Helga KROMP-KOLB1, Thomas LINDENTHAL1, Wolfgang KROMP2
1BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Austria, gW/N; 2BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Austria, ISR
The risk of the wrong priorities in university education
1. Center for
Global Change
and Sustainability
The Risk of Wrong Priorities
in University Education
Helga Kromp-Kolb, Thomas Lindenthal,
Adam Pawloff, Wolfgang Kromp
BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna
Center for Global Change and Sustainability
2. The Challenge:
Center for
Global Change
and Sustainability
World in disruption
BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences
• Ecological crisis
• Energy crisis
• Social crisis
• Economic crisis
• Financial crisis
Vienna
• Political crisis / crisis of democracy
• ……..
These crises are interconnected and
cannot be solved individually
IDRC Davos 2012.08.26 Risk of Wrong University Education Helga Kromp-Kolb et al. 2012
3. Center for
Global Change
and Sustainability
BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences
Vienna
IDRC Davos 2012.08.26 Risk of Wrong University Education Helga Kromp-Kolb et al. 2012
4. Global temperature change Center for
Global Change
relative to 1800-1990 average
and Sustainability
BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences
Climate
+4,6 (+5,1) Stabilisation
+3,6 (+4,1) probably not
possible
Vienna
+1,8 (+2,3)
probably
possible
Copenhagen Diagnosis 2009
IDRC Davos 2012.08.26 Risk of Wrong University Education Helga Kromp-Kolb et al. 2012
5. Energy crisis Center for
Oil production world
Global Change
and Sustainability
summary
BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences
Energy Watch Group
120 120
WEO2006
Middle East Peak Oil: WEO 2006
Africa
100 Latin America Point in time when 100
South Asia production cannot
Oil production [Mb/d]
East Asia be increased
80 China 80
Transition Economies -3,7 %/a
Vienna
OECD Pacific IEA 2008
60 OECD Europe 60
OECD North America
40 40
20 20
0 0
1935 1945 1955 1965 1975 1985 1995 2005 2015 2025
IDRC Davos 2012.08.26 Risk of Wrong University Education Helga Kromp-Kolb et al. 2012
6. Social crisis …. Center for
Global Change
and Sustainability
BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences
• In the
competitio
n between
fuel for
cars and
Vienna
food for
people the
cars will
win.
Monbiot 2006
IDRC Davos 2012.08.26 Risk of Wrong University Education Helga Kromp-Kolb et al. 2012
7. Economic crisis
Center for
Global Change
and Sustainability
BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences
Vienna
From: Steffen et al. 2004 Source: IGBP 2001
IGBP, 2004
IDRC Davos 2012.08.26 Risk of Wrong University Education Helga Kromp-Kolb et al. 2012
8. io
n n ct
ire t
Center for
t io
on e
Global Change
a t d e
ul a
and Sustainability
p ul gn en rb id 2O ha
n
Po Po
p e i s tm Ca o x N et
or ve
F in di M
BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences
l
se e r on ra hes
s ru iz i u
at rop
am e til pt
D at e r um
F s
N t
s
W ta
C on ca
s ne
Vienna
ld
n n er tion na n . l zo s
ba tio ap p
P m Do cea st sta ture
r a c O osy
U ul su M o a ru c
p op con Ec C st
e d
f at
es o
s est ic i ty
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o l ho r is os for e
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M ic le
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T r ai o
Bi lo
v
From: Steffen et al. 2004 Source: IGBP 2001
IGBP, 2004
IDRC Davos 2012.08.26 Risk of Wrong University Education Helga Kromp-Kolb et al. 2012
9. Center for
Global Change
and Sustainability
BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences
• The defining challenge of our he is to
age
rt
s e s?
safeguard Earth’s natural tprocesses to
ma ise
ensure the survival of civilization
to cr
ng iple reducing
while eradicatingi poverty,
elp ult
eh sm
Vienna
conflict over resources, and
nc ou
cie human and ecosystem
supportingane
Is s ult
health.
