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O C T . 1 0 , 2 0 1 1 A A S H E 2 0 1 1
S T E P H E N P O S N E R
S U S T A I N A B I L I T Y F E L L O W / E C O - R E P S C O O R D I N A T O R O F F I C E O F S U S T A I N A B I L I T Y
A N N A M I K A S U S T A I N A B I L I T Y F E L L O W
O F F I C E O F S U S T A I N A B I L I T Y
U N I V E R S I T Y O F V E R M O N T ( U V M )
Understanding, teaching, and influencing campus sustainability
from a systems perspective
Brief history of campus sustainability at UVM
1996 Environmental Council creates ½ time graduate fellow staff
2002 Permanent Environmental Coordinator position created
2006 First campus sustainability course offered
2008 Office of Sustainability established
2011 Climate Action Plan, Clean Energy Fund, STARS
Course history
How are decisions with environmental impacts made within the University?
Environmental Management Systems (2006-2008) 6 - 8 upper class students
Taught by UVM staff involved in campus environmental programs
SL: Campus Sustainability (2009-2011) Over 20 primarily 2nd and 3rd year students
Taught by UVM staff and graduate fellows
Listed as Service-Learning course in sustainability studies track of Environmental Program
Collaboration at multiple levels
Ongoing campus greening work: Greening UVM
Tracking UVM
Cooling UVM?
Middle management
interest in sustainability
Upper management
support of UVM as
“Environmental University”
Sustainability Tracking,
Assessment, and Rating System (STARS)
2010 Course focus
Two Service-Learning Courses: ENVS 195 “Campus Sustainability”
Operations
CDAE 295 “Sustainable Development Policy”
Planning, Administration & Engagement
Preliminary research and formulating questions Helped the Office of Sustainability and instructors focus the students
Interviews and write-up of credits Development of professional skills for students
?
2010 Course focus
STARS Systems Thinking Visualization of potential credits for UVM
Operations
Energy
Dining Services
Climate
Buildings
Water
Waste
Transportation
Purchasing
Grounds
TOTAL:39/100
PAE
Diversity & Affordability
Coordination & Planning
Human Resources
TOTAL:58/100
Investment
Public Engagement
Education & Research
Co-Curricular Education
Curriculum
TOTAL:?/100Research
?
?
2011 Course focus
Multi-media learning Field trips Presentations
Group activities
Technical topics included in 2011 Environmental aspects and impacts as defined by STARS Climate action planning and GHG accounting
Systems thinking
Teachers’ expertise environmental management systems ecological economics
GHG accounting and climate action planning campus sustainability
Systems thinking
Donella Meadows,
especially Leverage Points
Conceptual system dynamics applied to campus
Viewed whole systems related to specific aspects of campus sustainability Within university
Between university and environmental and social contexts
Campus
Environment
Extraction
Waste
Campus
Environment
Energy
Matter Matter
Energy Campus
Optimal scale
9
Campus Environment
Student reflections: Mind Map by Caylin McKee
Focus on waste
Relationships with
other aspects
Connection to personal
experience
Poster project outlines facts
Media project focus on key elements within system
Student reactions to unit on systems thinking
Systems was most, and least, liked part of course Not the way we usually teach
Comes naturally to some, more difficult for others
Low turnout at first systems class
Need common definition Different backgrounds and perspectives
Define our purpose and questions first
Challenges to systems approach and recommended solutions
Intermediate course that does not fit into traditional academic subjects Develop two campus sustainability classes: one intro, one advanced
focusing on intervening in systems
Different kinds of thinking and learning required Natural systems thinkers; those who find systems difficult
Systems squeezed
into just 2 classes Integrate better
throughout course
Strengths to systems approach
Applied learning in immediate environment Awareness of how we are part of university system
Leverage points offer opportunities for strategic change
Connections among students, staff, and administrative decision-makers
Courageous and creative (re)design of campus sustainability solutions
Main points
Characterizing universities as complex systems makes sense
Systems thinking can be used to identify leverage points for change and to evaluate sustainability programs
Teaching with systems thinking can help students see relationships
understand system behavior
more effectively act as agents of change
THANK YOU
QUESTIONS?
Understanding, teaching, and influencing campus sustainability
from a systems perspective