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Sustainability

Sustainability Literacy Research sources. The following questions are intended to get students in a variety of disciplines started on researching sustainability issues and solutions related to what they are studying.

Climate Change

Public Service Careers & Apprenticeships Division

Public Services Careers (PSCD)

Child Care Professional

  • How will we facilitate a viable connection with nature for young children?

  • How can sustainable practices be modeled to children in our daily operations?

  • How will we create an environment for young children that fosters stewardship of the natural world?

Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement

  • How can we best meet the challenges that will result from our unsustainable practices (weak economies, failed states, food crisis, weather severity, water depletion)

  • How can we work with communities to build resilience?

Vocational Technology Division

Automotive Body (ABDD), Automotive Services (AUTD), Motorcycle Technology (MOTD)

  • How can we service and customize vehicles in a sustainable way?

  • What new technologies can help us work more sustainably?

Construction Institute (CIND), Heating, Ventilation and A/C (HVAD)

  • How can we do our jobs in a sustainable way?

  • What new technologies can be used that will give us a more sustainable end result?

car

Industrial Technology (INTD)

  • How can we make products in a sustainable way?

  • What new technologies can help us live more sustainably?

Welding and Fabrication (WAFD)

  • How can we do our jobs in a sustainable way?

  • What new technologies can be used that will give us a more sustainable end result?

Technology

Math, Science and Health Division

Life Sciences (LIFD)

  • How can the Life Sciences be used to analyze information to create a sustainable society?

  • How can the Life Sciences be used to design sustainable systems?

  • How does society’s ability to understand concepts like bio-diversity and ecology affect political decisions and personal lifestyle choices?

Mathematics (MTHD)

  • How can mathematics be used to analyze information to create a sustainable society?

  • How can mathematics be used to design sustainable systems?

  • How is society’s ability to understand concepts like climate change, economics and limits to growth affected by its understanding of mathematics?

math

Nursing & Allied Health (NHSD), Allied Health (ALHD)

  • How can nurses and health professionals be more sustainable in daily operations?

  • How nurses and health professionals educate people about sustainability?

Physical Sciences (PHYD)

  • How can the Physical Sciences be used to analyze information to create a sustainable society?

  • How can the Physical Sciences be used to design sustainable systems?

  • How does society’s ability to understand concepts like energy, thermodynamics and climate change affect political decisions and personal lifestyle choices?

Environmentalism

Humanities, Social and Behavioral Science Division

Academic and Career Skills (ACSD)

  • How can we live in a way that will be resilient in the face of climate change, peak oil and economic instability?

  • What careers will help build a resilient and sustainable society?

Behavioral Science (BEHD)

  • How can people be motivated to change their behaviors regarding sustainablity?

  • How can we build communities that will be resilient in the face of climate change, peak oil and economic instability?

English/Writing (ENGD)

  • How can we build communities that will be resilient in the face of climate change, peak oil and economic instability?

  • How can writing motivate people to change their behaviors and live more sustainably?

  • What books and other writing have motivated you to live more sustainably?

Foreign Languages (FLGD)

  • In what ways do other cultures practice sustainability?

  • How do the unsustainable behaviors in the U.S. affect other cultures?

  • How have other cultures learned to be resilient in the face of climate change, peak oil and economic instability?

Humanities (HUMD)

  • How can communication professionals be more sustainable in daily operations?

  • How communication professionals educate people about sustainability?

Performing Arts (PERD)

  • How can music, dance and theatre motivate people to change their behaviors and live more sustainably?

  • What music, dances, and theatre have motivated you to live more sustainably?

Social Science (SSCD)

  • How have cultures dealt with sustainability issues in the past?

  • What kind of economic systems promote sustainability?

  • How can the political system be used to make the society sustainable?

 

Teaching

Business and Computer Technologies Division

Business (BUSD), Business Office Systems (BOS)

  • How can businesses operate in a way that is sustainable?

  • How can the corporate culture be transformed to make decisions that include sustainability?

  • How would operating more sustainably affect a business’s bottom line (or triple bottom line?)

Computer Instruction (CISD)

  • How can computer professionals make computer systems be more sustainable in daily operations?

  • What computer technologies are available to help other disciplines operate more sustainably?

Culinary and Hospitality Management (CHMD)

  •  How can food purchasing and preparation be done in a sustainable way?
  • How can food professionals educate the public about sustainability?
  • How can food professionals support local economies?

bug

Digital Media Arts (DMAD)

  • How can digital media arts be done more sustainably in daily operations?

  • How can digital media arts be used to educate people about sustainability?

Gardens

Continuing Education and Community Services Division

Take a non-credit course from WCC Continuing Education Program.

Food

Learning Resources Division

Libraries

  • How can we do our jobs in a sustainable way?
  • How can we support educating students about sustainability?