Offering a comprehensive overview of contemporary theoretical and programmatic issues in the fields of sustainability, culture, communication, development and social change, this book explores the relationship between communication and sustainability from a social change perspective.

Modern and professional communication is required to realise the goal of sustainability in society. This book develops a theoretical and empirical framework, integrating interdisciplinary perspectives from communications theory, psychology, sociology, educational sciences, systems theory and constructivism. Its aim is to inform the establishment of sustainability communication. Complementing this theoretical framework, the book provides methods and concepts in a range of fields such as corporate practice, education and media. The book addresses the scientific community and students as well as communicators in all categories of sustainability communication.

Green Information and Communication Systems for a Sustainable Future covers the fundamental concepts, applications, algorithms, protocols, new trends, challenges, and research results in the area of Green Information and Communication Systems. This book provides the reader with up-to-date information on core and specialized issues, making it highly suitable for both the novice and the experienced researcher in the field. The book covers theoretical and practical perspectives on network design. It includes how green ICT initiatives and applications can play a major role in reducing CO2 emissions, and focuses on industry and how it can promote awareness and implementation of Green ICT. The book discusses scholarship and research in green and sustainable IT for business and organizations and uses the power of IT to usher sustainability into other parts of an organization. Business and management educators, management researchers, doctoral scholars, university teaching personnel and policy makers as well as members of higher academic research organizations will all discover this book to be an indispensable guide to Green Information and Communication Systems. It will also serve as a key resource for Industrial and Management training organizations all over the world.

The Textbook seeks for an innovative approach to Sustainability Communication as transdisciplinary area of research. Following the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which are intended to transform the world as it is known, we seek for a multidisciplinary discussion of the role communication plays in realizing these goals. With complementing theoretical approaches and concepts, the book offers various perspectives on communication practices and strategies on an individual, organizational, institutional, as well as public level that contribute, enable (or hinder) sustainable development. Presented case studies show methodological as well as issue specific challenges in sustainability communication. Therefore, the book introduces and promotes innovative methods for this specific area of research.

There is a dearth of literature on environmental communication within the non-western world. The few existing ones are scattered and not easily available.Thus, there is a dire need to document research and literature in the field. The opportunity arose at the 2009 International Conference on Communication and Environment held in Penang, Malaysia. The international conference with the theme “Transformation for a Sustainable Tomorrow”, organised by the School of Communication, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), attracted scholars, practitioners and activists from around the world to listen and deliberate on various aspects of communication and environment. The post-conference review resulted in the selection of 24 papers to be compiled into this edited volume. The escalating degradation of environment locally and globally was the main concern that prompted discussions on how sustainability can be advocated. The development process in many countries, economic activities and political decisions on issues such as deforestation for timber logging, rapid urbanisation, pertinently points out that environmental degradation and any communication on environmental change has to be grounded and located within the wider context of social, politics and economics of the society. Communication and environmental communication for that matter have also to be understood within these wider contexts. Many would agree that a constant and consistent flow of information communicated through different channels to different stakeholders at the right time and destinations can help raise awareness and consciousness of environmental problems, protection and preservation. This vital information can enable the public and stakeholders to make informed choices, and take actions whenever possible. A lack of communication and information will inordinately exacerbate the situation of environmental degradation. This book thus highlights how the environment is being treated in the media, communicated to the society and impacted nations. The chapters are grouped into the following sections: Theoretical and conceptual issues; Media content and the environment; Politics, communication and the environment; Corporate social and environmental responsibility; and Citizen participation, human rights and the environment. The editors acknowledge the excellent contributions of all the authors and are indebted to the members of the review panel, the external reviewer, USM Publications Committee and staff of Universiti Sains Malaysia Press for their help in ensuring the quality of this volume. Most importantly, we express our gratitude to USM for providing the financial support for the international conference and making it possible to publish this book. The Editors January 2012 Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penerbit Universiti Sains Malaysia

The world is experiencing an unprecedented period of change and growth through all the electronic and technilogical developments and everyone on the planet has been impacted. What was once ‘science fiction’, today it is a reality. This book explores the world of many of once unthinkable advancements by explaining current technologies in great detail. Each chapter focuses on a different aspect - Machine Vision, Pattern Analysis and Image Processing - Advanced Trends in Computational Intelligence and Data Analytics - Futuristic Communication Technologies - Disruptive Technologies for Future Sustainability. The chapters include the list of topics that spans all the areas of smart intelligent systems and computing such as: Data Mining with Soft Computing, Evolutionary Computing, Quantum Computing, Expert Systems, Next Generation Communication, Blockchain and Trust Management, Intelligent Biometrics, Multi-Valued Logical Systems, Cloud Computing and security etc. An extensive list of bibliographic references at the end of each chapter guides the reader to probe further into application area of interest to him/her.