Islands are an increasing focus of interest as potential crucibles of sustainable development. This project-oriented seminar will involve students in a Washington State island community’s planning for a transition to zero net energy and minimal environmental footprint by the year 2050. The class is an exercise in envisioning social transformations, backed up by data and analysis. Depending on interest, the class project may focus on one or more of the following sustainability challenges: electricity, heating, transportation, agriculture, food, water & resource consumption, and waste management. Students enrolled in the class will read selections from literature on sustainability and social transformation, energy planning and analysis, renewable energy and energy efficiency, as well as case studies of communities engaged in transitions to sustainable resource use. Students will work together to develop an appropriate research proposal to develop defendable scenarios for progress towards the community’s net-zero. The course is appropriate for MIIS students interested in international development, energy (particularly community-scale), agriculture, policy, and climate change. The course is available as a 2-credit or 4-credit option. Students are strongly encouraged to select the 4-credit option, which requires participation in a 5-day research trip to the islands during spring break (18 – 24 March) to gather data and meet with stakeholders.