BRIDGING SCIENCE AND SOCIAL SCIENCE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: THEORY, POLICY AND PRACTICE

Source abstract

Sustainable development has emerged as a defining global priority in the twenty-first century, particularly following the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the United Nations, with a target of achieving the goals by 2030. Despite Significant scientific and policy advancements, progress toward the SDGs remains uneven and fragmented, largely due to persistent disciplinary divides between the natural sciences and the social sciences. Natural sciences contribute technological innovation, environmental monitoring, climate modeling, and resource management strategies, whereas social sciences offer critical perspectives on governance structures, institutional capacity, social equity, behavioral change, and policy implementation. The absence of systematic integration between these domains often limits the transformative potential of sustainability initiatives. This paper argues that sustainable development cannot be effectively realized through isolated disciplinary approaches and instead requires a coherent interdisciplinary framework that bridges scientific knowledge with socio-political realities. Employing a conceptual and analytical methodology grounded in interdisciplinary sustainability literature, the study proposes a model for science–social science integration in sustainability planning and decision-making. The analysis highlights the importance of collaborative policy design, participatory governance, community engagement, and institutional coordination in enhancing policy effectiveness and long-term impact. The findings underscore that bridging epistemological and methodological boundaries strengthens adaptive capacity and fosters inclusive development pathways aligned with the 2030 Agenda. The paper concludes that a theory–policy–practice nexus grounded in interdisciplinary integration is essential for ensuring long-term environmental sustainability, economic stability, and social justice.