Sustainability and Global Challenges: Analysis by Mathematics of Uncertainty (Intelligent Systems Reference Library, 256)

This book focuses on the relationship between Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). One of the most important issues the world is facing is sustainability. All members of the United Nations adopted Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals. Associated with the SDGs are many serious global problems. These problems include climate change, global poverty, global hunger, human trafficking, homelessness, biodiversity, extinction, and terrorism. The author’s purpose is to develop a textbook concerning the SDGs and how they relate to these problems. A recent issue has emerged. That is Artificial Intelligence. AI has tremendous potential to do both good and harm. The book is designed in such a way that it can be used as an undergraduate textbook on sustainability. Consequently, the mathematics involved is kept at a reasonable level. One of the author’s goals is to prepare the reader to further their study of global issues. In particular, to provide them the background needed to examine the three books in the Springer Series Studies in Systems, Decision and Control, volumes 299, 353, and 391. Exercises are provided in the text as well as an instructor's manual. Some topics examined in the book include country achievement of the SDGs, the relationship between human trafficking and the SDGs, climate change, and global problems mentioned above.

Dr. John N Mordeson is a professor emeritus of Mathematics at Creighton University. He received his B. S., M. S., and Ph. D from Iowa State University. He is a member of Phi Kappa Phi. He has published 20 books and over 250 journal articles. He is on the editorial board of numerous journals. He has served as an external examiner of Ph. D. candidates from India, South Africa, Bulgaria, and Pakistan. He has refereed for numerous journals and granting agencies. He is particularly interested in applying mathematics of uncertainty to combat the problems of climate change, human trafficking, and biodiversity.

Dr. Sunil Mathew is a faculty member in the Department of Mathematics, NIT Calicut, India. He has acquired his master’s from St. Joseph’s College Devagiri, Calicut, and Ph. D. from the National Institute of Technology Calicut in the area of fuzzy graph theory. He has published more than 100 research papers and written five books. He is a member of several academic bodies and associations. He is an editor and reviewer of several international journals. He has an experience of 20 years in teaching and research. His current research topics include fuzzy graph theory, bio-computational modeling, graph theory, fractal geometry, and chaos.