Will there be people in sustainable ecosystems? Designing an educational mosaic for the 22nd century

Abstract

AbstractUnlike other creatures, humans have the unique ability to delay their own extinction. We can store, analyze and transmit information to the next generations, and education helps us adapt to varied ecological situations. Looking beyond the 21st century to a post-industrial society where biological systems will emerge as the most renewable and sustainable activities on the planet, we need educational systems to prepare creative problem solvers who can confront and adapt to change and be willing to move toward lifelong growth and learning. Students need to understand the complexity of biological systems and the importance of connectedness. We need to educate them about watersheds and ecosystems, about the roles of a wide range of species and how they interact, and about long-term sustainability. Some programs already involve interactive student activities, case studies, and real world examples, and have empowered students to formulate their own approaches to challenges. A new initiative in the North Central region includes a structured experiential program in practical agroecosystem studies that taps into the technical and financial resources in the region's 12 land-grant universities and other organizations. In the future, we will need to forge more linkages between education and research, understand the impacts of alternative strategies for food production and other human needs, and search for ways to empower people to pursue their own educational agendas. This approach should include a mosaic of educational opportunities that will promote the survival of our species beyond the 22nd century.