Sustainable development recognizes that environmental, social and economic development have to go hand in hand. Yet, this political ideal remains to be realized, both on a global scale and in many national and local settings. Science can be a tool for facilitating political goals, and the call has been made for researchers to develop a science for sustainable development that focuses on interactions between nature and society and makes new connections across scientific disciplines and with other stakeholders. But the call has raised questions: What is science for sustainable development? What should it be?These questions were central themes at a round-table discussion August 26, 2004, in connection with the EuroScience Open Forum 2004 in Stockholm. The session was organized by the International Council for Science and Department of Water and Environmental Studies, Linköping University, in an effort to bring the discussion forward in an open dialogue between the research community, policy makers, and other stakeholders. This article attempts to synthesize the major themes that came up in the presentations and the discussion.
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