Post on 17-Dec-2015
Building an Interdisciplinary Sustainability Degree:
Use What You Have
Margaret Robertson, ASLAClaudia Owen, PhD Lane Community College – Eugene, Oregon
Sustainability Coordinator Degree
• Developed outcomes
matched courses
full 2-year degree
• Only new course: a 1-credit seminar
• Almost no cost
Outcomes = knowledge, skills, abilities
• Define outcomes for competent sustainability professional.
• We asked:
What is sustainability?
• Broad knowledge• Systems thinking• Critical thinking skills• People skills
Designer’s Atlas of SustainabilityFootprint Network
Skills for Sustainability Coordinators:
• New field• Interdisciplinary
“Sustainability,” the discipline:
The Unesco model
Information visualization – Pathfinder citation analysis
• 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’ surveyAASHE sustainability directors’ survey
Sources
*Forthcoming: Sustainability: Theory and Practice. by Margaret Robertson Pearson, 2012.
• Job descriptions• Surveys• Literature*
• Books, articles: specific topics
• Other programs• Advisory committees• Collaboration
I. Overview1. Sustainability
2. History
3. The Living Planet
4. Gaia: Earth Systems Science
II. Issues
III. Strategies
IV. Organizational Skills
Sustainability: Theory and Practice
You are welcome to use this outline.
Sources
I. Overview
II. Issues*5. Climate Change
6. Water Issues
7. Ecosystem Change
8. Human Health
9. Human Population Growth
10. Pollution
11. Fossil Fuels
12. Food Issues
13. Failing States
14. Economics
III. Strategies
IV. Organizational Skills
*State of the planet
Sustainability: Theory and Practice:Sources
I. Overview
II. Issues
III. Strategies*15. Climate Stabilization
16. Ecosystem Restoration
17. Stream Restoration
18. Stabilizing the Human Population
19. Pollution Remediation/Prevention
20. Renewable Energy
21. Energy Efficiency
22. Water Efficiency
23. Stormwater and Wastewater
24. Sustainable Sites
25. Soil Conservation and Renewal
26. Green Buildings
27. Green Manufacturing
28. Waste and Recycling
29. Food
30. Livable Cities
IV. Organizational Skills
* Tools for a new, regenerative era
Sustainability: Theory and Practice:Sources
I. Overview
II. Issues
III. Strategies
IV. Organizational Skills31. Certification Tools
32. Indicators and Measurement
33. Working in an Organization
34. Working with People
35. Education
Sustainability: Theory and Practice:Sources
* Tools for working in
organizations
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
Outcomes
• Science foundation =
how sustainable systems work
U.S. Department of Energy, Genomic Science program
“Triple Bottom Line”
Ecotrust: Conservation Economy Pattern Map
• Environment• Economics• Equity
• (They are connected.)
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
World ahead will not be like it is now.
• Future leaders with vision.• Ability to lead us through the transition.
Need:
The Natural Step
Summary of Outcomes
• Science foundation• Technical skills• Managing organizations• Skills for change agents
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.
http://www.lanecc.edu/collegecatalog/documents/CTsustainabilitycoord.pdf
Step 5. Align with your institution’s graduation requirements
Challenges
• Collaboration ▪ Messy▪ Field still forming
• Tools for matching courses to outcomes
• Developing new courses▪ In-house experts▪ Community experts
• Building a cohort▪ Big issue for interdisciplinary
programs