Ciputat, March 4, 2025 - The Faculty of Psychology (FPsi) once again held a seminar and partnership event featuring Shino Koda, Ph.D., an Associate Professor from Tottori University of Environmental Studies, Japan. She participated in a Visiting Fellow program to discuss how community-based research in social psychology can serve as a solution for building more sustainable societies.

In a session attended by FPsi lecturers, Dr. Koda highlighted the opportunities and challenges of applying a community-based approach to social sustainability. “Sustainability is not only a matter of policy and technology, but also of how we understand social behavior and build collective awareness,” said Dr. Koda.

Through community-based research, academics and practitioners can work directly with communities to understand the social factors influencing sustainable behavior. Dr. Koda emphasized that social norms, cultural values, and other psychological factors play a crucial role in driving behavioral changes that support sustainability.

However, significant challenges remain. Dr. Koda pointed out that integrating research findings into public policy and ensuring active community engagement are often major obstacles. “Every community has unique challenges, and we must remain flexible in our approach to promoting sustainability,” she added.

This Visiting Fellow program marks an important moment in deepening the understanding of how community-based social psychology can be a powerful tool in fostering a more sustainability-conscious society. With the growing urgency of environmental and social issues, this approach is expected to offer concrete solutions in addressing global challenges.