1. From information to transformation David Landis Barnhill Director, Environmental Studies Program. Presented to the Winnebago Sustainability Project faculty college, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, May 23, 2008

2. From information to transformation What are the goals for a sustainability class?What are the goals for a sustainability class? What should be a required component in a “sustainability class”?What should be a required component in a “sustainability class”? What should a sustainability class NOT involve?What should a sustainability class NOT involve?

3. Five possibilities 1.Information about nature or human-nature relationship 2.Nature or human-nature relationship as theme or focus 3.Information about sustainability problems and possible solutions 4.Transformation: policy 5.Transformation: action >> not mutually exclusive >> fuzzy, overlapping boundaries

4. 1. Information about nature or human-nature relationship Chemistry: how certain chemicals impact the environment Nursing: the impact of certain chemicals in nature on human health History: the Little Ice Age (ca. 1650) and its impact on European society

5. 2. Nature or human-nature relationship as theme or focus Ecocriticism/art: how nature is presented in literature or painting Anthropology: how a culture conceives of and relates to nature (Make Prayers to a Raven) Business: what the green practices are in a business Sociology: how rural society impacts and is impacted by nature

6. 3. Information about problems and possible solutions Biology: decline of amphibians, its causes and its implications for humans Politics: how the European Union responds to genetically engineered organisms Communication: how different media outlets present environmental justice issues Sociology/nursing: how Wisconsin water pollution impacts the health of Hmong compared to whites

7. Transformation: policy What are the different policy options concerning a sustainability issue? What should the policy be? –“descriptive” analysis: the “is” –“normative” or “prescriptive” analysis: the “ought”

8. Transformation: action The pedagogical goal is to create agents of change concerning sustainability 1. Understanding of how policies and conceptions are changed (e.g., social marketing) 2. Gaining skills in advocacy –public speaking –conveying environmental science to the general public –how to effectively run a community development organization 3. Developing a strong sense of motivation –care about the issues and those involved –sense of responsibility to others (social and environmental) –disposition to act on one’s sense of responsibility and care 4. Requiring active advocacy a class assignment

9. So …. What should be a required component in a “sustainability class”? What should a sustainability class NOT involve?