Professors of the Catholic University of Croatia in an International Book on Regenerative Futures

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zoran Turza from the University Department of Theology and Assist. Prof. Dr. Mirjam Mary Brgles from the University Department of Sociology contributed as authors to an international scientific book published in 2025 by Springer Nature, entitled Imagining, Designing and Teaching Regenerative Futures: Art-Science Approaches and Inspirations From Around the World, as part of the scientific series Science for Sustainable Societies. The book was edited by Julia Bentz and Jelena Ristić Trajković, and was created within the framework of the European research network COST (CA21166).
 

This open access international publication brings together 120 authors from 30 countries and offers as many as 65 methods for imagining, designing, and teaching sustainable and regenerative futures.

The book explores the concept of regenerative futures – an approach that goes beyond the classical notion of sustainability. Instead of focusing only on reducing harm and preserving the current state, the regenerative approach strives to restore ecosystems and societies, creating conditions for nature and communities to thrive once again. The core message is that people are not separate from nature but an integral part of it, with both the responsibility and the ability to actively contribute to the regeneration of socio-ecological systems.

A special emphasis is placed on the integration of art and science in education, as creative and participatory approaches foster imagination, empathy, and collaboration, making it easier to understand complex challenges such as climate change, social inequalities, and environmental degradation. The aim of the book is to provide practical tools and inspiration for teachers, professors, community educators, and all those who wish to transmit the knowledge and values of sustainability in a transformative way, empowering participants to envision and shape positive scenarios for the future.

Assist. Prof. Dr. Mirjam Mary Brgles is the author of the chapter Photography with Intervention. In it, she describes a method that builds on the well-known photovoice approach, enabling participants to use photographs and creative interventions (drawing, collage, text) to express their own perceptions of problems and potentials within their communities. The goal of this method is to empower participants, especially young people and vulnerable groups, to spark dialogue and contribute to social change through their work.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zoran Turza is the author of the chapter Integral Ecology: A Method for Education in Addressing the Climate Crisis. In this chapter, he presents the concept of integral ecology, inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’, as an educational method for addressing the climate crisis. The method combines scientific knowledge, ethical reflection, and practical action through a three-stage program (knowledge – awareness – action), with the goal of encouraging communities to implement concrete and sustainable changes in everyday life.

This book demonstrates how the integration of art and science can open new pathways toward sustainable and regenerative futures. We are proud that our professors have made a valuable contribution to this international edition.