Building an Interdisciplinary Sustainability Degree: Use What You Have Margaret Robertson, ASLA Lane Community College – Eugene, Oregon

Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can. --Arthur Ashe

Sustainability Coordinator Degree Developed outcomes  matched courses  full 2-year degree Only a 1-credit seminar is new. Almost no cost

Outcomes = knowledge, skills, abilities Define outcomes for competent sustainability professional. So... What is sustainability??

“Sustainability,” the idea: Systems Processes that continue over very long periods of time USDA / NRCS National Park Service

Systems thinking Networks Life is made of connections. U.S. Department of Energy, Genomic Science Program

“Triple Bottom Line” Ecotrust: Conservation Economy Pattern Map Environment Economics Equity (They are connected.)

New field Interdisciplinary “Sustainability,” the discipline: The Unesco model Information visualization – Pathfinder citation analysis

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities What makes processes and systems sustainable? ▪ (persist over long periods) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities Understand existing conditions. Are they sustainable? UNEP / Arendal

... existing conditions – Are they sustainable? ▪ Mass extinction ▪ Declining fossil fuel reserves ▪ Climate destabilization IPCC 350.org

U.S. Global Change Research Program U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Existing conditions – ▪ Mass extinction ▪ Declining fossil fuel reserves ▪ Climate destabilization

State of the planet: dire and getting worse. We are nearly out of time. Wackernagel and Rees Catalyst Bioregional Series

There is hope. Threshold of a new, regenerative era? U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Depart of Energy Oregon Sustainability Center Portland State University

World ahead will not be like it is now. Future leaders with vision. Ability to lead us through the transition. Need: The Natural Step

Broad knowledge Systems thinking Critical thinking skills People skills Designer’s Atlas of Sustainability Footprint Network Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

Step 1. Develop outcomes Most important thing you can do: Get the outcomes right.

Professional society Journal Body of knowledge Step 1. Develop outcomes – How? Sustainability: an emerging field No single, authoritative...

Sources Job descriptions ▪ But limited to what exists now. Surveys* ▪ But limited to what respondents already know. Literature Other programs Advisory committees Collaboration *e.g.,regional market survey AASHE sustainability directors’ survey ISSP practitioners’ survey

Sources *Forthcoming: Sustainability: Theory and Practice. Pearson, Job descriptions Surveys Literature* Books, articles: specific topics Other programs Advisory committees Collaboration

I.Overview 1. Sustainability 2. History 3. The Living Planet 4. Gaia: Earth Systems Science II.Issues III.Strategies IV.Organizational Skills Sustainability: Theory and Practice You are welcome to use this outline. Sources

I.Overview II.Issues* 5. Climate Change 6. Water Issues 7. Ecosystem Change 8. Human Health 9. Human Population Growth 10. Pollution 11. Fossil Fuels 12. Food Issues 13. Failing States 14. Economics III.Strategies IV.Organizational Skills *State of the planet Sustainability: Theory and Practice: Sources

I.Overview II.Issues III.Strategies* 15. Climate Stabilization 16. Ecosystem Restoration 17. Stream Restoration 18. Stabilizing the Human Population 19. Pollution Remediation/Prevention 20. Renewable Energy 21. Energy Efficiency 22. Water Efficiency 23. Stormwater and Wastewater 24. Sustainable Sites 25. Soil Conservation and Renewal 26. Green Buildings 27. Green Manufacturing 28. Waste and Recycling 29. Food 30. Livable Cities IV.Organizational Skills * Tools for a new, regenerative era Sustainability: Theory and Practice: Sources

I.Overview II.Issues III.Strategies IV.Organizational Skills 31. Certification Tools 32. Indicators and Measurement 33. Working in an Organization 34. Working with People 35. Education Sustainability: Theory and Practice: Sources

Job descriptions Surveys Literature Other programs* Advisory committees Collaboration *You are welcome to use Lane’s outcomes.

Collaboration* Symbiosis: a fundamental process Cooperation generates much of life on Earth. *An approach modeled on natural systems

Step 1. Develop outcomes

Outcomes Science foundation = how sustainable systems work U.S. Department of Energy, Genomic Science program

Outcomes Nuts and bolts skills for leaders Closed loop – zero waste Water Energy Eco-Cycle Sidwell Friends School, Andropogon LEED Visual GA, V3

Outcomes Measurement and data Managing organizations at multiple scales Sustainability Indicators, Sustainable Measures

Outcomes Leaders as change agents Important!

Outcomes Science foundation Technical skills Managing organizations Skills for change agents

Outcomes

Step 2. Map existing courses to outcomes

Catalog descriptions Then review syllabi Then interview instructors Researching existing courses: Data from sustainability infusion or environmental literacy program, if one exists.

Step 3. Identify gaps

Step 4. Create course(s) to fill gaps In-house experts Community experts

Step 5. Align with your institution’s graduation requirements

To Do (Lane’s program) Tools for matching courses to outcomes Introductory course Capstone course

Challenges Collaboration ▪ Messy ▪ Field still forming Developing new courses ▪ In-house experts ▪ Community experts Building a cohort ▪ Big issue for interdisciplinary programs

Questions? Margaret Robertson: Sustainability Coordinator degree -