Sustainability Portal
Learning & Teaching and Research
Learning, teaching and research constitute core purposes of an educational institution to address sociocultural responsibility, environmental sustainability and sustainable development. Through formal and informal curricula, skills training and development, knowledge transfer and research, institutions have a significant, positive long-term impact on society.
Education for Sustainability Community of Practice
The University of Tasmania has established an Education for Sustainability Community of Practice (EfS CoP) comprising academic and professional staff and students who regard education for sustainability as central to the mission of higher education.
Education for sustainability refers to learning and teaching that enables more sustainable ways of living. The domain of the EfS CoP is whole-of-curriculum innovation and reform. This innovation and reform includes efforts to embed sustainability as a foundational graduate capacity across the curriculum through involvement in formal curriculum renewal and design processes as well as through the informal leadership demonstrated by community members in their discipline areas and teaching responsibilities. The EfS CoP is creating new pathways within the institution for cross-disciplinary dialogue and collaboration in education for sustainability through a membership base that encompasses academic staff within all faculties and on all major campuses of the university.
Through the Sustainability Integration Program for Students (SIPS), the EfS CoP is also building links between the physical operations of the university (e.g. built environment, resource use, organisational practices) and student learning. These links recognise the importance both of the opportunities for embedding curriculum activities into learning environments through authentic learning opportunities created by involving students directly in university operations.
If you are interested in joining the Education for Sustainability Community of Practice, please email us: EfS.CoP@utas.edu.au.
Sustainability study options at the University of Tasmania
We are involved with a range of projects aimed at helping our greater community to take meaningful climate action, as well as our on-campus initiatives like introducing the Sustainable Living courses, and a Sustainability major that is available for most of our bachelor’s degrees.
Research groups
Future Energy Research Group
Future Energy is a research collaboration at the University of Tasmania working on energy governance, markets, culture, and technologies. The group brings together expertise from business, economics, engineering, ICT, social science, geography, marine science, architecture, planning, and the humanities to produce high quality research that interrogates and develops options for future energy provision in Tasmania and beyond.
Climate Futures Research Group
Climate Futures brings world leading climate science expertise to the challenges of local planning and adaptation. It bridges the gap between fundamental climate science and the local adaptation needs of Australian industries, government agencies and communities.
Centre for Renewable Energy and Power Systems
The Centre for Renewable Energy and Power Systems (CREPS) was established in February 2007 to advance research in the area of renewable energy and enabling technologies. CREPS aims to enhance both fundamental (discovery-based) and applied (linkage-based) research in power and energy systems in Australia by creation of an organised, coordinated structure in which research is focused into defined programs through proven research teams. CREPS is in a unique and powerful position as a fully integrated centre able to bring all engineering disciplines together under the one umbrella.
Healthy Landscapes Research Group
The Healthy Landscapes Research Group brings together expertise in ecology, health, architecture, planning, agriculture, social, spatial and statistical sciences to address two core questions
- How do biodiversity and human health interact in the landscapes of regional cities such as Hobart, and their regional and rural surrounds?
- How can we intervene to build healthier environments for people and biodiversity?
Sustainability, Place and Society Research Group
The Sustainability, Place and Society research group are an active community of scholars interested in issues of space and place, sustainability, equity and social justice, and culture as they relate to education. Employing a critical 'sociological imagination' they recognise the political and value-laden nature of education and seek to explore, examine, and disrupt power relations through educational research.
External partnerships
Education for Sustainability Tasmania
EfS Tas is a United Nations recognised Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE) on Education for Sustainable Development. It is a network of leaders in sustainability research, training and education, working towards social, cultural, economic and environmental sustainability, using education as a central tool.
PRME
The Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) is a United Nations supported initiative focused on raising the profile of sustainability in business and management education. PRME equips students with the understanding and ability to deliver change tomorrow, through advancing the Sustainable Development Goals.
Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Australia, New Zealand & Pacific
SDSN mobilises scientific and technical expertise from academia, civil society, and the private sector in support of sustainable development problem solving at local, national, and global scales. SDSN Australia, New Zealand & Pacific fosters global SDSN activities within the region by developing and promoting solutions, policies and public education.
Staff of regional SDSN member institutions are also invited to join the SDSN Mobilize member platform, where you can join different groups.
Centre for Marine Socioecology
The Centre for Marine Socioecology (CMS) was established to address the current and future use of our marine coasts and oceans. CMS is a unique collaboration between the University of Tasmania and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), with support from the Australian Antarctic Division.
It brings together disciplinary expertise in physics, law, economics, biology, sociology, psychology, human health, art, media, philosophy and governance. CMS uses this expertise to focus on the complex issues that are developing in the management of the marine estate.
Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre
The Blue Economy CRC brings together expertise in the seafood, marine renewable energy and offshore marine engineering sectors to deliver innovative solutions that will transform the way we use our oceans.
Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre
Between 1991 and 2019 the ACE CRC was Australia’s primary vehicle for understanding the role of the Antarctic region in the global climate system, and the implications for marine ecosystems. The organisation was a strong and productive collaboration that included the Australian Antarctic Division, CSIRO, the University of Tasmania, the Bureau of Meteorology, and many other Australian and international research institutions.