georgia tech serve-learn-sustain · 2017. 6. 19. · strengthen social ties and other connections...
TRANSCRIPT
GEORGIA TECH
SERVE-LEARN-SUSTAIN
L A U N C H E D J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 6
• SLS educates students—through classroom, co-curricular, and real-world learning, on campus and off—to contribute to the task of “creating sustainable communities”
• SLS builds the capacity of faculty to (a) teach sustainable communities-related courses (b) collaborate with diverse partners on their research
• SLS facilitates GT participation in Partnerships that bring together key partners—from the government, community, nonprofit, academic, and business sectors—for joint learning, research, and action
WHAT IS SLS? SLS MISSION
• Georgia Tech graduates are using their disciplinary expertise related to science and technology to help “create sustainable communities” where humans and nature flourish, in Georgia, the U.S., and around the globe
• Universities around the globe are asking, “What does Georgia Tech think?” about the role that a technological institute can play in creating sustainable communities
• Students are choosing to come to Georgia Tech partly to participate in Serve-Learn-Sustain
WHAT IS SLS? SLS VISION
OPERATIONALIZING GEORGIA TECH’S ASPIRATIONS
• Vision: We will be leaders in influencing major technological, social, and policy decisions that address critical global challenges
• Mission: We will be leaders in improving the human condition in Georgia, the United States, and around the globe.
PREPARING STUDENTS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Source: 2012 Baccalaureate Alumni Survey
SLS COURSES, PROGRAMS, & OPPORTUNITIES
Courses & Research
• SLS foundation courses taught every semester• 100+ Affiliated courses & minors - 6 colleges, 3,000+ students• SLS “Pathways” under development (launching 2017-18): Innovating for Sustainable Communities, Civic
Leadership• SLS Fellows Programs: faculty, staff, postdocs, and doctoral students from across campus explore a theme
in depth for one semester (FEWS, Smart Cities, Energy Systems, and more)
Partners & Projects
• 20+ SLS-affiliated Student Organization Partners• SLS-affiliated Projects• SLS Action Groups – students, faculty, staff, and real-world partners advancing teaching, research, and
action related to sustainable communities issues like climate change, sustainable food systems, K-12 STEM education, and more
• UN University Metro Atlanta Regional Centre of Expertise for Education for Sustainable Development (RCE) – regional network with Atlanta higher education institutions and other stakeholders advancing education for sustainable development – including an RCE Youth Network
Events & Workshops
• Year-long speaker series (2017: Environmental Justice, 2018: UN Sustainable Development Goals)• Community Service Days• Skills workshops
Work for SLS • We hire undergraduates, GRAs, and GTAs every semester including summer• Interested? Email [email protected]
STUDENT PROFILE
• Summer 2016: Participates in SLS-affiliated Leadership for Social Good Study Abroad in Eastern Europe (Scheller); first hears about SLS through SLS guest lecture during orientation; writes SLS blog post from abroad
• Fall 2016: Starts participating in events/service days with an engaged friend
• Spring 2017: Takes SLS foundation course; continues to attend events
• AY2018 and beyond: Takes more SLS courses and pursues minor in SLS or Sustainable Cities (SCaRP)
• Career Interest: Improve city systems, like transit, through sustainability
Ariella Ventura, ISyE, 2019/20“SLS has taught me to look at issues from multiple viewpoints. My
SLS class is taught by three professors of differing backgrounds. Each class, my professors frame sustainability using their interdisciplinary knowledge, allowing me to better understand the complexity of real
life problem solving.”
MLK Day of Service in Clarkston
STUDENT PROFILE
• Fall 2015: Hears about SLS HP courses through Grand Challenges• Spring 2016: Takes both foundation courses plus SLS-affiliated
course, “Semester in the City;” attends SLS events & writes SLS blog post on Flint water crisis
• Summer 2016: Starts working for SLS; participates in EngageATL• AY2017: Works for SLS, attends SLS events, works on Grand
Challenges Westside oral history project (intends to apply for SLS funding); applies for Technology & Management program while pursuing Scheller Leadership Minor
• Summer 2017: Participates in SLS-affiliated Leadership for Social Good Study Abroad in Eastern Europe (Scheller)
• Career Interest: Consulting on corporate social responsibility
SLS Foundation Course
MLK Day in Clarkston
Yonatan Weinberg, HTS, 2019“I am grateful for the SLS infrastructure for giving me the opportunity to cultivate my interests in social sustainability. It has allowed me to
learn about and actually work on what I am passionate about.”
