Designing the Future

Visioning Education for the Environment and Sustainability in the 21st Century at Middlebury

Visioning Discussion with Kieran Suckling, Director and Founder of Center for Biological Diversity

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March 12, 2014
Franklin Environmental Center

Facilitator: Chris McGrory-Klyza
Attendees: Mark Lapin, Nan Jenks-Jay, Dan Brayton, Jack Byrne, Avery McNiff, Jon Isham, Diane Munroe

Kieran Suckling’s academic inclinations stem from his experience studying the extinction of species and languages in graduate school. While researching snowy owls in graduate school, Kieran was inspired to start the Center for Biological Diversity based in Tucson, Arizona. The center, which started in 1989, focuses on protecting biodiversity and imperiled species. It employs attorneys to use litigation to effect change and conserve species.

When asked what the Environmental Studies program at Middlebury College may have overlooked in its curriculum and teaching, Kieran raised the issue of focusing too narrowly on climate change. Keiran stated, “There is little handle on [climate change] and what to do about it. It has sucked up enormous amounts of energy and causes endless discussions that spin around and end up going nowhere.” He provided the examples of resilience and adaptation discussions. “Meanwhile we are losing momentum on the ground,” said Kieran, “there is a danger of getting lost in it, how do you motivate people to get things done in real time?”

Kieran cited pesticide use as an issue that could use more focus and work from students. The topic allows students to get involved with policy at the local level. The topic of pesticides also ties in with food issues, which has caught the interest of students.  Klyza echoed this statement saying that food is the only topic that has rivaled climate change in the academic setting at Middlebury. Both issues are tangible and applicable.

In response to a question surrounding the growth of technology in biological conservation, Kieran stated that the growth has allowed knowledge to be cheaper and more accessible. Using big data sets has had positive impacts on health and enables conservationists to quantify their work in the field. The downside is that there has been a greater interest in synthetic life, which could be catastrophic down the road.

In terms of what the program may be overlooking in terms of assigned readings, Kieran said that although he came into environmental work through the humanities, he did not do a lot of reading in traditional environmental literature. He believes that traditional environmental texts describe issues as if they are uniquely environmental issues, but in many ways none of them are. Kieran recommended getting the students to think about big picture issues, not just environmental issues. Such as, how did we get here and how does this impact what we’re doing today? This reading may be more refreshing and provide more connectivity.

Kieran spoke to the importance of recognizing the niche that Middlebury has in the liberal arts. He stated that the College has a history and reputation in this field and thus a responsibility to uphold. He asked, “If you don’t get humanities into environmental issues, then who else?” Humanities thinking is what is needed to make sense of issues, see how things fit together, and push the environmental movement in the right direction. Kieran cited the Environmental Humanities Graduate Program at University of Utah, started by Terry Tempest Williams, as a program successfully instilling a deeper way of thinking about the environment.

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