About the ISDRS

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As a global network of sustainable development professionals the International Sustainable Development Research Society (ISDRS) links researchers in academia and implementation practice from all continents to each other. Accomplishing the urgent and far-reaching changes which are needed in our single-planet-society to achieve a fair and clean sustainable society, requires worldwide close collaboration and maximum exchange of knowledge, experiences, best practices and critical reviews.

The ISDRS provides a wide platform with our community of 2800+ society members and followers, LinkedIn group and Twitter members, our topic groups and annual conferences. We have two membership levels, with increasing benefits including discounts with the publisher Taylor & Francis/Routledge. Members also benefit from access to our worldwide community of practice. The ISDRS is closely linked to major scientific journals. Follow our latest discussions and announcements.

ISDRS publishes a quarterly newsletter in which members and followers are invited to share innovative, creative and critical ideas about about the further enhancement of sustainable development in a short essay form. Our newsletter also shares opportunities for publications, job, PhD and Masters opportunities.

The official name of the organisation is the International Sustainable Development Research Society (ISDRS), first officially registered in Hong Kong in 2006. We generate and disseminate knowledge and educate others about sustainable development. By 2006, ISDRS was built on a 13-year tradition of successful International Sustainable Development Research conferences originally in the UK. We are continuing this tradition and organize annual conferences under the ISDRS flag, with in 2020 the 26th conference in a row. Over the past 15 years, we have arrived at a path by which we are in Europe during even years (like 2018 and 2020) and on another continent during odd years (like 2019 and 2021).

The Society was founded by Professor Richard Welford, University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and Dr. Jouni Korhonen. The founding of the Society was announced at the 2005 conference in Helsinki, Finland, and formally launched at the 2006 conference in Hong Kong.

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Objectives of the Society.

  • To stimulate research contributing to knowledge and understanding of sustainable development and related issues and processes.
    As a research society, we have an obligation to facilitate the work of those who labor to create new knowledge regarding sustainable development, as broadly defined.
  • To Disseminate knowledge on sustainable development.
    Consistent with knowledge generation, the Society also obligates itself to the task of spreading knowledge worldwide for the benefit of those with a similar interest.
  • To facilitate education on sustainable development.
    Sustainable development places multiple and urgent demands upon global and local societies who will eventually determine the degree to which the Earth's resources are sustained. Thus, the ISDRS feels compelled to become involved in the practical work of sustainable development.
  • To stimulate discussions on sustainable development.
    Given the proliferation of sustainability entities and venues, the Society will strive to provide a coordinating role for linking all these efforts together.

The ISDRS is governed by a President and the Board of Directors. The President of the Society is Professor Peter Dobers from Södertörn University, Stockholm  and the Vice President is Professor Volker Mauerhofer from  Mid Sweden University, Östersund in Sweden.

Learn more about ISDRS here.