Building an Interdisciplinary Sustainability Degree: Use What You Have
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Transcript of Building an Interdisciplinary Sustainability Degree: Use What You Have
Building an Interdisciplinary Sustainability Degree:
Use What You Have
Margaret Robertson, ASLALane Community College – Eugene, Oregon
Start where you are. Use what you have.
Do what you can.
--Arthur Ashe
Sustainability Coordinator Degree
• Developed outcomes matched courses
full 2-year degree
• Only a 1-credit seminar is new.
• Almost no cost
Outcomes = knowledge, skills, abilities
• Define outcomes for competent sustainability professional.
• So . . . What is sustainability??
“Sustainability,” the idea:
• Systems• Processes that continue over
very long periods of time
NOAA
Examples:• Ecosystems• The Earth system
National Park Service
Instruction manual
NASA
Systems thinking
• Networks• Life is made of connections.
U.S. Department of Energy, Genomic Science Program
“Triple Bottom Line”
Ecotrust: Conservation Economy Pattern Map
• Environment• Economics• Equity
• (They are connected.)
• New field• Interdisciplinary
“Sustainability,” the discipline:
The Unesco model
Information visualization – Pathfinder citation analysis
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
• What makes processes and systems sustainable?
▪ (persist over long periods)
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
U.S. Department of Energy/BERIS
• Beyond recycling and solar panels• Everything is connected.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
• Understand existing conditions.• Are they sustainable?
UNEP / Arendal
• . . . existing conditions –
• Are they sustainable?
▪ Mass extinction▪ Declining fossil fuel
reserves▪ Climate destabilization
IPCC
350.org
U.S. Global Change Research Program
U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Existing conditions –
▪ Mass extinction▪ Declining fossil fuel
reserves▪ Climate destabilization
Problems are connected.
• State of the planet: dire and getting
worse.
• We are nearly out of time.
Wackernagel and ReesCatalyst Bioregional Series
• We can’t see it yet.
• There is hope.• Threshold of a new,
regenerative era?U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service
U.S. Depart of Energy
Oregon Sustainability CenterPortland State University
World ahead will not be like it is now.
• Future leaders with vision.• Ability to lead us through the transition.
Need:
The Natural Step
• Broad knowledge• Systems thinking• Critical thinking skills• People skills
Designer’s Atlas of SustainabilityFootprint Network
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
Step 1. Develop outcomes Most important thing you can do: Get the outcomes right.
• Professional society• Journal• Body of knowledge
Step 1. Develop outcomes – How?
Sustainability: an emerging field
No single, authoritative . . .
Sources
• Job descriptions▪ But limited to what exists now.
• Surveys*▪ But limited to what respondents
already know.• Literature • Other programs• Advisory committees• Collaboration
*e.g., regional market survey ISSP practitioners’ survey AASHE sustainability
directors’ survey
Sources
*Forthcoming: Sustainability: Theory and Practice. Pearson, 2013.
• Job descriptions• Surveys• Literature*
• Books, articles: specific topics• Other programs• Advisory committees• Collaboration
I. Overview1. Sustainability2. History3. The Living Planet4. Gaia: Earth Systems Science
II. IssuesIII. StrategiesIV. Organizational Skills
Sustainability: Theory and Practice:
You are welcome to use this outline.
Sources
I. OverviewII. Issues*
5. Climate Change6. Water Issues7. Ecosystem Change8. Human Health9. Human Population Growth10. Pollution11. Fossil Fuels12. Food Issues13. Failing States14. Economics
III. StrategiesIV. Organizational Skills
*State of the planet
Sustainability: Theory and Practice:Sources
I. OverviewII. IssuesIII. Strategies*
15. Climate Stabilization16. Ecosystem Restoration17. Stream Restoration18. Stabilizing the Human Population19. Pollution Remediation/Prevention20. Renewable Energy21. Energy Efficiency22. Water Efficiency23. Stormwater and Wastewater24. Sustainable Sites25. Soil Conservation and Renewal26. Green Buildings27. Green Manufacturing28. Waste and Recycling29. Food30. Livable Cities
IV. Organizational Skills
* Tools for a new, regenerative era
Sustainability: Theory and Practice:Sources
I. OverviewII. IssuesIII. StrategiesIV. Organizational Skills
31. Certification Tools32. Indicators and Measurement33. Working in an Organization34. Working with People35. Education
Sustainability: Theory and Practice:Sources
Sources
• Job descriptions• Surveys• Literature • Other programs*• Advisory committees• Collaboration
*You are welcome to use Lane’s outcomes.
Collaboration*
• Symbiosis: a fundamental process
• Cooperation generates much of life on Earth.
*An approach modeled on natural systems
Step 1. Develop outcomes
Science Outcomes
• Science foundation = how sustainable systems
work
U.S. Department of Energy, Genomic Science program
Outcomes
• Nuts and bolts skills for leaders
Closed loop – zero waste
Water
Energy
Eco-Cycle
Sidwell Friends School, Andropogon
LEED Visual GA, V3
Outcomes
• Management• Data analysis• Measurements for
indicator reports
Sustainability Indicators, Sustainable Measures
Outcomes
• Leaders as change agents
Important!
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Department of Energy/NREL
Summary of Outcomes
• Science foundation• Technical skills• Managing organizations• Skills for change agents
Outcomes
Step 2. Map existing courses to outcomes
Step 2. Map existing courses to outcomes
• Catalog descriptions• Then review syllabi• Then interview instructors
Researching existing courses:
• Data from sustainability infusion or environmental literacy program, if one exists.
Step 3. Identify gaps
Step 4. Create course(s) to fill gaps
• In-house experts• Community experts
http://www.lanecc.edu/collegecatalog/documents/CTsustainabilitycoord.pdf
Step 5. Align with your institution’s graduation requirements
We still need:
• Tools for matching courses to outcomes• Introductory course• Capstone course
• Future: electives
Challenges
• Collaboration ▪ Messy▪ Field still forming
• Developing new courses▪ Hard work▪ Low pay
• Building a cohort▪ Big issue for interdisciplinary programs
Questions?
Margaret Robertson: 541-463-3143 - [email protected]
Sustainability Coordinator degree - www.lanecc.edu/advtech/SUST/index.htm