Sustainability at the Threshold of the Anthropocene

Part 1 - Natural Ecosystems

Lecturer: John Barimo (University College Cork)

Institution: University College Cork, Ireland

Runtime: 00:21:25

Licence: CC-BY-SA 4.0

Upload: 28.05.2024

Description

John Barimo introduces the concept of the Anthropocene, a geological epoch characterized by human activities significantly impacting Earth’s ecosystems and environment, emphasizing the importance of sustainability and the need for a multidisciplinary approach that goes beyond STEM fields to include social sciences and arts.

In his Lecture John Barimo explores the concept of planetary boundaries, which identifies key indicators of human impact on the planet, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and chemical pollution. He highlights the role of education in promoting sustainability and the need for a holistic approach that includes various disciplines.

The video was recorded on 20 March 2024 as part of the TESTEd lecture series. It is part one of a three-part series on “Sustainability at the Threshold of the Anthropocene”.

Show notes

• Carruthers, J.(2019) “The Anthropocene”: https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2019/6428
• “Welcome to the Anthropocene: A Disorienting Dilemma”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvgG-pxlobk
• Planetary boundaries https://www.stockholmresilience.org/research/planetary-boundaries.html
• Green Space and Exam Anxiety: https://www.ucc.ie/en/greencampus/news/green-space-and-exam-anxiety.html
• “Towards an eu charter of the fundamental rights of nature” https://www.eesc.europa.eu/en/our-work/publications-other-work/publications/towards-eu-charter-fundamental-rights-nature

Part 2 - Education for Sustainability

Lecturer: John Barimo (University College Cork)

Institution: University College Cork, Ireland

Runtime: 00:14:13

Licence: CC-BY-SA 4.0

Upload: 28.05.2024

Description

In the second part of his lecture, John Barimo covers the concept of education for a sustainable development (ESD), which focuses on providing future generations with the same opportunities we have by preserving resources and ensuring society’s persistence. He also provides resources for developing learning outcomes and competencies aligned with sustainable development goals (SDGs) and emphasizes the importance of addressing values in education to counterbalance the predominant focus on profit and consumption.

The video was recorded on 20 March 2024 as part of the TESTEd lecture series. It is part two of a three-part series on “Sustainability at the Threshold of the Anthropocene”.

Show notes

• GreenComp: the European sustainability competence framework: https://joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/greencomp-european-sustainability-competence-framework_en
• UN Goals for Sustainable Development: https://sdgs.un.org/goals
• Europe Sustainable Development Report 2023/24 https://eu-dashboards.sdgindex.org/explorer

Part 3 - Walking Into the Anthropocene

Lecturer: John Barimo (University College Cork)

Institution: University College Cork, Ireland

Runtime: 00:12:05

Licence: CC-BY-SA 4.0

Upload: 28.05.2024

Description

John Barimo covers the concept of a ‘walking classroom’, where lessons are conducted outdoors while walking through landscapes and urban environments. He discusses how this approach emerged during the pandemic to engage students and foster a sense of community. In an example of a walking classroom, he highlights the transition from the Holocene epoch to the Anthropocene, where human activity is driving environmental changes. He also touches on sustainability challenges, such as balancing renewable energy sources with preserving natural beauty, and the ethical implications of technologies like lithium mining for electric vehicles and encourages creative thinking and a holistic approach to address these complex issues.

The video was recorded on 20 March 2024 as part of the TESTEd lecture series. It is part three of a three-part series on “Sustainability at the Threshold of the Anthropocene”.

Show notes

• Carruthers, J. (2019) “The Anthropocene”: https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2019/6428

• “Welcome to the Anthropocene: A Disorienting Dilemma”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvgG-pxlobk
• “UCC to retain and refurbish landmark Cork Distillers building in riverside redevelopment”: https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/munster/arid-40785345.html
• “Gougane Barra was Ireland’s first National Park when it opened to the public in 1966”: https://www.ireland.com/en-no/destinations/county/cork/west-cork/