Sustainability and interdisciplinarity: innovations and challenges for graduate programs in Environment and Society. The case of the Center for Sustainable Development at the University of Brasilia

Abstract

Held by the UN in 1992, the Conference on Environment and Development reinforces the concept of Sustainable Development, born in the preceding decade. Three years later the Center for Sustainable Development was established at the University of Brasilia (CDS/UNB), which has witnessed a boom of interdisciplinary graduate programs as part of a growing trend among other academic units dealing with the relationship between environment and society. This article reflects on some of the innovations and challenges faced by CDS, which proclaims its identity built on the binomial “sustainability and interdisciplinarity”. It therefore addresses both notions before discussing the specific path of the Center with respect to its components of innovation and challenges. As concluding remarks, the article presents thoughts on the new design of the field of sustainability and on the challenges facing graduate programs that deal with this matter.