A Place-Based Investigation of the United Nations SDGs: Case Report on a Course Assignment for Undergraduate Sustainability Science Majors

Abstract

Students in an undergraduate class for sustainability science majors engaged in a semester-long project using ESRI ArcGIS Story Maps to conduct a place-based investigation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). Coupled with the Doughnut Model of a Safe and Just Space for Humanity, students conducted an in-depth analysis of social foundations and SDGs for a location of their choice. The project requires understanding each UN goal and synthesizing multilevel data from government, international, and academic sources. The project affords students the opportunity to practice a new form of written and visual communication while creating a finished product that can be presented beyond the classroom.