Transforming Our World for Sustainable Development: The Role of Science, Technology and Innovation Governance

Dear Colleagues,

Sustainable development requires the vision of a world free of poverty, hunger, disease, and deprivation, where ecosystems and human habitats are safe, resilient, and sustainable, and where there is universal access to affordable, reliable and sustainable food, water, and energy. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a plan of action for people, planet, and prosperity that seeks to strengthen universal peace and freedom through partnerships. Eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, while sustainably managing natural resources, is perhaps the greatest global challenge, and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development. The challenge is exacerbated by regional political instability, and the urgency to address the effects of global climate change. At the same time, social transformation needs to foster just and inclusive societies in which people can be actively engaged around critical issues. Advancements in science, technology and innovation governance at multiple scales will be crucial in shaping the dialogue on transforming our world for sustainable development.

This Special Issue will provide an interdisciplinary platform for scholars to explore the role of science, technology and innovation governance to address the global challenges related to sustainable development. Some questions to be explored in the Special Issue may include:

• How can governance of science and technology evolve to more effectively advance knowledge about global challenges and the design of innovations?
• How can governance mechanisms be designed to align incentives, allocate resources and assign decision-making authority for innovation to advance the goals of sustainable development?
• What is the role for public policy in advancing science, technology and innovation governance for sustainable development at multiple scales?
• Who are the actors that drive innovation in the context of sustainable development? And how can they be more effectively engaged at different scales?
• Who are the agents of change for facilitating social transformation for sustainable development? And how can they be more effectively engaged at different scales?
• What frameworks for social transformation are most effective at achieving the goals of sustainable development?

We particularly seek papers that offer multidiscilinary and multilevel frameworks for exploring the drivers of social transformation, the role of science and technology in advancing social change, and models of innovation governance to advance the goals of sustainable development. Since social transformation can occur at multiple spatial, temporal, and geopolitical scales, we welcome papers that address these issues across these scales. We also invite both theoretical and applied research, including conceptual frameworks, modeling outputs, or case studies.

Dr. Robert Richardson
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All papers will be peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Societies is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• Sustainable development
• Social transformation
• Science and technology
• Innovation governance
• Ecosystems
• Poverty
• Hunger
• Prosperity
• Peace
• Justice
• Partnerships
• Well-being