Why a Center on Sustainability
A science of sustainability necessarily requires collaboration between developed and developing countries, as well as interaction between theoretical and applied scientific disciplines to bridge the gap between theory, practice and policy.
In this perspective, issues related to sustainability represent a field of implementation in the history of science, that can embrace distinct dimensions and at the same time achieve ambitious, urgent goals with a global impact. Considering the complexity of every environmental problem, the disciplines have been increasingly divided into different areas, so that the research is conducted from a very specialized perspective both in identifying problems and in solving them.
A multidisciplinary dialogue approach, however essential, may not be enough. The Center promotes an interdisciplinary research strategy to effectively address global sustainability challenges. Through this approach, the academic world can provide a more effective contribution in the presence of previously shared arenas. The Center is committed to breaking down disciplinary and technical barriers to enable a more comprehensive understanding of the factors and processes involved in an ever-changing environment. Through the Center for Sustainability, knowledge can be generated and promoted with greater capacity for results than in a system in which research works independently, without the support of structured collaboration. In this way, the Center can provide a dynamic and learning-from-experience atmosphere generating significant contributions in the science of sustainability. It is a laboratory open to collaboration and continuous comparison, where researchers participate in the construction of knowledge and know-how, that constitutes a truly innovative and highly productive tool.