Whitney Jones &
Garrison Yang
IDENTIFYING SUSTAINABILITY RESEARCH AND CURRICULUM FOR THE STARS ASSESSMENT
Department WebsitesEmailing FacultyEmailing ChairsInterviewing FacultyOffi ce of Research
NewsletterKeyword Search
Course CatalogsSurveyNews ArticlesTitle Review
DATA COLLECTION METHODS
High -Dept. Websites-Emailing
Faculty (with description)
Medium
-Emailing Faculty(no description)-News Articles
-Office of Research Newsletter
-Emailing Chairs
Low
-Survey-Keyword Search
-Interviewing Faculty In
Person
Low Medium High
DATA COLLECTION METHODS: RESEARCH
Time Needed to Collect Data
Am
ou
nt
of
Info
rmati
on
C
ollecte
d
High -Title Review -Emailing Faculty
Medium -Keyword Search
-Course Catalogs
-Dept. Websites
Low -Survey-Interviewing
Faculty In Person
Low Medium High
DATA COLLECTION METHODS: COURSES
Time Needed to Collect Data
Am
ou
nt
of
Info
rmati
on
C
ollecte
d
Figuring Sea Level Rise: Seminar & Film
Different interpretations of “Research” from different departments Natural Sciences: didn’t
count project as anything Social Sciences: counted
project as public service Humanities: counted project
as research
HOW IS RESEARCH DEFINED?
1) Seeks to better explain the dynamic functionality of and history of earth’s systems as they may aff ect humans;2) Seeks to better explain the relationship between humans and their biotic and abiotic environment;3) Seeks to better explain human impacts on the natural environment;4) Seeks to better explain the eff ect of environmental issues on humans or society more broadly;5) Explores the relationship of humans and the natural environment through art and culture; and/or6) Innovates a solution through practice, technology, or artistic expression to an issue aff ecting our natural and/or cultural environment.
DEFINITION OF SUSTAINABILITY RESEARCH
REPORTING METHODS: RESEARCH
Included Excluded
• Three-year window• Grant-funded and non-grant-
funded• Eligible to be a Principle
Investigator• Foundational research with
applications or implications for sustainability
• Must be related to environment (not social/economic only)
• Must have a human component
• Research purely focused on ecosystems or organism function
• Biomedical or medical focused• Graduate students who are not
eligible to be principle investigators
• Faculty who explicitly stated that they did not believe their research was sustainability related
SNAPSHOT OF RESEARCH SPREADSHEET
David ClevelandUCSB Department of Environmental Studies
David Cleveland’s research and teaching focus on small-scale, sustainable agriculture and its role in responding to climate change, resource scarcities, new technologies, and demands for social justice. His current focus is the potential contributions of agrifood system localization to climate change mitigation, improved nutrition, and food sovereignty in Santa Barbara County and California. His 2013 book, “Balancing on a Planet: The future of food and agriculture,” is an interdisciplinary primer on critical thinking and effective action for the future of our global agrifood systems, based on an understanding of their biological and sociocultural roots.
EXAMPLE OF RESEARCH DESCRIPTION
1) Identifi es one or more serious environmental problems and explain its underlying causes and possible consequences. 2) Explores the conceptual foundations of our environmental attitudes, values and challenges from a variety of cultural perspectives.3) Examines the scientifi c understanding of Earth’s natural systems and cycles, emphasizing humanity’s role as the planet’s ecologically dominant species and how that aff ects the continuing viability of habitats for life on Earth.4) Demonstrates the interconnectedness of environmental, economic, and social systems. 5) Investigates how our relationship to the natural world has been shaped historically, politically, and/or economically.6) Examines the controversies surrounding questions of values and ethics as they relate to creating a sustainable future.
DEFINITION OF SUSTAINABILITY COURSE
GOAL MEASURES
1) Understand and be able to eff ectively communicate the concept of sustainability.2) Analyze how the well-being of human society is dependent on ecosystems and the materials and services they provide to humanity.3) Recognize the physical and biological attributes, basic functioning, and limits of planetary ecosystems.4) Develop and use an ethical perspective in which they view themselves as embedded in the fabric of an interconnected world.5) Become aware of and explore the connections between their chosen course of study and sustainability.6) Synthesize understanding of social, economic, and environmental systems and reason holistically.7) Be able to create models, products, designs or creative representations that highlight an understanding of the connections among people, processes and the environment.
