Integrating Sustainability into Geoscience Courses

Saturday, October 26, 20131:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Part of the GSA Short Course 4-PackCo-sponsored by NAGT and the

Geoscience Education Division of GSA

David C. Gosselin, DirectorEnvironmental Studies Program

University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE

http://serc.carleton.edu/integrate/index.html

Who isthis Guy?

My Career Journey

Gosselin Trajectory 2005 – Pres.

Assoc. Director SNR - TCDirector, Environmental StudiesDBER - Instruction

1982 – 1988 B.A. Geology, UST Internship, LPIPh.D Geology, SDSM&TPost-Doc. Battelle - PNL

1989 - 2005 CSD&SNR@UNLApplied Hydrogeology/ Geochemistry & NESEN

Goal: Incorporate key concepts ofsustainability into our courses

Sust

aina

bilit

y SustainabilityMoveFrom

A Branch

The Course Trunk

Make sustainability concepts, skills, and “habits of mind” part of courses in ways that have curricular integrity and “standing” – both for faculty members and students. Su

stai

nabi

lity

Goal: Incorporate key concepts ofsustainability into our courses

Learning Outcomes: 1. Identify possible integration points for

sustainability and geoscience content. 2. Formulate a plan to integrate sustainability

into at least one assignment in a course you currently teach.

3. Support participant’s in achieving personal outcomes.

Goal: Incorporate Key Concepts of Sustainability into our Courses

Who Are You? Name

InstitutionExpertise

Teaching Experience

“It’s good to have goals”

Why Are You Here?Personal Learning Outcomes

What would you like togain from this workshop?

Approach modified from

Systems, Society, Sustainabilityand the Geosciences:

A Workshop to Create New CurricularMaterials to Integrate Geosciences into the Teaching of

SustainabilityDavid C. Gosselin1 , Cathryn A Manduca2

Eric A Oches, 3 Jean MacGregor4 Karin B Kirk2

1. Environmental Studies Program, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE2. Science Education Resource Center, Carleton College, Northfield , MN3. Natural and Applied Sciences, Bentley University, Waltham, MA4. Washington Center for Improving the Quality of Undergraduate Education, The

Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA

Geoscientists

Biologists Chemists

Historians

Philosophers

Environmental Studies

Sustainability Studies

Engineers & Technologist

Economists & Business

Geographers

Political Scientists

An Interdisciplinary Workshop (n = 48)

Approach: Design Integrative Sustainability Assignments – A Curriculum for the Bioregion

Initiative’s http://www.evergreen.edu/washcenter/project.asp?pid=62

“Big Idea” or concept

in the discipline

Sustainability context

or “Big Idea”

IntegrativeAssignment

Geoscience Infusion into Sustainability

Sustainability in practice

“Big Ideas”

Equity & Justice

Sustainability Skills; ability to:

Participatory democracy

Reflect Evaluate

“Connect the dots”

Systems thinking

Use indicators

Environmental Economics

Ecological footprint

Ecological citizenship

Sustainable use of resources

Precautionary principle

Bio mimicry

Environmental justice

Rights of all living things

Localism

Ethic of care Social

development

World view Climate change

Biodiversity Ecosystem

services

Ecosystem integrity

Thresholds; non-linear

relationships

Environmental history

Resilience

Decision-making

Recognize trade-offs

Habits of Mind

Critical hope

Shared responsibility Civic

consciousness

Respect for earth

Humility

Modified from: C.R. Svendsen Skagit Valley College

“INTEGRATE Grand

Challenges”

Energy Resources

Mineral Resources

Water Resources

Food

Waste Disposal

Hazards

Climate Change

Environment Degradation

Geoscience and Grand Challenge Infusion into Sustainability Education

We have only just begun….

Questions????