The Natural Step at Pennsylvania University

The University of Pennsylvania (better known as Penn) is home to a thriving Organisation Dynamics faculty which is pushing Penn to take big strides in pushing the sustainability agenda. The faculty recognises sustainability as a crucial issue and has reflected this in their programming which is moving increasingly from theory to practice. “Our value added is less on the science of sustainable development and more on the art and science of organizational change; the how, rather than the what, of sustainability.”

In 2007, while doing work with Rohm & Haas (now part of the Dow Chemical Company) in Philadelphia, David Cook, then Chief Executive of The Natural Step (TNS) met with key member of Penn’s Organisational Dynamics faculty which led to a strong partnership between the two organisations.  Penn was already using the TNS Framework and this partnership is providing students with relevant and practical application opportunities and has allowed the faculty has to build a new course on sustainable development, co-inspired and funded by Dow Chemical Company.

In October, Penn held a special panel discussion to celebrate the launch of a new concentration in sustainable development in Organisational Dynamics featuring David Cook, now Executive Ambassador with The Natural Step and top managers from Dow Chemicals, Penn, and the City of Philadelphia.  The panel tackled the question:  ‘What does a sustainable city look like?’ “The debate covered a range of questions and answers from technical to social. TNS’s experience at the Eco-municipality programme session gives us real insight into what is needed to galvanise and maintain momentum at the community level”, said Cook about the experience.  >Listen to panel session.  Further events included a full day session: Sustainability and Innovation: The Natural Step to Prosperity which was originally planned for 60 participants, but was quickly doubled by very strong local interest. 

Future directions for the programme include the development of a seminar course on The Natural Step Framework (also known as the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development, FSSD, in academic circles), designed to explore how best to engage organisations and communities to promote the adoption of sustainable development policies and practices.

Links:
>Listen to the Eco-Municipalities Panel Discussion
>Sustainable Development Studies Website
>Sustainable Development Studies Description (PDF)