DEFINITION OF SUSTAINABILITY COURSE
OUTCOME MEASURES
Courses Included Courses Excluded
• Special topics (counted individually if they had an individual course code)
• Three year window
• Honors sections, and regular sections of other courses
• Extension courses• Travel study courses offered
by other institutions • Courses transferred for
credit from other institutions• Independent study and
independent research courses
• Repeats
REPORTING METHODS: COURSES
SNAPSHOT OF COURSES SPREADSHEET
Environmental Science and Management 260 – Applied Marine Ecology
This class focuses on the application of ecological principles and methods to environmental problems in marine ecosystems. Emphasis is placed on design and execution of field sampling and experiments to access biological impacts of anthropogenic disturbances and restoration activities.
EXAMPLE COURSE JUSTIFICATION
GREY AREAS: RESEARCH
Natural Sciences
Social Science
s
Fine Art
Humanities
Culture and the Environment• Explores the relationship of
humans and the natural environment through art and culture
Colin Gardner• Research focuses on producing
a new vision for a more ethical and ecologically sustainable world through bridging man, art and world
GREY AREAS: RESEARCH
Intention versus Implication
Luke Theogarajan• Primarily involved biomedical engineering• He is developing a new method to
communicate with neural tissue that has already proved to be safer and require lower power to function than the approach currently used
• Innovates a solution through practice, technology, or artistic expression to an issue affecting our natural and/or cultural environment
GREY AREAS: RESEARCH
Methodology versus Content
James Donelan• Conducts research into pedagogical
issues related to sustainability, including remote teaching
• Differentiating between establishing new methodology to deliver content versus the content alone
GREY AREAS: RESEARCH
Natural Disasters and Earth Processes• Seeks to better explain the dynamic functionality
of history and earth’s system as they may affect humans
Daniel Lavallee• Daniel Lavalee’s research has been focused
on the study of nonlinear effects in seismology
• A better understanding of earthquakes and tsunamis will help mitigating damage to the environment
Content versus MethodologyINT 94JS: Introduction to Santa Cruz IslandCourse was developed with the intention of helping
freshmen students develop a sense of place and appreciation for the local natural environment.
INT 194JS: A Walk in the WoodsSeminar introduces students new to the Santa
Barbara area to the landscape and fl ora of the Santa Ynez Mountains.
Geared towards recreation and monitoringSimply “being in nature” is not enough.”
GREY AREAS: COURSES
ESM 3: Nutrition for HealthExamines relationships between
diet, health, and disease. Basic nutrition principles, food
selection, proper diet, and lifetime health habits are emphasized.
MCDB 20: Concepts of BiologyLooks at the chemical foundation
of life and its impact on human nutrition.
GREY AREAS: COURSES
Nutrition, Health, and Healthy Living
Social Justice Issues and Social Inequality Relating to Environmental JusticeCH ST 171: The Brown/Black MetropolisExamines social justice issues between Brown/Black
urban populations. Includes a section on environmental justice in relation
to race and class.
FEM ST 60: Women of Color: Race, Class, and EthnicityAddresses the dynamics of gender, race, sexuality,
class, and culture in the experience of U.S. women of color.
GREY AREAS: COURSES
EEMB 228: Ecological Constraints to Ecosystem RestorationCourse examines various models and
approaches to ecosystem restoration. Looks at the application of restoration
as well as the adaptive management strategies used.
EEMB 120: Ecology Considers major concepts in population
and evolutionary ecology using theoretical, experimental, and field studies.
GREY AREAS: COURSES
Course cannot be purely ecological
5 Points for Consideration:Diversify data collection methodsEncourage open, interdisciplinary debate about sustainability definition(s)
Use a teamwork approach to grey areas
Spend equal time on courses and research
Make the most of your STARS inventories
CONCLUSION AND TAKEAWAYS