Sustainability
Sustainability is a complex concept. The most often quoted definition comes from the UN World Commission on Environment and Development: “sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” As blueprint's overarching theme being nature + progress, now more than ever we need to evolve into creating systems that promotes conservation without compromising progress, and that starts with education.
I want you to want me
Our main idea grew from an overarching problem and question that comes with all consumer goods. While thinking of conservation as a consumer good may sound distasteful, the need for people to get on board with the idea of progress WITH nature starts by promoting the idea that this is something they want . So begs the questions, "how do we teach people to use our product/idea?" and "how do we get them to use and/or promote our product/idea?" - in this case, the preservation of our environment. These are difficult questions, and there are multiple behavioral, knowledge, and socioeconomic based factors that result in complex answers. But what if we could tell you that it was as simple as talking to kids?
I need you to need me
A study out of Oregon State University and Stanford University showed that energy-education programs geared towards children had translational educational benefits to their parents, who then adopted the same energy saving behaviors. The study was conducted by Hilary Boudet, a teacher at the School of Public Policy at OSU's college of Liberal Arts, and the education program focused on utilizing social cognitive theory (SCT). SCT identifies four key learning processes: attention, retention (memory), production (vicarious experience, cognitive rehearsal, behavioral rehearsal, guided enactment), and motivation (self and external monitoring, feedback, goals and incentives). While we often think to target technological advancements and conservation efforts towards adults and corporations with money, (no doubly important factors to consider as well) the impact children can have is often overlooked, especially when it comes to reaching our target audiences.
Today more than ever children are learning how to use computers at a young age, smart phones, tablets, etc. and they are prime for molding. And the interplay of children's interests with their parents interests helps guide that aspect of production from SCT. As Boudet so eloquently states, "Children are a critical audience for environmental programs, because their current behavior likely predicts future behavior. By adopting energy-saving behaviors now and engaging family and community members in such efforts, children can play an important role in bringing about a more sustainable future."
Can you hear me now?
If you can implement a fun and educational program on kids following SCT, then you can easily transfer that information to their parents. One possible application for using SCT to teach people about sustainability is in the form of food. Several major environmental problems focus around food. Even with technological advancements, the growth rate of food to human consumption isn't fast enough to support the current consumerism model, there is an impact of farming certain foods or raising certain livestock on the environment, and the disconnect in people's understanding of where their food on their plate comes from leads not only to massive carbon foot prints, but also unhealthy lifestyles of obesity, diabetes, and malnutrition. These are all factors that effect the environment and our progress and as society. As such, our largest consumer target are those of lower socioeconomic class. They not only struggle in affordability of food with sustenance, but they tend to live in areas known as "food swamps"- where instead of grocery stores at every corner, we now see unhealthy food options such as fast food - and do not know that there are other options for them.
Good!
Our idea is to implement SCT based enrichment and teaching after school programs for children where they learn about their food, i.e. where it comes from, sustainable farming, how to get proper nutrition, etc., and how to cook with what they have. If we can support children cooking meals for their parents, the children will gain a better appreciation for their food and what they put in their bodies, as well as self fulfillment and pride in the food they made for their family.
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