Ecoliteracy

25 Oct 2010 - 5 Nov 2010, Dartington, UNITED KINGDOM

Event organiser: Schumacher College
Schumacher College is a unique international educational institution. It provides individuals and groups from across the world with the opportunity to learn on numerous levels about subjects relating to environmental and social sustainability.  More info

Type of event: workshop
Target audience: all audiences
Issues covered: general CSR, workplace, environment, strategy

One and two week options

Teachers include:
Fritjof Capra (by videolink), Gustavo Esteva (by videolink), Stephan Harding, Philip Franses, Satish Kumar, Emily Ryan (course facilitator) Oliver Greenfield, Toni Spencer, Anne Miller

Course overview
Transforming the way we live on the planet is vital, and to do that we need a whole new set of skills that enable us to act effectively in a complex world. Fundamental to this is the ability to understand ecosystems, society and people in a holistic context which mirrors the interdependence found in the natural world.

Finding a way to do this through a systemic approach is a unifying narrative for all Schumacher College activities. Ecoliteracy: First Principles for Radical Change will enable students to appreciate and understand what an ecological world view is and how it can be applied in their lives and work.

This course offers an opportunity for those wanting to make a real difference in their lives and work through a deep understanding of theory and practice in this area. In the first week participants will explore the elements of an ecological world view focusing on key concepts such as self-organisation, resilience, connectivity and adaptation, and placing these in the context of the global challenges we face. In the second week, they will look at how these concepts can be applied in areas such as design, social activism, energy and food production to support the transition to an ecoliterate future.

Topics to be covered include:

Week 1

•An introduction to systems thinking
•Gaia theory and deep ecology
•Complexity theory, Goethean science & dialogue
•Progress, “development” and social transformation
•Global socioeconomic issues and new economics

Week 2

•Soul and society
•Embodying ecoliteracy
•Food, land and energy issues
•Ecodesign
•Innovation & creativity



For full details and biogs of course teachers, click here.

This course is intended for: Everyone who wants to engage with ecoliteracy and a deep understanding of why and how it can help transform our way of living and working. This course acts as a stand alone programme but is also an exciting introduction to any other Schumacher course in specialist areas such as new economics, business, design and science. Through this course, those new to Schumacher College can gain a foundation in the central themes of the college. Schumacher alumni have the opportunity to reconnect with holistic thinking in a new context.

What is Ecoliteracy?
Fritjof Capra defines ecoliteracy as follows: The great challenge of our time is to build and nurture sustainable communities …The first step in this endeavor is to understand the principles of organisation that ecosystems have developed to sustain the web of life. This understanding is what we call ecological literacy. Teaching this ecological knowledge will be the most important role of education in this century.

That our society is not sustainable in so many ways is self-evident. Most examples result from the optimisation of one or a few aspects of a system without appreciation of the whole. Learning to think and feel your way into an ecological world view is a big undertaking, but it has never been more important that we begin this process.

We need to change our relationship to nature and the basis of how we study science, economics, business and psychology, in order develop a systemic understanding of how to address current ecological and social challenges. Since 1991, Schumacher College has been running courses that explore, from a range of perspectives, the foundations of an ecological world view, in the belief that if we are to live sustainably on the planet we need to change at a deep level.

Anne Miller: Similar principles underpin both ecoliteracy and creativity: Intuition, questioning, seeing the big picture and recognising diversity are all as valuable for encouraging creativity as they are aspects of ecoliteracy. My teaching on this course will explore how to develop your creativity and use it in addressing ecological problems.

Oliver Greenfield: I see ecoliteracy as the understanding of the interactions between natural systems and human systems. This understanding is important so that we can change the human systems of specifically economy, finance, food, housing, transport and energy, in order that we can live sustainably and well, whilst at the same time maintaining and improving the health of natural systems and the diversity of life.

Emily Ryan: In Ecoliteracy, First Principles for Radical Change, course participants explore a diverse range of theoretical and practical approaches to building a foundation of ecological literacy. The course is designed to have a “something for everyone” feel, with a balance of conceptual and experiential material that is both challenging and inspiring. Perhaps most importantly, participants are invited to inquire into their own unique understanding of ecoliteracy and to experience for themselves what it means to gain knowledge and wisdom into how to live as a part of, rather than apart from, the web of life. They are supported in this endeavor by a community made up of their fellow participants and the entire network of college teachers and staff. Schumacher College is able to offer this potent opportunity for embodied knowledge because it integrates ecoliteracy into every aspect of its learning environment.

Satish Kumar: These days children know and recognise logos and brand names of big companies such as Coca Cola, McDonalds, Nike, Adidas but how many children can recognise trees and differentiate between oak, elm and ash? How many children can recognise and differentiate between wheat, barley and oats? There is a great lack of knowledge about the natural world, if you don’t know nature how are we going to love nature and if we don’t love nature how are we going to respect her and protect her? Therefore knowledge of the eco system is an imperative for a sustainable future. In my talk I will explore how important and significant nature studies are in schools and universities.

Event cost: (United Kingdom, Pound (GBP))

One week	750.00
Two weeks	1450.00

Event website: Go to website

25 Oct 2010 - 5 Nov 2010, Dartington, UNITED KINGDOM

Event organiser: Schumacher College

Type of event: workshop
Target audience: all audiences
Issues covered: general CSR, workplace, environment, strategy

Event cost: (United Kingdom, Pound (GBP))

One week	750.00
Two weeks	1450.00

Early bird rate expired on 31 Dec 2009

Event website: Go to website