System Dynamics as a Foundation for a Course on “ Sustainable Development

“Sustainable Development” is currently a topic of great social relevance and one that requires the integration of a challenging array of themes from a variety of disciplines spanning the physical and natural sciences, economics and other social sciences, and the humanities. In addition, the focus of ‘development’ points out the inescapable need to consider these themes through their evolution over time. Both the interdisciplinary breadth and the temporal dynamics of this topic argue that system dynamics should be a valuable tool in helping to guide students in its exploration.