Fostering a transition toward sustainability – toward patterns of development that promote human well-being while conserving the life support systems of the planet – is one of the central challenges of the 21st century. But why has progress been so slow? To a large extent, it is because earlier approaches to sustainability failed to appreciate the deep interconnections between human activity and environmental systems.

Only by taking into consideration the interrelated but often poorly understood and shifting relationships between the many aspects of development will the implementation of complex scientific and technological advances be sustainable for future generations.

³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ has risen to the challenge by creating the ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ Sustainability Systems Initiative (MSSI), a hub of expertise and excellence that takes a multi-disciplinary, multi-sector approach to sustainability.

The MSSI brings together experts from across ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ’s Faculties, providing support and funding for transdisciplinary teams to tackle some of the most complex and challenging issues in sustainability. Providing support for ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ researchers from both the sciences and humanities to work together to develop significant, impactful, and socially acceptable advances that move society towards a sustainable model of existence. Since 2017, over $10 million has been allocated to various research projects led by ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ students and professors thanks to MSSI funds.

Learn more about the MSSI