Research Themes

An overview of the main fields of inquiry developed in IRIS

Scientific study of Sustainability indicators and systems of environmental accountancy: Ecological Footprint, eMergy indicators, MEFA (Material and Energy Flow Analisys), HANPP (Human Appropriation of Net Primary Production).

Analysis of interaction between economic systems and ecological systems: non-linear dynamics, complexity, uncertainty and incomplete knowledge. Environmental decision-making in politics under conditions of risk, uncertainty and ignorance.

Technological approaches to sustainability: natural capital, appropriate technology and issues of scale.

Sociological aspects: sustainable use of resources in common between many users (individuals, communities, economic organisations).

Economic analysis and economical psychology of consumers; choices, towards cooperative, ethical and sustainable behaviours.

Dialogue between research in ‘third person’ and in ‘first person’ through the practise of silence.

Sustainability education: definition of new conceptual instruments, creation, experimentation and evaluation of educational approaches.

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