Current Series

Sustainability has become a pervasive concept in contemporary discourse, often centered on environmental conservation and green practices. However, the scope of sustainability extends beyond environmental concerns to encompass the future of social, economic, and cultural structures, alongside critical issues of fairness and justice. In some instances, efforts to prioritize environmental sustainability can inadvertently constrain economic strategies designed to improve livelihoods for all. Conversely, sustainable transitions can sometimes perpetuate exclusion and marginalization, thereby compromising the resilience and cohesion of communities.

This raises critical questions: How do the social, economic, cultural, and environmental dimensions of sustainability intersect? Furthermore, as explored in our previous discussions, what is the relationship between sustainability and belonging?

Belonging refers to the sense of inclusion and being valued within a community. The connection between sustainability and belonging is profound, as sustainable futures can only be achieved through inclusivity. Cultural identity plays a significant role in fostering this sense of belonging, as shared traditions, arts, and heritage often form the foundation of community coherence. When certain groups are excluded from sustainability initiatives—due to economic, social, or cultural barriers—it weakens the overall resilience and coherence of communities. For sustainability to be truly effective, it must address the diverse needs and perspectives of all stakeholders, fostering environments where everyone feels a sense of belonging. Moreover, belonging facilitates the collaboration and trust necessary to address complex, shared challenges, making it an indispensable element of sustainable development.

In our Spring 2025 talk series, titled "Inclusive and Sustainable Societies: Roots and Routes," we aim to critically examine what it means to sustain our collective future. This series will explore the intersection of inclusivity and sustainability by focusing on key themes such as agrarian issues, urban dynamics, and innovative economic models. By engaging with both the foundational causes of these challenges (roots) and potential pathways toward solutions (routes), we seek to deepen our understanding of how sustainability can underpin the creation of equitable, resilient, and thriving communities that celebrate and integrate cultural diversity.

Dr. Atakan Büke is a sociologist specializing in agricultural studies, food systems and political economy. He received his doctorate from the Middle East Technical University with a thesis on the capitalist food regime and the agrarian/farmer question. He worked as a researcher at the University of Leipzig and completed a research stay at Cornell University. His research critically examines food sovereignty, rural change and the socio-political dimensions of agriculture. He has worked with the International Labor Organization (ILO) on projects on labor market integration and has published extensively on food systems and agrarian transformation processes. Dr. Büke is also actively involved in scientific-activist networks and is on the editorial board of specialist journals on agricultural and food sociology.
Dr. Anna Kajosaari is an urban geographer and postdoctoral researcher at the Austrian Academy of Sciences, specializing in urban health and environmental planning. She uses digital participatory mapping to analyze the impact of urban spaces on health and well-being. She holds a PhD in spatial planning and transport engineering from Aalto University in Finland and has participated in major research projects on urban green spaces, mobility and participatory planning. As an active researcher and lecturer, she presents her work internationally and supervises students at various institutions. Fluent in Finnish, English, German, Swedish and Italian, she is involved in cross-border projects for sustainable and inclusive urban development.
Katherine (Katy) Shields is an economist, educator and advocate for sustainable economic systems. With two decades of experience in economic research, policy analysis and management consulting, she has worked for The Economist, Newsweek and the Financial Times. Today she focuses on education and storytelling to drive systemic change. As founder of the Regenerative Economy Lab, Katy develops workshops on economic transformation. She is also co-founder of RE-PLOT Media and co-author and narrator of the podcast Tipping Point: The True Story of the Limits to Growth. She is chair of GLOBAL 2000, Austria's largest environmental NGO, and co-initiator of Doughnut Vienna, an initiative to promote sustainable urban development. Katy is fluent in English and German and has an MSc in Economic Management and Policy from the University of Strathclyde.