From A Silent Spring, The Limits to Growth and Population Bomb of the 1960s
and 70s to today’s planetary boundary science, overshoot, and creating a safe
and just space for humanity, some would say that “the science is in” and that it
is pretty gloomy. Additionally, now in the frenetic information age, humans are
overwhelmingly aware of the multitude of crises we face as a species. Our
collective mental health is tanking. Knowing our predicament is one thing, but
knowing what to do about it is another. Education may be one of our most
powerful tools. However, delivery, content, and reach are impaired by multiple
factors including politics, economics, religion, and the numerous influences
affecting everyone’s social construction of knowledge. This presentation will
share examples from the fields of environmental, conservation, and humane
education and then focus on the potential promise of comprehensive education for
ecological justice.
About the Speaker
Sarah M. Bexell is clinical associate
professor with the Graduate School of Social Work and Director of Humane
Educ