Wednesday, August 6, 2008: 8:00 AM-11:30 AM
104 B, Midwest Airlines Center
SYMP 12 - Ecological Literacy for All
This symposium will develop a view of ecological literacy rooted in the discipline of ecology, placing it in its historical and intellectual contexts within and beyond the discipline. A synthesis of the intellectual tools from ecology needed by every citizen, and the essential pathways for attaining these tools, will be presented, building on responses from the ESA membership and others to the recent survey on ecological literacy. Leading science and environmental educators will explore the challenges and opportunities for fostering ecological literacy in all students and the general public via these two components of the education system. Finally, two forward-looking thinkers will elaborate on the vital role that universal ecological literacy must play in enabling society to develop innovative solutions to environmental needs and challenges, and enable us to converse with each other across the full spectrum of the human family about environmental and human well-being. The symposium culminates a process that began in 2006 to focus the ESA community on universal ecological literacy. The 2006 workshop on public understanding of ecology, led by Rebecca Jordon, and the 2007 Vice Presidents’ Summit on ecological literacy engaged many members. Over 1,000 members responded to the online survey on ecological literacy this summer. A group of ESA leaders will be working with the results of this survey to develop an ESA Policy Statement on Ecological Literacy, garnering input from scientists and educators from other disciplines, as well (e.g., environmental and science education, environmental philosophy and ethics). Presentation and consideration of the implications of this statement will be a primary goal of the symposium.
Organizer:Alan R. Berkowitz, Institute of Ecosystem Studies
Co-organizer:Carol A. Brewer, University of Montana
Moderator:Brooke McBride, University of Montana
8:00 AMSYMP 12-1Ecological literacy: What do we mean and how did we get here?
Carol A. Brewer, University of Montana, Brooke McBride, University of Montana, Diane Smith, Montana State University, Alan R. Berkowitz, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies
8:30 AMSYMP 12-2Essential elements of ecological literacy and the pathways needed for all citizens to achieve it
Alan R. Berkowitz, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Carol Brewer, University of Montana, Brooke McBride, University of Montana
9:00 AMSYMP 12-3Ecological literacy and environmental education
Bora Simmons, National Project for Excellence in Environmental Education
9:30 AM Break
9:40 AMSYMP 12-4Ecological literacy and science education
Charles W. Anderson, Michigan State University
10:10 AMSYMP 12-5Ecological literacy as currency for innovation
Dayna Baumeister, The Biomimicry Guild
10:40 AMSYMP 12-6Ecological literacy and fostering conversation and engagement in the human ecosystem
Chris Boone, Arizona State University, Steward T. A. Pickett, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Mary L. Cadenasso, UC Davis

See more of Symposium

See more of The 93rd ESA Annual Meeting (August 3 -- August 8, 2008)