Semester in the City
STUDENT PROFILE
• Fall 2014: Provides input into QEP development• Fall 2015: Attends SLS Liam’s Legacy Symposium and becomes
interested in public leadership as a career pathway to create sustainable communities
• Spring 2016: As President of Engineers for a Sustainable World, engages ESW in SLS’ Public Service Pathway program, receiving funding to develop urban farming project
• Spring 2017: Begins working for SLS and attending more events, becoming more interested in sustainability careers; forges collaborative projects with SLS partners
• Summer 2017: Continues to work at SLS; explores part-time position at Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Sustainability
• Career Interest: Public or nonprofit work in sustainability focused on food systems and urban farming
Nicole Kennard, MSE, 2017
“I have always been passionate about environmental sustainability, but through SLS, I have learned so much more about social sustainability and equity. I have been able to meet public officials, and this has greatly influenced how I approach problems systematically. I have expanded my network and realized what I'd like to do in my future career as a public leader in sustainability.
Through SLS, I was also able to start a new collaborative project with Friends of Refugees, leading a team of GT students to utilize their engineering skills by designing and building all the growing systems for their new educational greenhouse.
I am so grateful to SLS for helping to connect me with great projects and collaborations, and truly expand my network and knowledge surrounding sustainability.”
What are Sustainable Communities?
Explaining SLS’ Approach
HOW DOES SLS APPROACH SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES?
1. As an Integrated System – with an emphasis on projects and initiatives that address two or more spheres
Environment
Economy Society
Soci
eta
l/Ec
on
om
ic
2. With a special focus on Society,
incl. Equity and Voice
HOW DOES SLS APPROACH SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES?
“The overriding aim of global economic development must surely be to enable
humanity to thrive in the safe and just space, ending human deprivation while keeping
within safe boundaries of natural resource use locally, regionally, and globally.”
- Kate Raworth, Oxfam Doughnut
Website: http://www.kateraworth.com/doughnut/ Video: https://www.oxfam.org/en/video/2012/introducing-doughnut-safe-and-just-space-humanity
From Schematic of Community Engagement Continuum (EPA, 2015; NCER CEnR Primer; note that this is one piece of a larger diagram)
Increasing level of community involvement, impact, trust and communication
VOICE AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Read more about our Partnership Principles in our BIG IDEAS:http://serve-learn-sustain.gatech.edu/big-ideas
Focusing on VOICE means supporting shared leadership and community-driven change
HOW DOES SLS APPROACH SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES?
3. And an emphasis on developing and
using Technology to support community visions that benefit Society and Nature TECHNOLOGY
HOW CAN TECHNOLOGY ASSIST COMMUNITIES IN SUPPORTING SOCIETY AND NATURE?
TECHNOLOGY
Protect natural resources
Preserve and restore biological diversity
Reduce energy use
Manage and recycle waste
Address basic needs and advance equity
Nurture civic participation and amplify community voices
Strengthen social ties and other connections to place
Bolster human capital
Preserve cultural diversity
Nurture vibrant, diverse economies
Support local innovation, entrepreneurship, and ownership
*Adapted in part from Jeffrey C. Bridger and A.E. Luloff, “Toward an interactional approach to sustainable community development,” Journal of Rural Studies 15 (1999): 377-387
ACT LOCAL TO ACHIEVE A GLOBAL VISION – UN SDGS
Learn more about our UN regional network: Greater Atlanta Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development (RCE): serve-learn-sustain.gatech.edu/atlanta-un-rce
Learn more at: www.serve-learn-sustain.gatech.edu
- Courses:http://serve-learn-sustain.gatech.edu/get-involved/courses
- Events & Workshops:http://serve-learn-sustain.gatech.edu/events-and-workshops
- Email List:www.contact.gatech.edu/sls/subscribe
- Blog (please consider contributing!):http://serve-learn-sustain.gatech.edu/reflections
- Contact:[email protected]