Fall Line Project V May 910 2012 What is sustainability How do we connect Nanette Chadwick Director of Academic Sustainability Programs Associate Professor of Biological Sciences From whence I ID: 644746
Download Presentation The PPT/PDF document "Sustainability in the Curriculum:" is the property of its rightful owner. Permission is granted to download and print the materials on this web site for personal, non-commercial use only, and to display it on your personal computer provided you do not modify the materials and that you retain all copyright notices contained in the materials. By downloading content from our website, you accept the terms of this agreement.
Slide1
Sustainability in the Curriculum:
Fall Line Project V
May 9-10, 2012
What is sustainability:
How do we connect?
Nanette Chadwick
Director of Academic Sustainability Programs
Associate Professor of Biological Sciences
“From whence I
came….
”Slide2
History of faculty workshops
:
1995 Northern Arizona University – Ponderosa Project (Chase & Rowland)
2001 Emory University – Piedmont Project (Bartlett)
2006 Auburn University – Fall Line Project (Biggs & Williams)
L
ocal names, sense
of place
Organizers now
trained at 175 institutions in 6 countries
Workshop concepts
:
-- Faculty
as experts: contribute to each other’s growth and perspectives
-- Gift
of
stimulation,
excitement of getting outside your discipline
-- Unity of
personal and professional: connect values & duties
Satisfaction and challenges – what are yours?
-- Enjoyment
of group and place, sense of fun in teaching
Achieving sustainability requires major, transformational social and cultural change: Huge, complex problem
But small pieces are manageable
Reasons to hope?Slide3
Group introductions
Name
Department
/
position:
From whence do you come?
S
ustainability
-related issues in your field Slide4
University mission:
tripartite
Sustainable University:
4-fold missionSlide5
History of sustainability movement and definitions
Origins:
Environmental disasters (DDT, Amazon forest, ozone hole)
Unsustainable
global development programs
1987 World
Commission on Environment and
Development
Norwegian
Prime Minister
Gro
Brundtland
Our
Common
Future
“Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”
Idea of intergenerational
equity:
future
generations have the same rights as the present
ones
1987 Edward
Barbier
(
Economics faculty,
U Wyoming)
Triple
Bottom Line
:
Interlinkage
of 3 major systemsSlide6
Economic capital
= everything
produced by
individuals, goods & services
H
uman
/social capital = value of each individual as part of societyNatural capital = ecosystem services, natural resources World Bank requires TBL on all projectsEasiest to teach and understand each system separatelyBut: Only connected systems lead to sustainable framework TBL: Core components for coursesSlide7
1990’s:
More accurate
view
as
concentric circles
Social and economic systems
exist inside of and depend upon environmental systemsSlide8
1992 UN
Conference on Environment and Development,
Rio: Earth Summit
Climate
change convention, Kyoto Protocol, biodiversity
1998 Alan
AtKisson: Sustainability is an ideal end state, like democracy -- a goal that eludes us, is not perfect2009 Frank Rhodes (Cornell president): New foundation for arts and sciences -- broad, cohesive framework New kind of global map, hope for meeting global challenges2012 FAO Ensuring human rights and well-being without depleting or diminishing
the capacity
of the earth's ecosystems to support life,
or
at the expense of others well-
being
Multi
-dimensional concept encompassing environmental integrity, social well-being, economic resilience and good
governance
A
mbitious
objective that can be reached through different
pathways
>50 definitions to date! Favorites? Slide9
Why teach sustainability?
Importance
= ever-increasing
(world economics, climate change, social issues, health) Understanding =
increasing but low
Leadership capacity to address = even lower
Human History
Interconnectedness among systemsSlide10
9 reasons to teach sustainability
:
(
useful for justifying
changes --
to upper admin, peers,
students!)-- Peer inst. are doing (GA Tech, U Georgia, Emory, U Florida, etc.)-- enhances PR and recruitment to AU-- student and employer demand (training for green jobs)-- increases program prestige to upper admin, positive feedback-- increases chances for external funding and awards (Gogue and Univ. presidents climate change award – interested!)-- saves $$ over the long run (millions to utilities & disposal by AU)-- engages the local community and alumni-- enhances interdisciplinary connections and opportunities-- increases depth of understanding by students & quality of education