A Message from NSS Chairman Dan Brown

Dan Brown, University of Washington; NSS Board Chair

The idea for the NSS grew out of a recognition that current climate and biodiversity crises require transformations in how we meet human needs for food, water, energy, transportation, housing, and other material necessities. Transformations this fundamental require science-based understanding, technological innovation, creative imagination, and engagement from individuals and organizations in the private, private and civil sectors. It requires imagining possible futures and developing the ways of measuring, modeling, thinking, and doing that will realize the future we want. It requires developing a new generation of talent to do that work. It requires taking short steps on a long journey towards a destination we can not fully see. Any one step we take will not be enough, but they are all necessary.

We believe that the NSS can be a home for us to imagine a better future together, invent, evaluate, and take the necessary steps, and learn from each other along the way. Whether you are a sustainability student, researcher, professional, or organizational leader, we are building this home for you. We need to hear from you to be sure we build it right! This newsletter describes a number of upcoming opportunities for your voice to be heard.

We are most excited about our second annual conference at the University of Notre Dame, Oct 20-22. Almost 400 of you have registered, and the program includes numerous opportunities to learn, connect, and share your experience, knowledge, and insights. We are excited to again present diverse keynote sessions to motivate our work on advancing sustainability thinking, education, and practice. The variety of sessions that you all will be presenting is impressive and humbling. I look forward to meeting old friends, making new ones, and learning from all of you. 

Building on the positive reception of our previous two town halls (the second of which I had to miss for jury duty!), we have a third scheduled for Nov 12. The town halls provide a great opportunity to connect with other members and provide input on how NSS can serve you. In addition, we have developed opportunities to engage more deeply with the work of the NSS through a call for participation in a couple of task forces, both of which can benefit from the voices of a broad range of our membership. 

Whatever your personal and professional capacity, we welcome your participation, input and engagement. Ultimately, the goal is to build a society that serves our members as you work to inform, lead, and execute the steps we take in our collective work toward a more equitably sustainable world. 

Dan