Social. Ecological. Workshop.
Social-ecological because social problems are rooted in environmental issues and environmental problems are rooted in social issues. Addressing these problems demands an interdisciplinary approach at the intersection of social and ecological sciences.
Workshop because these problems are not solved by individuals. Instead, we need to draw on a variety of people’s ideas and skills, working together collaboratively. To us, a workshop implies that we are exploring creatively while actively learning together.
our Core values
We believe working together to solve problems is more productive (and fun!) than working alone.
We celebrate success and normalize mistakes and failures as an essential part of the learning process.
We aim to be accountable to one another and the human and non-human communities where we work.
Meet the pi
Dr. Elena Bennett
Canada Research Chair in Sustainability Science at McGill University
I have always loved the places where people and nature come together and want to study how to make those places the best they can be.
I am the Director of NSERC ResNet, and a founding member of the Seeds of Good Anthropocenes Project.
S.E.W. Members
Our projects
Communities working together for better relationships with nature
We answer key questions about the function of social-ecological systems in multi-functional, working landscapes.
The world has witnessed great progress in sustainability science, policy, and practice, but much of this progress has focused on achieving static and separate outcomes. Our work helps re-imagine the relationships between nature and people - specifically, how we shape and are shaped by one another.
We envision a world where people can be a force for good, for sustainability, and for resilience.