Supplementary Material for Chapter 4 An Introductory Examination of Worldviews and Why They Matter For Environmental and Sustainability Studies This chapter is published as: Byrne LB An Introductory Examination of Worldviews and Why They Matter For Environmental and Sustainability Studies. In: Byrne L (ed) Learner-Centered Teaching Activities for Environmental and Sustainability Studies. Springer, New York. DOI / _4 Loren B. Byrne Department of Biology, Marine Biology & Environmental Science, Roger Williams University, Bristol, RI USA This file contains the following supplementary material:  B: Presentation slides This chapter also has the following supplementary material, available on the chapter’s website:  A: Additional background resources  C: Photos of eyeglasses and students wearing them

Notes to Instructors: These slides are suggestive for how to structure an introductory conversation about worldviews. They are not intended to be comprehensive; they were designed for a Socratic style of lecture/discussion that engages students in reflection and contributions. The exercise with the funny glasses described in the chapter’s main text can be done on slide 5 (with the dog image), after an introductory definition is provided. Alternatively, the activity can be completed after more introduction is provided. Please adjust the slides to suit your teaching style and needs.

How does belief differ from knowledge? I know something … vs I believe something … What value does each have in our personal lives & in society?

How might a person’s beliefs affect the environment? Instructor’s note: This image is used as an easily accessible example to answer the question. If a person believes that lawns should be managed to be “perfect” (with one species, perfectly cut and always green), this will impact their behaviors that in turn affect the environment. Photo source: Clayton800 Public domain image from: lawn-maintenance /

What is a worldview? Source: Danihee Creative Commons Image, without modification, from: rt/Dog-with-glasses Instructor’s note: A definition can be provided with this slide or the next one, orally, written on a board, or included in the slide. Following that, the activity with the glasses can begin as a entry point into more detailed discussions.

A simple worldview framework a person’s “cognitive framework” that influences their interpretations, behaviors, etc. Ideas, Knowledge, Beliefs, Values Worldview (Individual)

Where do our beliefs come from? What influences our worldviews? Note to instructor: This space is blank to allow for a list to be generated by students. If the projector screen is in front of a board to write on, the black allows for the screen to be lifted and writing to be done while the slides are still projected. Adjust this space to meet the needs of your classroom.

Ideas, Knowledge, Beliefs, Values Worldview (Individual) Cultural Paradigm (Shared) Norms “No person is an island” Societal Norms Personal experiences A simple worldview framework

stuff-gifts-are-made-of.html stuff-gifts-are-made-of.html Note to instructors: This news story about different cultural views of Spam provides an interesting example for applying the worldview concept Source: Qwertyxp2000 Creative Commons image from: g/wiki/File:Spam_can.png g/wiki/File:Spam_can.png

“Ok, but what’s all this got to do with sustainability? Why are we talking about this in this class?”

“Facts may not be as important as one's beliefs” “Belief In Climate Change Hinges on Worldview” by Christopher Joyce, NPR, Feb 2010 Dan Kahan Yale Law School Don Braman GWU Law School Source: BDEngler Public domain image from: Science_%26_Public_Policy_4-Daniel_Kahan.JPG Instructor’s note: Insert photo of Donald Braman here, e.g., from: du/Faculty/profile.aspx ?id= du/Faculty/profile.aspx ?id=10123 Story link: pr.org/templa tes/story/stor y.php?storyId =

“Facts may not be as important as one's beliefs” “Belief In Climate Change Hinges on Worldview” by Christopher Joyce, NPR, Feb 2010 Dan Kahan Yale Law School Don Braman GWU Law School “The reason that people react in a close-minded way to information is that the implications of it threaten their values." "People tend to conform their factual beliefs to ones that are consistent with their cultural outlook, their world view," "People tend to conform their factual beliefs to ones that are consistent with their … world view." Instructor’s note: Insert photo of Donald Braman here, e.g., from: du/Faculty/profile.aspx ?id= du/Faculty/profile.aspx ?id=10123

Is there solid Pew Research Poll: Is there solid evidence for global warming? Political worldviews influence the way people “see” the world! Source: press.org/2012/10/15/mor e-say-there-is-solid- evidence-of-global- warming/

People’s worldviews influence how they view environmental and sustainability issues Instructor’s note: Insert photo of the cover of the book “Green Hell: How Environmentalists Plan to Control Your Life and What You Can Do to Stop Them”, e.g., from: Hell-Environmentalists-Plan- Control/dp/ Hell-Environmentalists-Plan- Control/dp/ Instructor’s note: Insert photo of the cover of the book “Global Warming and Other Eco Myths: How the Environmental Movement Uses False Science to Scare Us to Death”, e.g., from: Warming-Other-Myths- Environmental/dp/ Warming-Other-Myths- Environmental/dp/

Why are there so many diverse beliefs & worldviews in society? Is this a “good” or “bad” thing? Public domain image from: share-health-messageshttp:// share-health-messages

Given the diversity of worldviews, how can we engage in constructive dialogue to promote sustainability? How can we disagree without being disagreeable? Public domain image from: share-health-messageshttp:// share-health-messages