Sustainability: Intentional integration
In this workshop, we will investigate the many faceted connections between sustainability and the geosciences. Within breakout groups, we will explore strategies for integrating sustainability concepts into our teaching based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals as well as other tools. We will wrap up with a share out of participants' ideas with the goal that you will each leave with some applicable and actionable tools to implement in your teaching. To get the most out of our time together, we invite participants to bring an activity or syllabus that they would like to work on.
During this workshop, participants will:
- Become familiar with the UN Sustainable Development Goals;
- Collaborate to explore ways to incorporate UNSDGs into their teaching;
- Develop an actionable plan to integrate one to three UNSDGs into an activity, assignment or course.
Program
1:30 Welcome and word cloud warm up
1:45 Participants introduce themselves and share how they are thinking about incorporating sustainability into their teaching (syllabus, activity, assignment)
2:00 Overview of UN Sustainable Development Goals
2:15 Sustainability Speed-Dating - Participants choose an SDG theme group and discuss targets within each goal to then brainstorm connections to their own courses. As we work, also consider the integration of indigenous wisdom and/or social justice issues into the role of sustainability in our modern world.
3:30 Share out of ideas including how you might improve your syllabus and/or activity you brought with you.
3:45 Wrap-up and workshop evaluation
4:00 Adjourn
Resources
UN Sustainable Development Goals:https://sdgs.un.org/goals
Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (Goals and Sub-goals): https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda
AGI Geoscience Career Explorer: https://careerexplorer.americangeosciences.org
Native Land Interactive Map: https://native-land.ca
References Cited:
Carter, S.C., Griffith, E.M., Jorgensen, T.A. et al. Highlighting altruism in geoscience careers aligns with diverse US student ideals better than emphasizing working outdoors.Commun Earth Environ 2, 213 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-021-00287-4 or find a PDF here: https://rdcu.be/dNZLA
Manitoba Council for International Cooperation, 2020, Sustainable Foundations: A guide for teaching the sustainable development goals: https://mcic.ca/uploads/public/files-sf/SF-Full-FINAL-WEB-ISBN-2021-EN.pdf (accessed July 2024).
UNESCO, 2017, Education for Sustainable Development Goals: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000247444.locale=en (accessed July 2024).