PhD: Systems approaches to sustainability
Brooke Wilkerson defended her PhD thesis on 19.12.2023 at the University of Bergen. The thesis title is "Systems approaches to sustainability: Innovation and social-ecological-technological systems.
Main content
Sustainability is increasingly being integrated into innovation and planning processes, but the concept is often interpreted incompletely or implicitly and put into use. This thesis addresses the overarching research question: How can system approaches contribute to understanding and informing transitions towards sustainability? Within this framework, sustainability is conceptualized and operationalized in several ways. Firstly, key aspects of sustainability that can support the definition of innovation problems are identified. Secondly, system mapping methods are implemented in sustainability-oriented innovation processes to better highlight sustainability aspects. Thirdly, system dynamic modeling and simulation are used to understand the implementation of urban policies and to illustrate interactions and synergies between different approaches for managing stormwater.
The main conclusion of this thesis is that system methods have the potential to improve how problems for innovation and planning processes are defined, and to promote shared learning and understanding of complex sustainability issues. Specifically, the methods developed in this thesis support a more nuanced and complex thinking about sustainability that is perceived as useful by various types of practitioners. Additionally, a systems perspective and understanding of urban political innovations can help identify potential goal conflicts and optimize implementation. Defining and operationalizing sustainability is still a challenge, but contributions such as further developing the concept and its application nonetheless provide valuable guidance and direction. As sustainability challenges continue to grow, the need for such guidance will only become more pressing.
About the author:
Brooke Wilkerson holds a master's degree in system dynamics from the University of Bergen and a master's degree in ecology from the University of Vermont (USA). She works as a researcher at NORCE. The doctoral work has been conducted at the Department of Geography (system dynamics research group) and the Center for Climate and Energy Transition (CET). Professor Birgit Kopainsky (UiB) has been the supervisor.
