HELSUS Sustainability Discussion Group

For the too-long-don't-read-folks

What: Sustainability Discussion Group for bringing together HELSUS PhDs and Postdocs to get to know each other, discuss big and emerging ideas in sustainability science and work toward better research outcomes and community. 

When: Last Tuesday of each month from 10-11

Where: Due to the COVID-19 situation the discussion group will be via Zoom.

Join the meeting via this Zoom link (passcode: 055649)

Rolling collection of the links shared and discussion topics

Top­ics dur­ing the spring 2021

Each topic set by interested parties at previous meetings.

March 30th: What are the most important topics in sustainability science right now? 

What is needed of you: Just show up with an open mind and interest in engaging discussions. We will rely on our collective, previous knowledge and critical minds to ground our discussion.

For the give-me-more-information-folks

Goal #1: SDG can serve as a space for HELSUS PhDs and Postdocs (as well as others working in sustainability fields) to get to know each other and share critical discussion of big/complex/controversial concepts in sustainability science. 

Benefits/skills gained: critical thinking, debate and discourse practice, social networking, mental health/peer well-being support

Goal #2: SDG can provide a forum for young researchers to workshop ideas and drafts of papers before they submit to larger audiences (i.e. courses, supervisors, journals, etc.). 

Benefits/skills gained: public speaking, academic writing, article editing, constructive feedback

Goal #3: SDG can help young HELSUS researchers to collaborate on and record emerging conversations in sustainability science geared towards a publication akin to the work done by the members of the Stockholm Resilience Centre. 

Benefits/skills gained: Collaborative work, concept and field development, practice synthesizing ideas and distillation of narrative in long-term discussions, multi-author/perspective publication situated in HELSUS strategy

Want to know more? If you have any further questions please contact Rachel Mazac (rachel.mazac@helsinki.fi)! 

For the too-long-don't-read-folks

What: Sustainability Discussion Group for bringing together HELSUS PhDs and Postdocs to get to know each other, discuss big and emerging ideas in sustainability science and work toward better research outcomes and community. 

When: Last Tuesday of each month from 10:30-12:00 

Where: Due to the COVID-19 situation the discussion group will be via Zoom

Top­ics dur­ing the autumn 2020

Each topic set by interested parties at previous meetings

September 29th: So, everything has changed: What does change mean? What is sustainable change? What still needs to change?

October 27th: One Health, Wellbeing, and World: How can we center health, equity, and justice in sustainability?

November 24th: Beyond Discussion: seeking tangible outcomes from the SDGs

December 15th: Advice from the 'field': thoughts on doing sustainability research and well-being as a sustainability scientist

What is needed of you: Just show up with an open mind and interest in engaging discussions. We will rely on our collective, previous knowledge and critical minds to ground our discussion.

Topics during the spring 2020

Each topic set by interested parties at previous meetings

March 3rd: How do we reconcile knowledge-action/value-action gaps in sustainability?

April 7th: Scarcity vs. abundance: Can we reach a sense of “enough-ness” or "sufficiency?" 

May 5th: The co-covid and climate crises: what have/are we learning in these crises and how do we respond, reengage, and restart? 

June 2nd: Creative disagreement with past, self, and others: how can future habits and structures be put in place for a sustainable 'normal'?

What is needed of you: Just show up with an open mind and interest in engaging discussions. We will rely on our collective, previous knowledge and critical minds to ground our discussion.