The MSEM graduate course list last fall provided students with an opportunity to partake in a special topics course called Systems Thinking for Sustainability, taken by students from all concentrations eager to apply sustainability principles to their work. In this course, students developed skills in “systems thinking,” a powerful tool to understand and manage the underlying patterns, structures, and mental models that influence environmental outcomes and social change. This course was formulated and taught by Rachel Beth Egenhoefer, a full-time Design and Environmental Studies professor who has taught at USF since 2009. Egenhoefer’s own work focuses on sustainability, regenerative design and systems thinking as it relates to behavior change.

Throughout the semester MSEM students explored topics of their choice and applied various frameworks to better understand the relationships and interconnectedness of the wicked problems in climate.  Guest speakers provided real life examples of how systems thinking is used in climate careers today.  Students also participated in the Environmental Action Workshop: Stand Together, Take Action where they applied Donella Meadows’ influential framework to their projects. 

Visual graph of Donella Meadows' framework model.
Donella Meadows’ Leverage Points as illustrated by Professor Rachel Beth Egenhoefer in the Routledge Handbook of Sustainable Design, 2nd Edition.

As an end-of-the-semester final, students presented their research projects that both outlined the underlying systems behind wicked problems in climate and proposed multiple leverage points for potential solutions.  Students’ topics spanned from deforestation in the rainforest to fossil fuel dependence, microplastics to meat production, and more.

The success of the Systems Thinking for Sustainability course is found in the positive feedback shared by the MSEM students and how impactful this project was during their time in the course. It also provided a framework for what their MSEM Master’s Project may look like as they sort through ideas that proliferated during this assignment, and take the topics further into each of their research fields and careers.

In this week’s blog, we are excited to introduce to you and highlight a few of the final projects from this course and to touch on what four of these students learned in their research:

Title page for research work done by Michelle showing a farmed filed of hay rows

  • Re-Imagining Fertilizer Use in Agriculture by Michelle Cox
    • What’s the Problem? Increasing crop yield by overuse of fertilizer is depleting soil health, polluting water, and accelerating climate change.
    • Why is it Wicked? Environmental Impacts and Economic Impacts
    • Possible Leverage Points: (12) Adjust Parameters, (7) Drive Positive Feedback Loop, (3) Change Goals
    • Transition Pathway to the Future: Phase 1:  Reduce fertilizer use through more precise application and demonstrate short-term benefits through cost-savings and pollution reduction. Phase 2: Incentivize bigger bets on regenerative practices and demonstrate compound value that builds economic and environmental resilience. Phase 3: Shift the focus from short-term survival to long-term vitality and build awareness and appreciation of interconnectedness across both the economic and environmental vectors of the food system.

“This class has helped me appreciate the beauty in complexity. The exposure to some of the associated wicked problems has prompted me to think differently about some things I encounter in daily life – such as the complex systems that underly the t-shirt I’m wearing. From raw material sourcing to garment production to the shipping, distribution, merchandising, consumption, and disposal of a seemingly simple white tee… it turns out very few things are simple, and there are good reasons why it’s hard to change the status quo.   I also gained an appreciation for perspective. Exploring the various frameworks we read about and discussed – and then figuring out how to apply them to my project – was a very useful approach to seeing one problem from different perspectives. I very much appreciate the iterative approach we took throughout this class. It’s really fun to watch everyone’s videos and see how far we’ve come over the course of eight quick weeks. In school, work, life… I often feel rushed to complete a task quickly and move on to the next. Sitting with the problem I chose to focus on and continuing to refine my thinking each week was an enjoyable and effective process to create the final deliverable.”  – Michelle Cox

Research project visual done by Guy showing water droplets decreasing left to right as number of individuals increase left to right. Visuals of farmland, capital building, and money also.

