BIOL 4065

Sustainability and Complexity

Lec 01 and Tut T01 selected

Sustainability is a transdisciplinary area integrating equitable societies, protected environments, and robust economies. Achieving sustainability is a challenge that has only had limited success in our complex world. Complexity studies offer new approaches for achieving sustainability beyond the traditional ones mostly focused upon reducing unsustainability.

Sections

Lecture
Tutorial, pick one

From the syllabus

From the Fall 2026 syllabus by Patricia Lane and Kateryna Rudenka. Open the PDF

Grading

15%Assignment 1Due October 17
15%Assignment 2Due December 6
23%Test 1Multiple choice; 50 minutes; October 22 in tutorial
15%Test 2Multiple choice; 50 minutes; November 26 in tutorial
32%Tutorials (8)4 points each: 1 for attendance, 3 for participation

Textbooks

  • Navigating the Polycrisis, Mapping the Futures of Capitalism and the Earth, Michael J. Albert
  • Anticipation, Sustainability, Futures, and Human Extinction. Ensuring Humanity's Journey Into the Distant Future, Bruce E. Tonn

Course rules

Late work
Without an approved SDA or other excuse, work loses 10% per day, including weekends.
Absences
Two Student Declaration of Absence submissions are permitted per term; each allows one week to submit late work without penalty.
Missed tests
SDAs cannot be used to miss tests; contact the professor before the test if absence is possible.
Individual work
Assignments must be original individual work; collaboration is allowed only in tutorial discussions.
Generative AI
AI may support learning and brainstorming, but may not write assignments; disclose its role on each assignment cover page.
Assignment format
Assignments must be typed and spell-checked and grammar-checked before submission.

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