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Thriving in the Swamp: Challenges & Opportunities for Interdisciplinary Environmental & Sustainability Programs

This morning's session will focus on approaches for interdisciplinary programs, resources for sustainability, and the importance of interdisciplinary sustainability education. Participants will share knowledge, address complex socio-scientific issues, and plan for a sustainable future. The conversation will include a SWOT analysis, highlighting the strengths, weaknesses, threats, and opportunities in the field.

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Thriving in the Swamp: Challenges & Opportunities for Interdisciplinary Environmental & Sustainability Programs

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  1. Goals for this morning Participants will: Be aware of approaches for meeting the challenges and opportunities of interdisciplinary programs Know about resources for interdisciplinary environmental and sustainability programs: e.g. the InTeGrate/NAGT Traveling Workshop Program Share their own situations, knowledge, & wisdom Ask questions

  2. Preserving Opportunity wikimedia.org Wiki Commons Planetary boundaries according to Rockström et al. 2009[1] and Steffen et al. 2015.[2] Beyond zone of uncertainty (high risk) In zone of uncertainty (increasing risk) Below boundary (safe) Boundary not yet quantified Wiki Commons Unsustainability: humanity collectively living so as to diminish opportunities to thrive in the future.

  3. Why must sustainability be interdisciplinary? The problems arise at the intersection of complexly interacting & co-evolving biophysical and socio-economic systems Teaching the science-relevant aspects of sustainability isolated from human values and social dynamics leaves students with a fragmented understanding and unprepared to address problems as they arise in the real world

  4. Complexly interacting & co-evolving natural/human systems ‘‘The world is more wicked than our disciplines’’* Some characteristics of "wicked" problems as described by Rittle and Webber (1973). *Herb Childress, Dean of Research and Assessment at Boston Architectural College

  5. Complex socio-scientific issues are “wicked” Climate Change

  6. Complex socio-scientific issues are “wicked” InTeGrate Module: Future of Food Food systems: many interacting human/natural components

  7. Thriving in the Swamp:Challenges & Opportunities for Interdisciplinary Environmental & Sustainability Programs Walt Robinson, Professor of Atmospheric Sciences North Carolina State University Bonafides (≠ expertise): • Developed interdisciplinary Earth-system Science Course at Illinois under the old USRA/NASA ESSE program • Teach core courses in NC State’s Environmental Sciences major • Co-led (with Sue Ebanks, up next) NAGT Traveling Workshop with the Environmental Studies program at Montevallo University • Co-led Academics Sustainability Working Group at NC State • Co-led (with Dave Gosselin) 2015 Earth Educators’ Rendezvous workshop: ”Strengthening sustainability learning in your program”

  8. a swamp Montevallo’s Ebenezer Swamp Ecological Preserve

  9. Let’s frame the conversation as a SWOT analysis

  10. Strengths (please chime in….) • Great material! • the most critical issues for humanity & the planet • in the news constantly • ”hook” for students to master cognate disciplines • Passionate students • Passionate faculty • Intrinsically interdisciplinary • working across campus is fun! • Natural connections to campus & community • Growing demand for graduates

  11. Weaknesses (please chime in….) • Breadth • a challenge to defining what it is you do • ”many paths” curriculum – difficulty of scaffolding key outcomes • ”Rescue” students • Skeptics • faculty colleagues • parents (jobs?) • students’ friends & siblings (business majors & engineers) • Maladaptive administrative & reward structures • e.g. promotion & tenure • No “built-in” champions • No dedicated space/facility • Lack of student diversity (often)

  12. Threats (please chime in….) • Environment/sustainability are political • often partisan • Passionate students & faculty can make people angry • campus administration (facilities), local industries/developers/politicians & alumni • Association with uninformed or “knee-jerk” environmentalism • Budget cuts

  13. Opportunities (please chime in….) • Embrace social justice/equity, cultural/spiritual elements of sustainability • Campus/community/globe as classroom • Service to campus & community • Connect with business, government sustainability offices • internships & jobs • campus visits, seminars, co-teaching • Contribute to institutional visibility • ” no such thing as bad publicity”

  14. Mitigating/overcoming weaknesses • Programs succeed with a strong, relentless coordinator/advocate • a 1-person show is risky – need a bench • Advising, advising, advising • professional & faculty advising: both can work • faculty advisors must be committed & well trained • centralized advising: engage with advisors, make sure they “get” your program • Successful student rescues are a service to the institution • tell these stories (better - have the students tell them) • Get credit! • engage with campus press office • establish a reputation as a source of great stories • students are more interesting than faculty, especially to donors

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