Dr. Brian Dermody

Biography

Brian Dermody is an Assistant Professor at the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development at Utrecht University, specializing in Environmental Sciences. He holds an interdisciplinary position, working to foster collaboration across five departments within the institute. His research interests primarily focus on understanding and achieving sustainable transitions in food systems. Dermody emphasizes the importance of 'systems thinking' in addressing the complex sustainability challenges facing society. He believes that concepts such as emergence, path dependency, and feedback loops are essential for comprehending how systems function. His teaching philosophy incorporates the development of systems literacy among students, aiming to cultivate a holistic understanding of the world. Dermody coordinates a transdisciplinary bachelor's course in Consultancy Projects, where students engage with real-world sustainability issues from various stakeholder perspectives. He also teaches a course entitled 'Systems, Stories, Sustainability' in collaboration with Wytske Versteeg at University College Utrecht, which highlights the role of narrative in facilitating transitions towards sustainability. In addition, Dermody supervises Bachelor's and Master's thesis projects, promoting interdisciplinary research and collaboration throughout the Copernicus Institute and Utrecht University.

Research Interests

Experience