New Reads for Campus Sustainability Advocates

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 09:30:31 -0500
aashe-biz, co-curricular-education, community-engagement, curriculum, diversity-access-and-affordability, faculty-and-staff-development, human-resources, research

In between cross country skiing and tasty meals, I hope to catch up on a backlog of reading. In case others are looking for some readings over the holidays I've compiled some recent publications (many that were publicized in the AASHE Bulletin). If readers have other publications from 2011 they would like to recommend please post a comment or email resources@aashe.org.

Educational Reforms for the 21st Century: How to Introduce Ecologically Sustainable Reforms in Teacher Education and Curriculum Studies
Bowers, C. A., Eco-Justice Press, 2011.
This book introduces pedagogical strategies for addressing the linguistic colonization of the present by the past; the teacher’s role as a cultural mediator between the cultural commons and consumer-dependent experiences; and how computers contribute to the enclosure of the cultural commons.

Also from Bowers and Eco-Justice Press is University Reform in an Era of Global Warming which addresses a number of issues ranging from language, cultural commons, academic freedom, patterns of cultural reproduction and the need for administrative leadership that addresses the cultural roots of the ecological crisis. Bowers argues that replacing inefficient campus infrastructures is easy compared to the challenges of engaging faculty in discussions of how the content of their courses continue to reinforce the deep cultural assumptions that give conceptual direction to the individualistic/consumer-dependent lifestyle that that is now widely recognized as unsustainable.

Education for Sustainability: Guides for Teaching and Learning
In an effort to provide a framework for enhancing teaching and learning in sustainability, the Sustainability Team at the University of Gloucestershire (UK) released two installments of its Education for Sustainability (EfS): Guides for Teaching and Learning series. A Guide for University Managers on Needs and Opportunities explores strategic needs, benefits and the potential for EfS in the curriculum and in partnership with external organizations. A Guide for Educators on Teaching and Learning Approaches provides orientation on the aims and principles of EfS to inform curriculum development work.

GUNi Report: Higher Education's Commitment to Sustainability
The Global University Network for Innovation (GUNi) released the fourth report in its Higher Education in the World series: "Higher Education's Commitment to Sustainability: from Understanding to Action." Analyzing the link between sustainability and higher education, the publication includes trending topics, good practices and a map of how regions around the world are advancing sustainability. The publication also explores the main barriers that prevent the transformation of higher education institutions towards contributing to the sustainability paradigm, and highlights possible solutions.

Department of Ed Sustainability Education Summit Report
The U.S. Department of Education released a Proceedings Report that provides an overview of its September 2010 "Sustainability Education Summit: Citizenship and Pathways for a Green Economy." Including industry, academic and government representatives' comments from the summit’s four panel sessions, the report recommends ways to advance sustainability education throughout the country.

Higher Ed's Role in Adapting to a Changing Climate
Supported by Second Nature and Clean Air-Cool Planet, this report evaluates how colleges and universities are preparing society for a changing climate through their education, research, operations and community engagement activities. The report was developed by the Higher Education Climate Adaptation Committee, a group of 13 leaders in higher education and experts in climate adaptation convened by the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) in March 2011.

UNECE Education for Sustainable Development Report
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Steering Committee on Education for Sustainable Development released the report, “Learning for the Future: Competences in Education for Sustainable Development.” A result of 18 months of discussions and negotiations among academics, government officials and experts from international and non-governmental organizations, the paper makes recommendations for the development of education for sustainable development across all sectors of education including guidelines and tools for integration.

In addition to the above, I would also recommend the AASHE publications that were released in 2011, including our partnered publications. These include the 2010 Campus Sustainability Review, the 2010 Higher Education Sustainability Staffing Survey, Greening the Bottom Line: The Trend toward Green Revolving Funds on Campus, Sustainability and Catholic Higher Education Toolkit, and Starting from Scratch: Greening Your Game Day.