Roundtable on Science and Technology for Sustainability
The National Academy of Sciences
2100 C Street NW, Lecture Room
Washington, D.C.
September 24-25, 2009
[Agenda (PDF 47KB)]
The most recent meeting of the Roundtable on Science and Technology for Sustainability took place on September 24-25, 2009. This meeting represented the first in a series of discussions exploring linkages between topics critical to long term sustainability. A fundamental challenge in the transition to sustainability will be managing resources while mitigating negative spillover effects. Thus, the objective of these discussions was to think through a decision framework that can be used to clarify potential tradeoffs and synergies. The meeting began with a discussion of energy linkages at the nexus of water, food security and public health. Roundtable members were asked to consider the topic of energy linkages and the value of continuing future discussions/workshops on this topic.
Roundtable members were also provided with updates on current STS Program activities including the Regional Implications of Expanding Biofuel Production (workshop held in June 2009), Certification of Sustainable Products and Services (workshop held January 2009), Partnerships for Sustainability (workshop held June 2008), and Food Security for All as a Sustainability Challenge (Project in development). Updates were presented to Roundtable Members on the Network for Emerging Leaders in Sustainability and the Organizational Effectiveness Initiative, currently funded by the Packard Foundation. Roundtable members discussed "Sustainability and Its Timescale" as a potential future area of focus for the Roundtable. Roundtable members also participated in breakout group discussions on the path for moving forward with various activities including the Urban Forum, Energy Linkages discussions and the role of how the Roundtable better support federal science initiatives.
Presentations
Energy Linkages Discussion
The Linkage Between Water and Energy (382 KB)
Energy, Agriculture and Food Security (468 KB)
Public Health and Energy (952 KB)
Perspectives from DOE (180 KB)
Current Activities
Expanding Biofuel Production: Sustainability and the Transition to Advanced Biofuels: Workshop held June 2009 (96 KB)
Sustainability and Its Timescale
Overview (203 KB)
Technological Rates of Change (677 KB)
Transportation Technology, Sustainability and Time Scales (478 KB)
Update
Network for Emerging Leaders in Sustainability (NELS) (35 KB)
Organizational Effectiveness Initiative (33 KB)
Update on the Federal R&D Forum on Urban Sustainability
Transitioning to Sustainability: The Challenge of Developing Sustainable Urban Areas (28 KB)
