TSVP Talk: "Achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals? Where universities should contribute in the education of MSc and PhD students" by Ros Taplin

Title: Achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals? Where Universities Should Contribute in the Education of MSc and PhD Students

Abstract: In the face of significant and compounding worldwide environmental, social, cultural, and development issues, higher education plays a critical role in preparing graduates to contribute to the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). If students are not exposed to learning about the UN SDGs in their programmes, they are less likely to understand how they can contribute to sustainable development in their future professional roles in science, industry, academia, government, etc., and in their personal lives. A key challenge is how to implement this learning across different disciplines with specific disciplinary considerations. This presentation will discuss aspects of the main enablers, barriers and influences that have been experienced in university settings at the MSc and PhD levels together with research conducted at SOAS University of London on embedding the UN SDGs as a graduate skill for postgraduate courses.

Profile: Ros Taplin is a Reader in Environmental Management in the Centre for Development, Environment and Policy at SOAS University of London. She is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a Fellow of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment. In Australia, before moving to the UK, she was Professor and Research Director of the Australian Centre for Sustainable Mining Practices at the University of New South Wales; Foundation Professor of Environmental Management at Bond University; Director of the Environmental Management Program, Graduate School of the Environment, Macquarie University; and Director of the Climatic Impacts Centre, Macquarie University. Her original qualifications were in geophysics and maths, and she holds two doctorates. Her first was a PhD on the use of scientific information in environmental policy, and more recently she completed a Doctor of Visual Art on communicating climate change through art. Ros has carried out research in climate change adaptation and mitigation; energy access and renewables; mining and resource extraction impacts; forest and biodiversity impacts; and climate change art. In addition, she has a strong interest in education for sustainability research which is the focus of this talk.

Language: English

Target audience: General audience/everyone at OIST and beyond.
Freely accessible to all OIST members and guests without registration.

This talk will also be broadcast online via Zoom:

Meeting ID: 931 2781 9827
Passcode: 344351

※ Please note that this event may be recorded and the videos uploaded. In addition, photos may be taken during the event. These are intended for publication online (the OIST website, social media, etc.)※