colin trier school of geography earth and environmental sciences fellow of centre for sustainable...

Colin TrierSchool of Geography Earth and Environmental

SciencesFellow of Centre for Sustainable Futures

University of Plymouth,

The context for all this:The current social,

economic and environmental model for society is recognised to be unsustainable, and at one level this means that the long or even medium term survivability of this form of society, globally, nationally and regionally is severely challenged.

(but this has ever been so?)

The beginning of a new era of the AnthropoceneThere is by implication

the need for a rapid transformation of society towards a more sustainable form.

(can humans shape their destiny?)

Where we are at PlymouthUniversity committed to ESDFive-year HEFCE funded CETL set up the Centre for Sustainable Futures (CSF) and has agreed a Sustainability Ploicy

The University adopted a ‘four Cs’ approach to raise profile of ESD

The four Cs model Curriculum, Campus, Community

and Culture are identified as the key areas of focus within the first Sustainability Policy (2008), for the implementation of ESD in the University

What is the culture of a university?

Statements on culture found in the Sustainability Policy “The universityRecognises the need to be an adaptive learning

organization whose staff and students contribute to a culture of collective reflection on the sustainability agenda;

Acknowledges the importance of open, inclusive and effective communication and dialogue in the process of transformation towards a culture of sustainability; ”

(University of Plymouth 2008 pp.1-3)My comment: These seem very worthwhile objectives, if a

bit non-specific

Transformation Towards a Culture of SustainabilityWhat kind of initiatives might be useful in

exploring and facilitating change in the internal culture within a university, in an engaging and non-threatening manner?

How to Set Up a Suitable Experiential Meeting Place

in which staff can engage with each other avoiding the established patterns of discourse, based on agenda, hierarchy, formal perspectives, financial concerns, individual professional competiveness and tribal loyalties

and seek new collaborative opportunities

The Earthship Was GroundedOriginally I was going to report back on a two week short

course at Schumacher which aimed to build an Earthship.An Earthship is an experimental structure pioneered by

Michael Reynolds using car tyres and rammed earth as the materials.

Unfortunately the course has had to be postponed because old car tyres in large quantities are a waste stream that requires authorisation from the Environment Agency and a waste license or exemption for the site.

EmbercombeInstead I joined a CSF sponsored group of academics

from across the University on a two day visit with overnight stay to the Embercombe education centre.

The plan was broadly top explore the issues I have already raised and find out if the unique setting made a difference.

I intend now to show some photos of that experience to capture something of what transpired.

http://www.embercombe.co.uk/index.html

Outcomes?There was an unexpected sense of closeness

with other colleaguesWe had all listened far more than talkedAlthough none of us had met before it felt

like future collaboration was likelyIt felt that there was something new to take

back to our working situationI decided to retire and enjoy the good life

Does Place Affect Our Connection With Each Other?Of course! But might there be something useful in

extending what is broadly an Environmental Education perspective to help shape a more holistic kind of university organisation as a whole?