Post Publication Independent Review of
"Educating students in solutions‐oriented science"
Table of Contents:
Part XXVIII. Post Publication Independent Review of "Educating students in solutions‐oriented science"
Published at:
https://www.ijbst.org/covid-19-post-publication-reviews/part-28
Twitter Communication Link:
https://twitter.com/PrabhuBritto/status/1258307121323495424
Publons Review Link:
https://publons.com/review/7932047/
Post Publication Independent Review of
Educating students in solutions‐oriented science
Gillian Bowser Sarah A Green Susie S Ho Pamela H Templer
First published: 01 May 2020 https://doi.org/10.1002/fee.2198
https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/fee.2198
Review Comments:
1. Quote “The climate crisis is upon us. Our physical world is changing as our climate veers away from its historical state and societies comprehend the magnitude of this disruption. Youth, students, and many others are in the streets, demanding deeper, faster, and more equitable action to protect their future. Simultaneously, we as ecologists, environmental scientists, and climate and sustainability educators are confronting an increasingly distressed and disempowered public. Higher education is being buffeted by this confluence of crises in 2020.” End of Quote
The outbreak of COVID-19 worldwide at such a massive scale, seems to lend credence to this statement of the authors.
2. Quote “How can we educate students to become effective citizens across the scientific, ethical, cultural, and policy landscapes that they are plunged into, without exacerbating their burden of eco‐anxiety? We believe that solutions‐based student learning that facilitates active participation in policy‐making processes is one way to accomplish this goal. Students are aware that they will always need deep disciplinary knowledge, but many are also demanding a solutions‐based education that integrates interdisciplinary experience with human and environmental well‐being. This need becomes even clearer under the current COVID‐19 pandemic.” End of Quote
The authors’ statement defends itself.
3. Quote “The traditional science curriculum must evolve to incorporate skills in leadership, cross‐cultural communication, innovation, resilience, and advocacy. We, the authors, are bridging this gap by immersing students into the policy‐making process through engagement with decision makers at the international Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). As science educators we found that the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a robust framework on which to weave these multiple threads. The SDGs are comprehensive yet specific enough to guide inquiry, while being inherently multicultural and transdisciplinary. They are effective research and teaching tools because they are science‐based, and require us to critically examine the social, economic, and ecological consequences of environmental change.” End of Quote
The authors have brought out in a significant way, the relation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to higher education, teaching & research, now calling to contribution the efforts of academic & research community as a synchronised part of National & International efforts.
a. https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/memberstates/india under the subheading “Voluntary National Review 2017” prefaces as follows
Quote “India has played an important role in shaping the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Therefore, it is no surprise that the country’s national development goals are mirrored in the SDGs. As such, India has been effectively committed to achieving the SDGs even before they were fully crystallized.” End of Quote.
This causes a greater responsibility on INDIA and on every individual related to it, inclusive of the academic & research community.
b. https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/22523India_VNR_ECOSOC_NV.pdf indicates that
Quote "India is ready to present the Voluntary National Review for the next cycle beginning in 2020" End of Quote
c. https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/hlpf/2020 indicates
Quote “HIGH-LEVEL POLITICAL FORUM 2020 UNDER THE AUSPICES OF ECOSOC
The meeting of the high-level political forum on sustainable development in 2020 convened under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council, will be held from Tuesday, 7 July, to Thursday, 16 July 2020, including the three-day ministerial meeting of the forum from Tuesday, 14 July, to Thursday, 16 July 2020.
The theme will be "Accelerated action and transformative pathways: realizing the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development ".” End of Quote
d. https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/15836India.pdf provides the Voluntary National Review Report on Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals for submission to the United Nations High Level Political Forum 2017 by INDIA
Progress towards Specific Goals has been provided for SDGs 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 14, 17
e. The 17 SDGs as listed at https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/envision2030.html
Quote “The 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) to transform our world:
GOAL 3: Good Health and Well-being
GOAL 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
GOAL 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
GOAL 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
GOAL 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
GOAL 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal” End of Quote
f. India provides a report in 2017 for 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 14, 17
which implies that the following SDGs have to be concentrated now and in the future, viz,
GOAL 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
GOAL 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
GOAL 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
GOAL 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
g. Read together with https://www.ijbst.org/covid-19-post-publication-reviews/part-27 Review Comment 4 situations a,b & c, it can be understood that there was dissent or criticism for specified situations a,b & c, but there doesn’t seem much dissent or criticism for the above SDGs 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15 & 16 which need to be concentrated by INDIA now.
h. However, we find that SDG 4 Quality Education is yet to be filed a report, and consequently this post publication review, if deemed fit by INDIA, could find a place in the National Policy making.
i. Now that the connectivity and relevance has been established, we return to the review attempted herewith.
