Social-Ecological Change and Environmental Sociology 3.0
UBC Sociology’s Environment and Community Cluster will host Dr. Mark Stoddart of Memorial University on November 5, 2024 for a talk on the economic, political, cultural, and knowledge dimensions that contribute to social-ecological change and that shape potential futures and sustainability transitions. No RSVP is necessary.
Abstract
As the environmental science of global issues like climate change has become well-established, it is increasingly apparent that the social sciences are essential to understanding the social, cultural, political, and economic challenges to sustainability. Environmental sociology has vital contributions to make because environmental issues are intertwined with cultural interpretations and discourse; relations of power and inequality; and social networks of collaboration, conflict, and communication. As a discipline that works across these dimensions, environmental sociology offers essential insights into the social dynamics that create opportunities and barriers for social-ecological sustainability and wellbeing.
This talk provides a high-level overview of economic, political, cultural, and knowledge dimensions that contribute to social-ecological change and that shape potential futures and sustainability transitions. These dimensions draw together social actors from government, business, media, scientific research, environmental movements and counter-movements, as well as individual citizens and consumers. I will then lay out six pathways for an environmental sociology 3.0 that is well equipped to navigate the complexity of 21st century environmental politics. As this talk will demonstrate, environmental sociology offers vital perspectives and tools to ensure that an understanding of social dynamics is embedded in sustainability transitions.
Bio:
Prof. Mark CJ Stoddart is a Professor in the Department of Sociology at Memorial University, where he was the recipient of the 2024 HSS Dean’s Award for Distinguished Scholarship. Prof. Stoddart’s main research interests are in environmental sociology; political sociology and social movements; and communications and culture. He has 85 peer-reviewed publications, including the recent books Industrial Development and Eco-Tourisms: Can Oil Extraction and Nature Conservation Co-Exist? (Palgrave) and the Handbook of Anti-Environmentalism (Elgar). Prof. Stoddart is a member of the Royal Society of Canada College of New Scholars.
