Sustainability

The University of Sydney is making a substantial investment in tackling the big issues through the establishment of the Institute for Sustainable Solutions (USISS). The Institute was launched in July 2008, in association with a public lecture by Columbia University’s world renowned macroeconomist, Professor Jeffrey Sachs.

Through USISS, the University aspires to make a significant contribution to the global challenges of sustainability by drawing together and optimising critical intellectual mass for sustainability research. USISS aims to cross disciplinary boundaries and bring together areas such as renewable energy, climate change, population growth, health, food and energy security, as well as operational aspects of the University. It will also reach out to the broader community, to tackle complex problems with innovative, multi-dimensional solutions across its four key areas of energy, environment, development/productivity, and health.

The health node of USISS has a head start on the ecological view of health. Since 2005, the Australian Health Policy Institute has hosted the Oxford Health Alliance (OxHA) Asia-Pacific Centre led by A/Professor Ruth Colagiuri and Professor Stephen Leeder.

The Faculty of Medicine’s response to the establishment of USISS and the challenge of health and sustainability includes:

• The appointment of Associate Professor Ruth Colagiuri (part-time) to lead the USISS health node and facilitate its involvement in USISS
• Following the USISS launch, an internal Roundtable was convened by the Dean of Medicine, Professor Bruce Robinson to explore and scope the parameters of health and sustainability.
• An introductory plenary session at the Faculties of Health ‘From Cell to Society’ conference at Leura in November when the Deans of each Health Faculty formed a panel to articulate what sustainability means to their area.
• A Sustainability and Health Forum for staff and students in December 2008 to assess opportunities and strengths residing within the Faculties of Health and lay the foundations for a strategic approach to future sustainability activities across the Faculties.