Sustainability must permeate our work
Interdisciplinarity, fresh eyes and sustainability as part of the universities' DNA are the answers to how we as universities can contribute to achieving the world's climate goals, says Pro-rector Sebastian Mernild.
If we are to succeed in meeting the climate goals, efforts to implement the UN Sustainable Development Goals must permeate daily life and research at universities. This is emphasised by SDU's Pro-rector, Dr Sebastian Mernild, who, as we all know, has a long career behind him as a climate researcher.
- We cannot just continue living our lives on this planet as we’ve done for the last 6,000 years. It’s simply precarious. Of course, we must still focus on growth and prosperity but never at the expense of sustainability. The new generations we educate must have sustainability in their DNA, and they must be educated and equipped to think sustainably when they come out on the other side and embark on their working lives, he emphasises.
But how do we, as a university and organisation, succeed in supporting such ambitious goals as those set for the world through the 2030 and 2050 target plans?
Sustainability and growth must go hand in hand
In a world that has focused on economic growth for years, we need, to a much greater extent, to make sustainability an integral part of everything we do, Sebastian Mernild says.
Therefore, SDU has brought forth an idea that all students already in their first year of study must work with dilemmas and challenges in relation to sustainability, which they will face when they come out on the other side with their certificate in hand.
- Of course, we must continue to educate graduates that match the labour market they are about to enter. Nevertheless, having a focus on and an understanding of working sustainably will be one of the competencies that are already in demand today and will continue to be, he points out.
- As universities, we must try to influence our surroundings and the society we are part of. This is a novel way of thinking, but thinking outside the box and trying to do things differently than before has seldom been a waste of time.
Research with fresh eyes
For SDU's Pro-rector, it is important to emphasise that the focus on sustainability is by no means in opposition to free, objective research. It will just mean a different way of thinking and a new view on partners both internally and externally.
- This is not about applied research or action research being better than basic research – or vice versa. We need to stand on both feet to get started with this interdisciplinary research that is needed in society. We must use our knowledge appropriately, and we must dare to think interdisciplinary, he says.
- We must work broadly and across research areas, national borders and universities and open up for new alternative partnerships that may previously have been considered unnatural for us at the universities. We often like to collaborate with those who look, act and think like ourselves. But if we are to succeed in solving the challenges facing us, we need to change that approach because there are many answers hidden in the interdisciplinary knowledge.
Management task to create the framework
Sebastian Mernild is quite aware that one cannot change people’s mindset overnight. It takes time. But time is short, so we need to reach out and see things in a different light.
The management at SDU and at the universities in general have a great responsibility to create the framework that gives researchers the best opportunities to work with sustainability in their research.
- As universities, we must, to a much greater extent than today, help to build a bridge between research, politics, society, industry and foundations to ensure we utilise our entire palette. As management, we must, of course, support our many talented researchers in their efforts to reach out and think more interdisciplinary. In doing so, we can together take a step closer towards our goal of a more sustainable world.