Assignment task: In this project you will tell a story - in your own words - of how people addressed an environmental problem in a specific context (which you identified in Week 4 Part B). Your story must integrate information from at least three credible sources (you can use the sources you identified in your week assignment or choose/add others).
You may present your story in any of the following formats:
In order to upload multiple files, please select the "Text Entry" tab when submitting your files. In the Rich Text Editor (RTE), you can select media files (images or video) as well as a document. Here are directions with further guidance, if needed.
Regardless of which format you choose, your story must include all of the elements listed below.
Note that the format you choose will play a big role in how you include these elements. For example, if you are writing a children's story, you are not going to include a statement like, "this problem is related to biosphere integrity" because that isn't going to be meaningful. But you should include the information in a way that is comprehensible to your target audience. For example, you might say, "When an animal is not able to find a mate, it won't have babies. Over time, that kind of animal may become very rare or even extinct, and that can cause problems for other animals that depend on it."
The problem:
What was the problem?
Where did it take place?
Interested and affected parties:
Identify at least two groups of people or individuals who were interested in or affected by the problem. For each, describe:
How were they impacted (directly or indirectly)?
What were their concerns or perspectives related to the problem and potential solutions?
Who was involved in helping to address the problem?
What were the principal goals and perspectives of those involved in the solution?
Human activity and unsustainability:
How did human activity contribute to the problem?
Make explicit connections to either Robèrt's sustainability framework (i.e., by identifying how human activity has disrupted Earth processes) or to the planetary boundaries. For example, in Cougar Town, the problem was an inability for P22 to reproduce (because he couldn't find a mate). This problem was created by habitat fragmentation that occurred when humans built roads that isolated Griffith Park from the rest of the cougar's natural habitat. Consequently, this story touched on both biosphere integrity (the risk of loss of biodiversity due to species endangerment) and land-system change.
Tackling the problem:
How did people solve (or begin to address) the problem?
What role did empathy play in addressing the problem (e.g., motivating people to address the problem, enabling people to collaborate productively with one another, etc.)?
Sources:
Integrate information from at least 3 credible sources within your story.
The format for attribution (e.g., whether you use in-text citations, links, a reference list at the end of the document, etc.) will depend on the format of your story. Be sure to follow the specific guidelines described in the table above and check with your instructor if you have any questions.
Overview of the Reflection Task.
Reflect on what you have learned in this course and make connections to your personal and professional goals.
Your reflection may be in the form of a written essay or a video recording.
Detailed Requirements.
Recall the description of this Ecoliteracy course:
We are living in an era characterized by unprecedented environmental challenges, including water scarcity, climate change, and loss of biodiversity. At Unity College, we are committed to helping our students build the scientific, social, and emotional knowledge and skills needed to address these complex challenges in their professional, personal, and civic lives. This course is the first step in that journey. Here, we hope to help you develop an understanding of the cycles that sustain life on Earth and cultivate key ecoliteracy practices, including empathy (intellectual and affective) and systems thinking. We then hope you go on to build on these foundational skills in subsequent courses within the Environmental Professional Core.
In this final section of your course project, reflect and comment on the following:
(250-400 words; 2-4 minutes) How do you think the skills and/or knowledge you've developed in this course (i.e., your ecoliteracy toolkit) will enable you to address complex challenges in your personal or civic life? In your response, identify specific skills/knowledge and provide specific examples of instances where you might draw on these skills.
(150-300 words; 1-3 minutes) How will the work you have done in this course (what you have learned, how you have engaged with your peers and instructor, etc.) help you accomplish your career goals?