4. Quote “We are aware that advocacy can be a fraught term for scholars who prefer to maintain a dispassionate distance. The SDGs allow us to break away from that traditional view of the environment, which still reflects Eurocentric 18th‐century thought, in favor of an Earth‐systems view that connects environmental and social issues across populations who view the world through distinct cultural lenses.” End of Quote
This again brings us back to https://www.ijbst.org/covid-19-post-publication-reviews/part-27 Review Comment 4 situations a,b & c, with specific reference to situation c “Twitter broadcast on April 19, 2020 by the PMO on behalf of The Prime Minister of INDIA Shri Narendra Modi at https://twitter.com/PMOIndia/status/1251839308085915649”
The content of the tweet reads as
Quote “PMO India
@PMOIndia
COVID-19 does not see race, religion, colour, caste, creed, language or borders before striking.
Our response and conduct thereafter should attach primacy to unity and brotherhood.
We are in this together: PM @narendramodi
5:15 pm · 19 Apr 2020·Twitter Web App” End of Quote
Does this mean that the Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi’s views are more related to the SDGs (United Nations Sustainable Development Goals) compared to the dissent or criticism? Does it also mean that the dissent or criticism has happened as it could have been seen through
Quote “that traditional view of the environment, which still reflects Eurocentric 18th‐century thought, in favor of an Earth‐systems view that connects environmental and social issues across populations who view the world through distinct cultural lenses” End of Quote ?
5. Quote “As we move into the new decade, solutions‐oriented education that helps students become agents of change can be provided in multiple ways. Many scientists incorporate literature and best practices from different cultural spectra into their curricula. Educators provide interdisciplinary multicultural curricula that give students the tools needed to navigate landscapes with embedded cultures. Such courses may include strong emphasis on project‐based learning with participation in local policy generation, co‐production of research projects with stakeholders, and consultancy projects whereby students solve real‐world problems using the SDG framework in the language of international governments, industry, and local communities. Technology now allows us to effortlessly create these courses and reach students, faculty, and external partners across countries and cultures. To achieve this goal, future change‐agents and sustainability leaders can work from the perspectives of their own cultural landscapes, while honoring those brought to the table by diverse multidisciplinary international peers from different socioeconomic and political divides.” End of Quote
Perhaps it is time to completely revamp the Higher Education System in INDIA, bringing in more relevant interdisciplinary degree programs and certification/skill-based courses aided by the ushering in of the Online Education Systems forced due to the COVID-19 containment protocols of the current time and the Physical Distancing that will remain for a longer period of time until herd immunity develops sufficiently to the level that COVID-19 no longer remains a threat to health & life. The following link may be referred for better insights https://www.ijbst.org/covid-19-post-publication-reviews/part-23
6. A complete revamp of the Higher Education System, the research & degree programs & the certification/skill based programs & consequent academic & collaborative core/interdisciplinary/industrial research in synchronism with
Quote “The 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) to transform our world:
GOAL 3: Good Health and Well-being
GOAL 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
GOAL 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
GOAL 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
GOAL 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
GOAL 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal” End of Quote
with specific concentration to the following SDGs (yet to be reported by INDIA)
GOAL 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
GOAL 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
GOAL 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
GOAL 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
may be the much-aspired solution that may help INDIA to sustain the momentum at International Levels with specific reference to
Quote “India has played an important role in shaping the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Therefore, it is no surprise that the country’s national development goals are mirrored in the SDGs. As such, India has been effectively committed to achieving the SDGs even before they were fully crystallized.” End of Quote at under the subheading “Voluntary National Review 2017” https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/memberstates/india
and also help to improve the Quality of Education in INDIA, narrowing down the
i. “unemployable graduate phenomena”,
ii. viewing through distinct cultural lenses, as in Quote “that traditional view of the environment, which still reflects Eurocentric 18th‐century thought, in favor of an Earth‐systems view that connects environmental and social issues across populations who view the world through distinct cultural lenses” End of Quote
iii. effectively translating Twitter broadcast on April 19, 2020 by the PMO on behalf of The Prime Minister of INDIA Shri Narendra Modi at https://twitter.com/PMOIndia/status/1251839308085915649
Quote “PMO India
@PMOIndia
COVID-19 does not see race, religion, colour, caste, creed, language or borders before striking.
Our response and conduct thereafter should attach primacy to unity and brotherhood.
We are in this together: PM @narendramodi
5:15 pm · 19 Apr 2020·Twitter Web App” End of Quote
into reality, not only in addressing the COVID-19 outbreak, but also shape up our National Policies of the current and the future, in accordance with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), so that INDIA, as an ancient Nation can continue to show the way for the World in the present and in the future.
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Acknowledgement:
