Whitney Jones &

Garrison Yang

IDENTIFYING SUSTAINABILITY RESEARCH AND CURRICULUM FOR THE STARS ASSESSMENT

Department WebsitesEmailing FacultyEmailing ChairsInterviewing FacultyOffi ce of Research

NewsletterKeyword Search

Course CatalogsSurveyNews ArticlesTitle Review

DATA COLLECTION METHODS

High -Dept. Websites-Emailing

Faculty (with description)

Medium

-Emailing Faculty(no description)-News Articles

-Office of Research Newsletter

-Emailing Chairs

Low

-Survey-Keyword Search

-Interviewing Faculty In

Person

Low Medium High

DATA COLLECTION METHODS: RESEARCH

Time Needed to Collect Data

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High -Title Review -Emailing Faculty

Medium -Keyword Search

-Course Catalogs

-Dept. Websites

Low -Survey-Interviewing

Faculty In Person

Low Medium High

DATA COLLECTION METHODS: COURSES

Time Needed to Collect Data

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Figuring Sea Level Rise: Seminar & Film

Different interpretations of “Research” from different departments Natural Sciences: didn’t

count project as anything Social Sciences: counted

project as public service Humanities: counted project

as research

HOW IS RESEARCH DEFINED?

1) Seeks to better explain the dynamic functionality of and history of earth’s systems as they may aff ect humans;2) Seeks to better explain the relationship between humans and their biotic and abiotic environment;3) Seeks to better explain human impacts on the natural environment;4) Seeks to better explain the eff ect of environmental issues on humans or society more broadly;5) Explores the relationship of humans and the natural environment through art and culture; and/or6) Innovates a solution through practice, technology, or artistic expression to an issue aff ecting our natural and/or cultural environment.

DEFINITION OF SUSTAINABILITY RESEARCH

REPORTING METHODS: RESEARCH

Included Excluded

• Three-year window• Grant-funded and non-grant-

funded• Eligible to be a Principle

Investigator• Foundational research with

applications or implications for sustainability

• Must be related to environment (not social/economic only)

• Must have a human component

• Research purely focused on ecosystems or organism function

• Biomedical or medical focused• Graduate students who are not

eligible to be principle investigators

• Faculty who explicitly stated that they did not believe their research was sustainability related

SNAPSHOT OF RESEARCH SPREADSHEET

David ClevelandUCSB Department of Environmental Studies

David Cleveland’s research and teaching focus on small-scale, sustainable agriculture and its role in responding to climate change, resource scarcities, new technologies, and demands for social justice. His current focus is the potential contributions of agrifood system localization to climate change mitigation, improved nutrition, and food sovereignty in Santa Barbara County and California. His 2013 book, “Balancing on a Planet: The future of food and agriculture,” is an interdisciplinary primer on critical thinking and effective action for the future of our global agrifood systems, based on an understanding of their biological and sociocultural roots.

EXAMPLE OF RESEARCH DESCRIPTION

1) Identifi es one or more serious environmental problems and explain its underlying causes and possible consequences. 2) Explores the conceptual foundations of our environmental attitudes, values and challenges from a variety of cultural perspectives.3) Examines the scientifi c understanding of Earth’s natural systems and cycles, emphasizing humanity’s role as the planet’s ecologically dominant species and how that aff ects the continuing viability of habitats for life on Earth.4) Demonstrates the interconnectedness of environmental, economic, and social systems. 5) Investigates how our relationship to the natural world has been shaped historically, politically, and/or economically.6) Examines the controversies surrounding questions of values and ethics as they relate to creating a sustainable future.

DEFINITION OF SUSTAINABILITY COURSE

GOAL MEASURES

1) Understand and be able to eff ectively communicate the concept of sustainability.2) Analyze how the well-being of human society is dependent on ecosystems and the materials and services they provide to humanity.3) Recognize the physical and biological attributes, basic functioning, and limits of planetary ecosystems.4) Develop and use an ethical perspective in which they view themselves as embedded in the fabric of an interconnected world.5) Become aware of and explore the connections between their chosen course of study and sustainability.6) Synthesize understanding of social, economic, and environmental systems and reason holistically.7) Be able to create models, products, designs or creative representations that highlight an understanding of the connections among people, processes and the environment.

DEFINITION OF SUSTAINABILITY COURSE

OUTCOME MEASURES

Courses Included Courses Excluded

• Special topics (counted individually if they had an individual course code)

• Three year window

• Honors sections, and regular sections of other courses

• Extension courses• Travel study courses offered

by other institutions • Courses transferred for

credit from other institutions• Independent study and

independent research courses

• Repeats

REPORTING METHODS: COURSES

SNAPSHOT OF COURSES SPREADSHEET

Environmental Science and Management 260 – Applied Marine Ecology

This class focuses on the application of ecological principles and methods to environmental problems in marine ecosystems. Emphasis is placed on design and execution of field sampling and experiments to access biological impacts of anthropogenic disturbances and restoration activities.

EXAMPLE COURSE JUSTIFICATION

GREY AREAS: RESEARCH

Natural Sciences

Social Science

s

Fine Art

Humanities

Culture and the Environment• Explores the relationship of

humans and the natural environment through art and culture

Colin Gardner• Research focuses on producing

a new vision for a more ethical and ecologically sustainable world through bridging man, art and world

GREY AREAS: RESEARCH

Intention versus Implication

Luke Theogarajan• Primarily involved biomedical engineering• He is developing a new method to

communicate with neural tissue that has already proved to be safer and require lower power to function than the approach currently used

• Innovates a solution through practice, technology, or artistic expression to an issue affecting our natural and/or cultural environment

GREY AREAS: RESEARCH

Methodology versus Content

James Donelan• Conducts research into pedagogical

issues related to sustainability, including remote teaching

• Differentiating between establishing new methodology to deliver content versus the content alone

GREY AREAS: RESEARCH

Natural Disasters and Earth Processes• Seeks to better explain the dynamic functionality

of history and earth’s system as they may affect humans

Daniel Lavallee• Daniel Lavalee’s research has been focused

on the study of nonlinear effects in seismology

• A better understanding of earthquakes and tsunamis will help mitigating damage to the environment

Content versus MethodologyINT 94JS: Introduction to Santa Cruz IslandCourse was developed with the intention of helping

freshmen students develop a sense of place and appreciation for the local natural environment.

INT 194JS: A Walk in the WoodsSeminar introduces students new to the Santa

Barbara area to the landscape and fl ora of the Santa Ynez Mountains.

Geared towards recreation and monitoringSimply “being in nature” is not enough.”

GREY AREAS: COURSES

ESM 3: Nutrition for HealthExamines relationships between

diet, health, and disease. Basic nutrition principles, food

selection, proper diet, and lifetime health habits are emphasized.

MCDB 20: Concepts of BiologyLooks at the chemical foundation

of life and its impact on human nutrition.

GREY AREAS: COURSES

Nutrition, Health, and Healthy Living

Social Justice Issues and Social Inequality Relating to Environmental JusticeCH ST 171: The Brown/Black MetropolisExamines social justice issues between Brown/Black

urban populations. Includes a section on environmental justice in relation

to race and class.

FEM ST 60: Women of Color: Race, Class, and EthnicityAddresses the dynamics of gender, race, sexuality,

class, and culture in the experience of U.S. women of color.

GREY AREAS: COURSES

EEMB 228: Ecological Constraints to Ecosystem RestorationCourse examines various models and

approaches to ecosystem restoration. Looks at the application of restoration

as well as the adaptive management strategies used.

EEMB 120: Ecology Considers major concepts in population

and evolutionary ecology using theoretical, experimental, and field studies.

GREY AREAS: COURSES

Course cannot be purely ecological

5 Points for Consideration:Diversify data collection methodsEncourage open, interdisciplinary debate about sustainability definition(s)

Use a teamwork approach to grey areas

Spend equal time on courses and research

Make the most of your STARS inventories

CONCLUSION AND TAKEAWAYS