Earth System Science: A Model for Teaching Science as State, Process and Understanding?

Abstract

An overview of the events and activities leading to the NASA/USRA sponsored Earth System Science Education (ESSE) Program initiated in 1991 with continuation through 2006 as ESSE 21 is presented. The overview includes the rationale for seeking support from NASA for the initiation of interdisciplinary courses and collaborative efforts in the creation and sharing of interdisciplinary educational resources within the ESSE Program. The immediate motivation in 1991 for initiating the ESSE Program stemmed from the vision expressed by NASA's Earth System Sciences Committee in its presentation document, “Earth System Science, A Closer View,” which is turn was part of the Nation's 1980's focus on Global Change. Several key events and capabilities that emerged during the last century which led to and enabled the focus on Global Change nationally and internationally are summarized. Besides society's concern over the environment, for the first time satellites and computers in combination with communications provided humankind with the capability to observe the state of the system globally, regionally, and locally. A key theme of this overview in conjunction with ESSE's Overview Schematic is to emphasize three inseparable elements in the presentation and learning of science in the classroom: state, process and understanding. The classroom is where ideally the student encounters the open ended nature of the multi-interdisciplinary framework of ESS and in turn learns to appreciate the interplay of disciplines involved including the importance of all in societal decision making leading to action.