美国国家科学院将可持续发展科学定义为一个新兴领域，致力于处理自然与社会系统之间的相互作用以及这些相互作用如何影响可持续性的挑战：在满足当代和子孙后代的需求的同时，大幅减少贫困并保护地球的生命支持系统。在世界范围内，与水质，不断变化的气候，空气质量，栖息地多样性以及贫困的农村社区相关的挑战都存在。通过可再生能源，发展更具可持续性的城市基础设施以及农场与社区的重新连接，有很大的机会对社会，经济和环境目标产生积极影响，但是需要知识渊博的员工队伍来解决这些复杂的问题并实施变革。爱荷华州的可持续发展科学专业提供严格
The National Academy of Science defines sustainability sciences as an emerging field dealing with the interactions between natural and social systems and how those interactions affect the challenge of sustainability: meeting the needs of present and future generations while substantially reducing poverty and conserving the planet's life support systems.<br><br>Challenges associated with water quality, a changing climate, air quality, habitat diversity, and struggling rural communities exist worldwide. There are significant opportunities to positively impact social, economic, and environmental goals through renewable energy, development of more sustainable urban infrastructure, and reconnection of the farm with the community, but a knowledgeable workforce is needed to address such complex issues and implement change. The sustainability science major offers an academically rigorous, interdisciplinary curriculum focusing on the environment, analytical skills, and communication, along with relevant real-world experiences such as study abroad, undergraduate research, and community outreach. <br><br>Sustainability science graduates will be trained to:<br><br>Understand the complex processes that connect humans to natural systems<br>Analyze the potential impact of decisions, given competing information, perceptions, and goals<br>Communicate the importance of sustainability science and management to leaders and the public