Part 3 of 3: Problematic Paradigms Picture it. You’re reading about some gnarly socio-environmental problem — its origin story, what’ll happen if we fail to act, the suite of changes the situation demands. You feel yourself getting fired up, compelled to do something: join forces, right wrongs, turn the tide. Things crescendo. You anticipate a big finish. …
Part 2 of 3: Poor Understanding of Social Change What if I asked you to envision what a “better,” more “sustainable” society looks like. What do you see? Now imagine asking your students that question. What do they say? The book Creating a Sustainable and Desirable Future catalogs a long list of qualities global thought …
Part 1 of 3: Information Overwhelm The fall semester is well underway. If you’re teaching an intro to environmental studies or sciences course (or any course dealing with interdisciplinary social and environmental issues*), then it’s likely that the optimistic sky’s-the-limit vision you enjoyed during the planning stages — possible even during a pandemic! — has given way to the …
