interdisciplinary environmental education : three approaches to sustainability aashe conference...
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INTERDISCIPLINARY ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION: THREE APPROACHES TO SUSTAINABILITY
AASHE ConferenceCampus Initiatives to Catalyze a Just and Sustainable WorldOctober 11, 2010
Shirley Vincent, PhDDirector of Educational ResearchNational Council for Science and the Environment
IE Education & Sustainability
NCSE national study of IE Programs
Relationship Role of IE programs
Graduates On campuses
2008 Census count of U.S. programsStudy - 286 IE programs at 238 college & universitiesRepresentative, ±5% sampling error, p<0.05 for all findings
NCSE National Study of IE Programs
NCSE National Study of IE Programs
IE programs Baccalaureate &
graduate Environmental
Science(s) & Studies, other names
Exclude professional, allied disciplines
840 programs, 1183 degrees, 652 institutions
ID
AZ
UT
MT
WY
NM
CO
AL
FL
SC
TN
KY
INOH
NC
SD
KS
NE
MN
WI
IA
IL
MO
AR
MS
OK
ND
OR
CA NV
WA
AK
PA
ME
VA
NY
CT
WV
MDNJ
VT
NH
MA
DE
RI
Legend
0-25%
26-50%
51-100%HI
LA
MI
GA
TX
IE Degree Programs
Doctorate
Master's
Baccalaureate
Total
Proportion of degree programs (%)0 10 20 30 40 50
Prog
ram
nam
e ca
tego
ry
Other Name
Environmental Studies
Environmental Science(s)
44% Environmental science(s) , 25% Environmental studies, 31% Other names
Flexible - Vary by Institution
California State University at Monterey Bay Earth Systems Science and Policy
Environmental Policy Marine and Coastal Ecology Watershed Systems Science and Social Justice Science Education
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Environmental Science
Environmental Communication and Participatory Processes Environmental and Community Land Planning Environmental Systems and Risk Management Environmental Policy and Democratic Processes Water and Wetland Resource Studies
Field identity – Problem solving for sustainabilityCentral focus – Sustainable systemsThree approaches
IE Education & Sustainability
IE Program Identity
Focus of Study: The interfaces between human and natural systems (coupled human-nature systems).
Educational Approach: A holistic educational approach that focuses on interdisciplinary knowledge and insights gained from systems approaches and diverse epistemological viewpoints to understand environmental problems and devise solutions. Curricula should include key concepts from the natural sciences, the social sciences, the applied sciences and the humanities.
Key Learning Outcomes: Disciplinary synthesis and system-thinking cognitive skills. Knowledge of the sociopolitical and natural aspects of environmental problems, understanding of the limits of technology and science for solving environmental problems, and the importance of acknowledging and reporting uncertainty.
Goal: To prepare graduates to be sustainability-oriented problem solvers through scholarship, research, practice and informed citizenship.
Three Ideal Approaches/Models
Three Ideal Approaches/Models
Scientific Analysis Focus
Problem Solving for Sustainability
Systems Science
Adaptive Management
Policy & Governance
Societal & Institutional Change Focus
Pro
blem
s F
ocus
Sol
utio
ns F
ocus
Systems Science Model
Analytic orientation stressing expertise in the natural sciences and traditional science skills to understand the human-nature systems interface Emphasis on natural sciences, technical research &
analysis skills More environmental science(s) or other science-focused
names Least popular ideal – 22% of all IE degree programs Higher proportion of undergraduate programs More within a non-IE department such as biology or
geology UG prepare students for graduate and professional
schools; GR prepare students to be environmental academics
Least likely to include sustainability
Policy & Governance Model
Social and institutional change orientation, focus on public awareness, policy and governance processes to create a resilient, sustainable human-nature systems interface Emphasis on social sciences, humanities, & public
engagement skills More environmental studies or policy-focused name Ideal for 33% of all IE degree programs More professional master’s degree programs UG prepare students to be environmental leaders
and change agents and to improve environmental policy decisions
Most likely to include sustainability
Adaptive Management Model
Applied, professional orientation, focus on collaborative, integrated decision making processes to sustainably manage the human-nature systems interface Emphasis on coupled human-nature systems knowledge,
problem analysis & solutions and management skills More names other than environmental science or
environmental studies or management-focused name Most popular ideal - 45% of all IE degree programs More master of science and doctoral programs More likely to require undergraduate participation in a
research project More likely to include sustainability in curricula
Role of IE Program GraduatesRole of IE Programs on Campus
Summary
Role of IE Program Graduates
Increasing emphasis world-wide on integrated (interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary) sustainability-oriented knowledge production and decision making processes
Environmental professionals point to the importance of participating in these processes as integral to their work
IE graduates uniquely qualified to participate in, structure, facilitate, and manage these processes and serve as policy-science and policy-management “translators” Systems Science – interdisciplinary research to inform decision
making Policy and Governance – serve as policy-science and policy
management “translators” in decision processes Adaptive Management – professional “meta-experts” structure and
facilitate sustainability management processes and programs
Role of IE Programs on Campus
Serve as core interdisciplinary centers for environmental and sustainability study Core interdisciplinary faculty, joint appointments,
affiliated faculty draw upon expertise across the campus
IE & sustainability majors Dual majors and minors, general education Certificates and professional continuing education Facilitate and support interdisciplinary research
and campus sustainability initiatives Visible focal point for service, outreach
Interdisciplinary Knowledge Factors
Interdisciplinary area IE knowledgeDisciplinary knowledge areas
(proportion of knowledge component)
Natural Sciences Natural Scienceslife sciences (60)
physical sciences (27)ecology (13)
Coupled Human-nature Systems
Natural Resources
natural resources management & agriculture (31)
geography (20)sustainability (15)
education (14)research methods (11)
ecology (8)
Social Sciences
policy & public administration (42)economics (42)
business (9)other social sciences (8)
Humanitieshistory (48)
language arts (31)philosophy & ethics (21)
Economic Development Economic Development
engineering & built environment (73)business (27)
Integrated Skills Factors
Integrated area IE skillsSkills sets
(proportion of skills factor component)
Problem Analysis
Cognition
synthesis (25)problem-solving (23)
analysis (19)creativity (17)
critical thinking (16)
Technical Research & Analysis
field research (26)laboratory research (23)
mathematics (15)statistics (13)
spatial analysis (11)technical & academic writing (8)
oral communication (5)
Problem Solutions and Management
Cognition (same as above)
Management
personnel management (36)project management (27)
leadership (17)decision science (10)
information management (10)
Community Engagementcommunity relations (54)advocacy & outreach (35)
leadership (11)
Public Communicationcreative & journalistic writing (64)
mass communications (28)creativity (10)
Knowledge Factor Model
Skills Factor Model
NRC (1996): Understanding Risk: Informing Decisions in a Democratic Society
Problem Analysis Technical Research & Analysis Cognitive
Problem Solutions and ApplicationsManagementCommunity EngagementPublic CommunicationCognitive
Importance of IE Knowledge Factors
Systems Science Model
Policy & Governance Model
Adaptive Management Model
Model means compared to overall means-1 0 1
Economic Development
Humanities
Social Sciences
Natural Resources
Natural Sciences
IE knowledge factor means by educational approach/model
Importance of IE Skills Factors
Systems Science Model
Policy & Governance Model
Adaptive Management Model
Model means compared to overall means-1 0 1
Public Communication
Community Engagement
Management
Cognition
Technical Research & Analysis
IE skills factor means by educational approach/model