curriculum for the bioregion initiative’s approach for designing integrative sustainability...
TRANSCRIPT
Curriculum for the Bioregion Initiative’s Approach for Designing Integrative
Sustainability Assignments
“Big Idea” or concept
in the discipline
Sustainability context
or “Big Idea”
IntegrativeAssignment
ALot!!!!!!
Sustainability Buffet -- What's in a Definition?Modified from Laurie Webb, University of Vermont, Based on an activity used in the University of Vermont Sustainability Faculty Fellows workshop.
Flint, W.R. 2010. Synesis: A Journal of Science,Technology, Ethics, and Policy, 1(1):T25-37= Resources and Environment: Maintaining
Systems: Natural and Social Temporal: Now into the Future Spatial: Local to Global Perspectives: Individual, Community and Cultural Learning Opportunities: Classroom to Community
What is Sustainability?
From NASA Archives
Long-term human sustainability through the maintenance of Earth’s natural ecosystems and natural resource systems.
“can be compared with the concept of health – as health cannot be defined in precise terms, and yet, everyone has an idea about what health is and health is important for everyone” Holmberg and Samuelson 2006 in Mann 2011, p. 106
Sustainability – it is difficult to exactly define it.
What is Sustainability?
From NASA Archives
• Many different definitions
- people and their environment - well-being of future generations- well-being of people today
• What are Common Themes?
What is Sustainability?
Sustainability Lens
Sustainability = Norm = Normative Behavior?
Norm = Widespread or usual practice, procedure or custom by which humans live.
People
Child SurvivalLife ExpectancyEducationEquityEqual Opportunity
Economy
WealthProductive SectorsConsumption
Society
InstitutionsSocial CapitalStatesRegions
Nature
EarthBiodiversityEcosystems
Life Support
Ecosystem ServicesResourcesEnvironment
Community
CulturesGroupsPlaces
What IsTo Be
Sustained?
For How Long?25 years
“Now and in the future”
Forever
Linked By
OnlyMostly
ButAndOr
NRC- Board of Sustainable Development, 1999, Our Common Journey
Sustainability – “Messy Problem”
What IsTo Be
Developed?
What is Sustainability?
Static EquilibriumInput = Output
At Dynamic EquilibriumChanges in Input - Changes in Output = 0
Modify Input or OutputChange in System = Change in Input - Change in Output
Sustainability: A Systems Concept
Goal: Maintain our Financial Balance Sheet so Net Change (NC): I - 0 ≥ 0
Personal Capital
“Resources”Input Output
“Income Rate” “Expense Rate”
Assets
Sustainability: A Systems Concept
Goal: Maintain our Natural Assets Balance Sheet so Net Change (NC): I - 0 ≥ 0
Natural Capital
“Resources”Input Output
“Formation Rate”
“Reproduction Rate”
“Usage Rate”
Natural Assets
PerpetualRenewable
Non-Renewable
“Replacement Rate”
Sustainability: An Example for Natural Capital
NC ≥ 0NC ≥ 0NC << 0
HumanNeeds
Food
Energy
Water
Education
Life Support SystemsE.G.
Air WaterRocks and Minerals
(Lithosphere)Biosphere
Intersection of human needs and life support systems
What is Sustainability?
HumanNeeds
Food
Energy
Water
Education
Life Support SystemsE.G.
Air WaterRocks and Minerals
(Lithosphere)Biosphere
An energy focus, not a sustainability focus?
Intersection of human needs and life support systems
What is Sustainability?
A water focus, not a sustainability focus?
HumanNeeds
Food
Energy
Water
Education
Life Support SystemsE.G.
Air WaterRocks and Minerals(Lithosphere)
Biosphere
An energy focus and a sustainability focus
Intersection of human needs and life support systems
What is Sustainability?
HumanNeeds
Food
Energy
Water
Education
Life Support SystemsE.G.
Air WaterRocks and Minerals(Lithosphere)
Biosphere
Nexus of Food, Water, Climate, etc.
Intersection of human needs and life support systems
What is Sustainability?
Geoscience Infusion into Sustainability
Sustainability in practice
“Big Ideas”
Equity & Justice
Sustainability Skills; ability to:
Participatory democracy
Reflect Evaluate
“Connect the dots”
Systems thinking
Use indicators
Environmental Economics
Ecological footprint
Ecological citizenship
Sustainable use of resources
Precautionary principle
Bio mimicry
Environmental justice
Rights of all living things
Localism
Ethic of care Social
development
World view Climate change
Biodiversity Ecosystem
services
Ecosystem integrity
Thresholds; non-linear
relationships
Environmental history
Resilience
Decision-making
Recognize trade-offs
Habits of Mind
Critical hope
Shared responsibility Civic
consciousness
Respect for earth
Humility
Modified from: C.R. Svendsen Skagit Valley College
“INTEGRATE Grand
Challenges”
Energy Resources
Mineral Resources
Water Resources
Food
Waste Disposal
Hazards
Climate Change
Environment Degradation
Geoscience and Grand Challenge Infusion into Sustainability Education
Environment (Life-Support)
Economy (Human- Needs)
Equity(Human-
Needs)
Sustainability requires recognition of Everything is Connected to Everything Else(ECEE)
What is Sustainability?
HumanSustainability
and Development
The Business World is comfortable with:• The three legged stool• 3E’s• Triple Bottom Line
http://computingforsustainability.wordpress.com/2009/03/15/visualising-sustainability/
What is Sustainability?
The most critical goal of the 21st Century:
• Meeting the needs of people today and in the future
• Sustaining the life support systems of the planet
NRC- Board of Sustainable Development, 1999, Our Common Journey
What is Sustainability?