Ecology and Sustainability - An Innovative Degree
Victoria University has an national profile in terrestrial and aquatic ecology and biodiversity studies, and environmental management, and offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Ecology and Sustainability and a coursework Masters in Environmental Management as well as postgraduate studies in Ecology and Sustainability. Many of our graduates have gone onto exciting and rewarding careers at a number of different organizations.
The School of Sustainability is actively involved in research and consultancy, ensuring quality teaching and practical courses. All of our academic staff hold a doctoral degree, as well as substantial research and consultancy experience. The school endeavours to develop close relationships with state and federal government agencies concerned with environment and sustainability matters, industry and the community, including collaborative projects.
The School of Sustainability provides students with a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical experiences, producing graduates that are well equipped for entry into today's dynamic work environment.
What is Sustainability?
Ecological Sustainability means that society's utilisation of natural resources for economic gain and for the good of all, occurs at a rate that natural ecosystems, agriculture and other human activities for today's generations are maintained in their current state (or ideally, leading to an improvement on current states), and must not lead to declines in future well-being. It is based on the recognition that various ecosystems (natural and human modified) provide necessary services, such as clean air and water, and productive soils - all of which are essential for human health and the integrity of food production - and places a value on biodiversity and cultural diversity, and accepts the centrality of social, political and economic activities in human activity. Attaining sustainability requires eliminating or modifying processes that are responsible for natural resource depletion and environmental degradation, such as air and water pollution and the loss of biodiversity. It also requires economic and social systems that promote a continuity of supply well into the foreseeable future of high quality water, air, food and other products and services, such as those provided by well-functioning ecosystems, energy-efficient and non-polluting industries, a healthy environment and a cohesive society. Sustainable development also stresses the importance of retaining the flexibility to respond to future shocks, even when their probability, and the size and location of their effects, cannot be assessed with certainty. [in part, paraphrased from 'OECD Policy Brief 2001 - Sustainable Development: Critical Issues', with modifications and additional text from Dr D. Greenwood, Victoria University, Melbourne, 22/8/02]
Sustainability: Ensuring the Future
'Sustainability ... has not one but three pillars: ecological sustainability, social sustainability and economic sustainability. ... if we are to achieve ecological sustainability ... we need to know the scientific requirements as precisely as it is possible to determine them. Once we understand the scientific requirements we can then more effectively make the social and economic adjustments and make them in ways that are most equitable and least disruptive to our overall well-being.'
[Resetting the Compass: Australia's journey towards sustainability. By David Yencken & Debra Wilkinson (2001). CSIRO Publishing.]
