Researchers 'shocked' by college biology textbooks' handling of climate change

[Uncle Joe]

(snip)

Suggested action

First, they suggested publishers and educators reconsider the standard order of topics — so that it starts with organisms, then ecosystems, before diving into the microbial world.

They also suggested that climate change effects be paired with actionable solutions, which allows students to accept that it is happening while avoiding despair.

Researchers called on textbook companies to recruit more ecologists and environmental scientists as textbook authors, and ensure a better balance between microbiology and ecology, rather than treating it as an “afterthought.”

They further urged biologists to take stock of their field and called for university programs — and funding sources — focused on natural history and the biology of organisms.

https://thehill.com/policy/equilibrium-sustainability/3783615-researchers-shocked-by-college-biology-textbooks-handling-of-climate-change/

[lapfog_1]

1. I applaud the teaching of human caused climate change, but...

"They also suggested that climate change effects be paired with actionable solutions, which allows students to accept that it is happening while avoiding despair."

I sort of want the next group of college graduates to feel despair... perhaps that will make the angry enough to vote out the fossil fuel supporters.

We shouldn't sugar coat the situation.

[Uncle Joe]

2. I believe that would work toward the fossil fuel industry's

goals, despair; being the complete loss of hope.

They prefer to steer the people directly from total denial to despair "without passing GO and collecting two hundred dollars."

Just give up and accept a largely uninhabitable world and damn the consequences so long as they make mega bucks for the less than 1%

[Elessar Zappa]

3. Despair leads to inaction.

They need to know it’s serious of course but if they believe there’s no hope then they have no incentive to change anything.

[DBoon]

4. could it be that college biology tries to train medical professionals

rather than citizens informed about the environment?

Hence the emphasis on microbiology over ecology?

[Uncle Joe]

5. Yet it's all intricately tied to health, perhaps a more holistic approach

to health care would improve mortality rates?

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

[LT Barclay]

6. Depends on the realm of biology. Medical or other.

Even when I completed a BA in biology in 1987 there was a separate biology track for medical professionals and a more intense one for pre-med students.

[scipan]

7. Lately (last 5 years or so) I've gotten the idea that I can't do much.

That it's largely corporations that need to change.

Recycling, buying food with less plastics, buying recycled products, buying local: very little change even if 50% of us do it.

Am I wrong?

[Igel]

8. An undergraduate was upset

that the course didn't teach what she wanted.

It didn't tell her how she should agitate to get corporations and government to fall into line to preserve her future.

Thing is, most colleges have courses on ecology and such that fill her bill pretty precisely. They teach the politics and such. Mostly they're marginal courses in biology or in places like poli sci or geography.

You know, my linguistics courses and math classes didn't include climate change. I'm sure that was an oversight.

I have a secret to tell
From my electrical well
It's a simple message and I'm
Leaving out the whistles and bells
So the room must listen to me
Filibuster vigilantly
My name is blue canary
One note spelled l-i-t-e
My story's infinite
Like the Longines Symphonette
It doesn't rest