handbook of Contexts and Concepts, edited by C. Parker Krieg and Reetta Toivanen
Situating Sustainability reframes our understanding of sustainability through international case studies, emphasising cultural, political and historical contexts. Featuring scholars from diverse disciplines, it advocates for transdisciplinary research informed by the humanities, social sciences and local histories, offering new approaches to sustainability education.
5. The Role of Business in Global Sustainability Transformations, edited by Dalia D’Amato et al.
This book explores the multifaceted role of business in global sustainability transformations, highlighting its potential as both an enabler and inhibitor. Featuring insights from over thirty experts, it discusses emerging trends and tensions, advocating for alignment between policy, society and business to address interlinked socio-ecological challenges effectively.
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