  • Water Scarcity in the California by Guy Gutterman
    • What’s the Problem? Water is a finite resource, with unpredictable quantities provided via precipitation and fluctuating through generally dwindling quantities in reservoirs and underground aquifers. What’s truer now than was ever the case: As we keep growing and expanding, our capability to quench all that thirst is decreasing.
    • Why is it Wicked? Wasteful Use of Water Resources, Economic Impacts
    • Possible Leverage Points: (8) Balancing Feedback Loops, (6) Information Flow Structures, (3) The System Goal
    • The Future of Water Scarcity? There is hope on the horizon. Many of these ideas have seen success in other venues. We should be incentivizing large scale farming operations to support local farms and community gardens as a way to lower their tax bracket. What company doesn’t want lower taxes? And neighboring communities working with you hand-in-hand. Currently, we spend most of our time in the events and trends area just above or below the surface; enough to know about the problem but likely not enough to fully understand. We should focus our effort on understanding the underlying structure and how our mental models came to be, only then will we drive change. Are we willing to forego convenience and money for the sake of a secure water future?
  • “This was a different style course than I am used to, but the timing couldn’t have been better. On the heels of needing to reconsider my Masters’ project topic, I utilized the frameworks of this course to work through a new idea. Each framework was a new approach to problem solving for me.   The toolkits we learned helped me work through a variety of cogs within the system but revealed to me that the system is too big to try to pick apart in a meaningful way from 30,000 feet above. Where it did help, is providing a glimpse into many machinations of the systems, any of which could be valuable to take a microscope too and really dissect deeply.”  – Guy Gutterman
  • Research project by Gamze showing visuals of electronic waste in a landfill and the leverage point system.
  • Unsustainable Management of Waste from Household Appliances by Gamze Stone
    • What’s the Problem? The unsustainable management of electronic waste (e-waste) from household appliances, driven by short product lifespans, low recycling rates, and improper disposal, lack of policies for issue management and applied business model of e-waste production/services which harm the environment and human health. The scope includes production, consumption, disposal, and the gaps in recycling infrastructure and policies.
    • Why is it Wicked? Environmental Impacts, Health Impacts, Resources Extracted, Climate Change, Economic Implications
    • Possible Leverage Points: (6) Information Flows: Consumer Awareness, (5) Rules: Extended Producer Responsibility, (2) Mindset Paradigm: Circular Economy
    • The Future of E-Waste Management? The future of e-waste management for household appliances depends on transitioning to a circular economy, with sustainable design, EPR policies, improved infrastructure, and consumer incentives to enhance recycling. Collaboration among stakeholders, technological advancements, and a growing recycling sector will foster economic opportunities. A systemic approach combining policy, innovation, and consumer action is essential for sustainable e-waste management.

“This course introduced me to fundamental concepts like leverage points and wicked problems, which significantly reshaped my perspective. I now understand that solving sustainability challenges requires looking beyond individual issues and considering the entire system, including its interconnected components and feedback loops. Although systems thinking is something we all use in our daily lives without realizing, this course helped me think more systematically and carefully. I’ve realized that explaining complex problems is not as easy as it seems. Often, we focus on the visible side of a problem and ignore the deeper, hidden causes—the iceberg beneath the surface.  The course helped me understand the unique nature of wicked problems—issues that are complex and don’t have simple, linear solutions. This has given me a more nuanced approach to tackling real-world sustainability challenges.” – Gamze Stone

  • Research project by Christina with visual of iceberg on top and below water surface.
  • California Solar Mandate by Christina Martinez
    • What’s the Problem? The California Solar Mandate went into effect January 1, 2020, requiring all new residential construction projects to have solar photovoltaic (PV) systems installed, to include single family homes, condominiums, and apartments less than three stories high. While climate change impacts everyone, leading to extreme weather, health issues, and economic costs, the mandate aims to increase the use of renewable energy and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.
    • Why is it Wicked? Cost and Affordability, Market Dynamics, Building Code Compliance, Maintenance and Longevity; especially high Equity Concerns
    • Possible Leverage Points: (7) Positive Feedback Loop: Capacity Building Initiatives, (5) Rules: Inclusive Renewable Energy Policies, (3) The System Goal: Targeted Financial Initiatives
    • The Future of California Solar? The future of this project carries significant promise for fostering resilience and equity in the face of climate change. By implementing strategies that enhance community capacity, advocate for inclusive policies and provide targeted financial support, we can create a sustainable pathway for vulnerable populations to access renewable energy resources. As these initiatives gain attraction, they have the potential to mitigate the impacts of climate change as well as empower communities economically and socially. Success is in the project conserved as a model for similar efforts nationally and globally promoting a more just and equitable transition to renewable energy. Ultimately investing in the wellbeing of a marginalized community, we pave the way for a more sustainable and resilient future for all.

“I found this class to be thought provoking and challenging. I honestly did not know what to expect from this class going in, but found that I acquired so many useful tools that I will be using through the remainder of my graduate studies, and beyond.  I appreciate getting a different perspective on how to unpack a problem, totally unlike I would intuitively. Applying the different feedback loops, stock and flow diagrams and system archetypes allowed me a layered attack on a wicked problem issue. I feel that moving forward I will not see a problem in just black and white, but now I will take into account all the dynamics including stockholders and their relationships.” – Christina Martinez