文/ 中研院環境變遷研究中心 袁美華 助研究員
The Taiwan International Graduate Program in Earth System Science (TIGPESS) introduced the "Anthroposphere and Sustainability" course since 2021 Spring Semester. This core course is designed to bolster students' comprehension of Earth System Science, with a specific focus on exploring the intricate interplay between human activities and the Earth's systems. Presently, numerous courses worldwide address sustainable development; however, there is a notable scarcity of programs that specifically focus on the profound impact of the Anthroposphere and provide strategies for mitigating its effects.

The Anthropocene refers to the period since the Industrial Revolution, during which human activities have had significant and lasting effects on the Earth's environment. Anthroposphere emphasizes the sphere that humans have become a dominant force shaping the Earth's systems. In response to the challenges posed by the Anthroposphere, sustainability has gained prominence. Sustainability involves meeting the current generation's needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own, seeking to balance economic, social, and environmental considerations for the thriving of present and future generations.

The Anthroposphere and sustainability are closely linked. The challenges presented by the Anthroposphere highlight the urgency of adopting sustainable practices to mitigate further environmental degradation and ensure a viable future for generations to come. Understanding and addressing the complex interactions between human activities and the environment are crucial steps in navigating the Anthroposphere and working towards a more sustainable and resilient planet. Key principles of sustainability in the Anthroposphere include the consideration of social equity and justice, integrating transition possibilities in each socio-technical frontier of governance into policy analysis, and learning and applying methods for risk assessment while integrating relevant knowledge from natural sciences.

These significances of the course are not only manifested academically but also provide practical tools and perspectives for addressing complex challenges in the real world. The course, with a total credit value of three units, addresses its objectives through four core modules:

Module 1: Environment-Human Interactions

• Critically analyze the past, present, and future of the anthroposphere and its implications for sustainable development.
• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of humans as both the cause of and a solution to environmental problems.
• Develop the understanding to navigate and critically analyze key aspects and developments in health and environmental deterioration.

Module 2: Societal Systems

• Engage critically with resilient urban systems through the lens of living-space management.
• Consider the interlinkages between different environmental compartments such as water, food, and energy from a management perspective.
• Develop a critical understanding of trajectories for sustainable systems of consumption and production.

Module 3: Environmental Governance

• Understand environmental ethics reshaping social and environmental relationships.
• Integrate possible transitions in each socio-technical frontier of governance into policy analysis.
• Learn and apply methods for risk assessment while integrating relevant natural science knowledge.
• Apply methods, concepts, and frameworks to case study materials on conflicting interests between government and stakeholders.

Module 4: Integration and Methodology

• Compare and critique frameworks for contextualizing transdisciplinary approaches driving and accelerating change towards sustainable development.
• Acquire the ability to move from real-world problems with these features to possible solutions.

In actual scenarios where students demonstrate a significant diversity in their professional backgrounds, it becomes imperative to make requisite adaptations in both the curriculum design and the instructional delivery, encompassing the pace and depth facilitated by the educators. The teaching faculty of this course is highly diverse, comprising six faculty members from the Research Center for Environmental Changes at Academia Sinica. Additionally, experts from various fields within Academia Sinica, including the Institute of Earth Sciences, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Economics, and Institute of Sociology, are also among the instructors. Further expertise is brought in through several adjunct professors invited from the Department of Geosciences, the Department of Geography, and the International Degree Program in Climate Change and Sustainable Development, as well as the Risk Society and Policy Research Center at National Taiwan University and Chung Yuan Christian University. Additionally, the course places a strong emphasis on class discussions and hands-on activities, leading to the integration of pre-readings, discussion outlines, and post-session assignments into most modules.

In the post-course satisfaction survey, students expressed positive feedback regarding the course introduction to current cutting-edge theories in sustainable development. They also highlighted the positive impact on their academic perspectives and the reinforced practical capabilities poised to enrich their future pursuits and professional endeavors.