For , sustainability isn’t just an academic exercise; it’s a bridge between classroom and community.
Through project-based learning and community partnerships, he shows how sustainability education can drive practical solutions to environmental challenges, transforming both students and cities.
We talked to King for Sustainability in Action, a new conversation series with U of A change makers whose research, programs or projects are turning the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals — or SDGs — into tangible results. (Here’s the debut edition, ICYMI.)
How do you describe your work to people outside your field?
As an assistant professor of environmental science, I teach about the foundations and applications of sustainability. This is a pretty big topic, so for me, building awareness and literacy around sustainability is a major goal.
Which SDGs does your work primarily address and in what ways?
The Augustana Campus is teaching-focused, so my primary role deals with SDG 4 - Quality Education — specifically Target 4.7 which focuses on delivering knowledge and skills that can address a sustainable future. As a climate scientist, SDG 13 - Climate Action is at the core of my research. I incorporate it across classes as I view it as a topic that is everywhere and sticks to everything. Finally, I think SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals speaks to what I try to do by linking our campus to community partners — reaching across disciplinary boundaries and trying to apply the SDGs in a more local context.
Can you share a moment when you saw the direct impact of your work on advancing the SDGs?
Last year, I led a project-based course where the class partnered with the City of Camrose to research and develop strategies in response to a climate risk and vulnerability assessment. The engagement of the students and their project outcomes addressed so many SDGs — they were obviously thinking about climate action, but also inequality, health and well-being, clean water and sustainable cities and communities. The class provided a tangible experience to show how important it is for everyone to play a role and that they have the skills to make an impact.
What partnerships or collaborations have you formed to enhance the impact of your work?
Partnerships have been foundational to my work integrating SDGs into the curriculum, from working with and learning from members of the U of A Sustainability Council and interdisciplinary colleagues at Augustana, to connections to the local community through the , the and the . I am always looking to facilitate new partnerships (this semester I am working with the City of Spruce Grove on their Climate Action Plan), and I’m especially thinking about how my work can build local community capacity and resilience and provide win-win opportunities for students and partners.
