SUST906
Communicating Sustainability for Awareness, Accountability, and Action
Sustainability can provoke reactions ranging from fear and denial to inspiration and innovation—or it can simply be misunderstood and ignored.
In this course, you’ll learn to understand this complexity in order to engage others and bring sustainability projects to life.
This course explores the critical role of communications in sustainable community development, providing you with tips and tools for effective communications practices. We’ll examine how the public perceives sustainability, and whether we can make sustainability "sexy.” We’ll also explore community-based social marketing and how we may harness new media technologies for sustainable community development. Finally, we’ll review the growing practice of sustainability reporting and accountability.
Related program(s)
This course is available at the following time(s) and location(s):
| Section | Session(s) | Date/time | Campus | Instructor(s) | Cost | Registration* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUST906-VA1141 | 2 |
Friday–Saturday Apr 25–26, 2014 9 am–5:30 pm |
Van | Nina Winham, Suzanne Hawkes, Jim Hoggan, Jason Mogus, and Sarah Webb | $650 | Register |
* This course is available as part of the Sustainable Community Development Certificate (elective course) and on an individual basis.
What will I learn?
In this course, you’ll do the following:
- Learn basic communication theory
- Understand how the public perceives and values sustainability
- Explore community-based social marketing
- Hear from sustainability leaders about communication strategies—what has worked and how it has supported change
- Learn how corporations, government, and not-for-profits must communicate their impact on social, environmental, and economic bottom lines
- Explain how organizations effectively use the web to communicate and engage
- Understand the link between leadership and communication skills in the context of sustainability
How will I learn?
- Lectures
- Case studies
- Small group discussions and exercises
- Assignments
Who should take this course?
- Planners, architects, and landscape architects
- Engineers, developers, builders, and real-estate professionals
- Elected officials
- Transportation professionals
- Staff of non-profit organizations
- Biologists, agrologists, and other environmental professionals
- Local, provincial, and federal government administrators and project managers
- Lawyers, financiers, and community advocates
- Current and future leaders committed to creating positive change
How will I be evaluated?
Your grade will be based on a take-home assignment.
Textbooks and learning materials
We will provide custom course materials.
Professional development credits
- AIBC 14 NCLU
- PIBC and BCSLA can self-report
Partners/Sponsors
SFU Centre for Sustainable Community Development