Problem-Based Learning in
Ecological Economics
Jon D. Erickson
Rubenstein School of Environment
and Natural Resources
University of Vermont
Problem-Based Learning in
Ecological Economics




What does an ecological economist do?
What approach does the ecological
economist take?
How do we train the ecological economist?
How can the ecological economist change
the world?
The ecological economist
solves problems

Problems that
are complex





Feedbacks
Non-linear
Emergent
properties
Surprise
Chaotic
behavior
The ecological economist
solves problems

Problems not suitable for experimentation
or repeatable scientific observation
VALUES
KNOWLEDGE
ENVIRONMENT
ORGANIZATION
TECHNOLOGY
The ecological economist
solves problems

Problems where data and ‘facts’
are scarce and
uncertain
The ecological economist
solves problems

Problems where there is rarely a ‘right’
answer
The ecological economist
solves problems

Problems where
the stakes are
high, and
decisions are
urgent.
To solve problems, the ecological
economist is a trans-disciplinarian

Abandoning academic autism

Autism, a disorder characterized by:



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Absorption in self-centered subjective mental activity
(such as daydreams, fantasies, delusions, and
hallucinations)
Marked deficits in communication and social
interaction
Marked withdrawal from reality
Abnormal behavior, such as . . . excessive attachment
to certain objects
To solve problems, the ecological
economist is a trans-disciplinarian


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Complementing disciplines
Expanding role of non-scientist
Problem defines methods
To solve problems, the ecological
economist is a systems thinker
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Today’s problems come from yesterday’s
“solutions”.
The harder you push, the harder a system pushes
back.
Behavior grows better before it grows worse.
The easy way out usually leads back in.
The cure can be worse than the disease.
Faster is slower.
Cause and effect are not closely related in time
and space.
Peter Senge, The Fifth Discipline
To solve problems, the ecological
economist is a systems thinker
8.
9.
10.
11.
Small changes can produce big results – but the
areas of highest leverage are often the least
obvious.
You can have your cake and eat it too – but not all
at once.
Dividing an elephant in half does not produce two
small elephants.
There is no blame.
Peter Senge, The Fifth Discipline
To solve problems, the ecological
economist practices . . .



Analysis
Synthesis
Communication
To learn problem-solving, the ecological
economist works on problems
To learn problem-solving, the ecological
economist works on problems
Vermont GPI

20,000
18,000
Burlington
Chittenden
16,000
Vermont
US
$/capita
14,000
12,000
10,000
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
1950
1960
1970
1980
Year
1990
2000

2-1
Burlington Quality of Life
Built
12%
1-1
Social
34%
2-2
1-2
2-3
2-4
Natural
27%
3-1
3-2
4-1 5-1
4-3
5-2
4-2
6-2
6-1
5-3
10-1
9-1
9-2
9-3
7-1
7-2
8-1
10-2
11-2
8-2
11-1
Human
27%
% responding very important

Forest Resource Values
State of Vermont
WHITE

Winter Sport Culture, Community, and Economy
Maine Winter Sports Center
Mission:
Reestablish skiing as a
lifestyle in Maine.
Leverage that lifestyle to create
a new economic model for rural,
isolated communities of Maine,
and create opportunities for
the youth of Maine.
To change the world, the ecological
economist finds and uses leverage
Socio-Economic Sub-Model
Scenerios
SAM_Multipliers
Land_Demand
Sectoral_Economic_Grow th
C1
Sectoral_Economic_Decline
Population
Grow th
Loss
GIS Land-Use Sub-Model
In
Land_Demand
Scenerios
Land_Built
Land_Reclamation
Total_Land_Inventory
Real_Estate_Attributes
Building
Buildable_Land
Geophysical_Attibutes
Land_Use_Location
Stock
Land_Use_Type
Land_Biophysical_Characteristics
Land_Use_Zoning
Ecosystem
Sub-Model
Scenerios
Ecosystem_Impact
Land_Development_Loading
Out
Aquatic_Dynamics
Physicochemical_Parameters
C2
Storm_Events
Water_Flow
Functional_Integretity
Biotic_Integrity
Ecosystem_Impact
Land_Use_Location
Land_Use_Type
Land_Biophysical_Characteristics
To change the world, the ecological
economist finds and uses leverage
9. Numbers
8. Material Stocks and Flows
7. Regulating Negative Feedback Loops
6. Driving Positive Feedback Loops
5. Information Flows
4. The Rules of the System
3. The Power of Self Organization
2. The Goals of the System
Donella Meadows, Places to Intervene in a System
To change the world, the ecological
economist finds and uses leverage
1. The mindset or paradigm out of which the
goals, rules, and feedback structure arises
Ecological Economics
Problem-Based Learning in
Ecological Economics




What does an ecological economist do?
What approach does the ecological
economist take?
How do we train the ecological economist?
How can the ecological economist change
the world?