s im
PuP “State of the Planet Declaration”
Declaration 2012
IDRC Davos 2012.08.26 Risk of Wrong University Education Helga Kromp-Kolb et al. 2012
10. Responsibility vis-à-vis
society calls for paradigm Center for
Global Change
and Sustainability
change
BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences
• besides how research is done, what is being
researched becomes essential
• dealing with challenges society faces not
issues lucrative financially or for ‘scientific
standing’
Vienna
• real world problems rarely can be framed in
a disciplinary manner considered
unscientific
• “If it is countable, it may not count; if it
counts, it may not be countable.”
(Froudeman 2011)
• answers to pressing questions with high,
IDRC Davos 2012.08.26 Risk of Wrong University Education Helga Kromp-Kolb et al. 2012
11. Sustainability science Center for
Global Change
and Sustainability
BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences
• Topics relevant for society (safeguard
Earth’s natural processes to ensure the
survival of civilization)
• Transparent research, accessible results
• Systems thinking & interdisciplinary
research,
Vienna
• Knowledge transfer into and from society as
responsibility of scientists
• Transdisciplinarity: no rigid separation of
“academics” and “non-academics”
• Responsibility for the consequences of its
work
• Restricted monetisation of education &
IDRC Davos 2012.08.26 Risk of Wrong University Education Helga Kromp-Kolb et al. 2012
12. Transparency and
independance: Center for
Global Change
and Sustainability
WHO and IAEA
BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences
• Whenever either organisation [the WHO or
the IAEA] proposes to initiate a programme
or activity on a subject in which the other
organisation has or may have a substantial
interest, the first party shall consult the
other with a view to adjusting the matter by
Vienna
mutual agreement."
Clause 12.40 of WHO and IAEA agreement (28 May
1959)
• "The agency shall seek to accelerate and
enlarge the contribution of atomic energy
to peace, health and prosperity through the
IDRCworld."
Davos 2012.08.26 Risk of Wrong University Education Helga Kromp-Kolb et al. 2012
13. Interdisciplinarity: Center for
Global Change
Energy crunch and Sustainability
BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences
• Energy accounts for ~5% of GDP
• 3% drop in energy 0.15% decline in
GDP
nothing to worry about?
Vienna
• Ayres Model: 75% of GDP growth is
due to increased net energy use
• 3% drop in energy 2.25% decline in
GDP
Never seen over prolonged time by
IDRC Davos 2012.08.26 Risk of Wrong University Education Helga Kromp-Kolb et al. 2012
14. Responsibility: Center for
Global Change
'GM Genocide' and Sustainability
• More than 1,000 farmers kill themselves in
BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences
Indian „suicide belt“ each month
• Prince Charles claims the issue of GM has
become a 'global moral question'
• But genetic engineering scientists feel no
responsibility for the use their work is put
Vienna
to.
• Memories of Hitlers Germany and post-war
accusations: „Once the rockets are up, who
cares where they come down – thats not
my department, says Wernher von Braun“
[Tom Lehrer 1960es]
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1082559/The-GM-genocide-Thousands-Indian-fa
IDRC Davos 2012.08.26 Risk of Wrong University Education Helga Kromp-Kolb et al. 2012
15. Center for
Obstacles
Global Change
and Sustainability
BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences
• Trans- and interdisciplinarity not rigorosly
defined
• Need for supplementary evaluation criteria
– Societal impact (relevance and impact of
research on practice or society,
“accountability”)
Vienna
– Sustainability impact (impact on society against
criteria of sustainability)
• Change in paradigm is painful
• Institutional obstacles in education and
research
– Disciplinary structure at universities
– No established qualification procedure for young
scientists with inter- and transdisciplinary focus
IDRC Davos 2012.08.26 Risk of Wrong University Education Helga Kromp-Kolb et al. 2012
16. Role of Universities Center for
Global Change
and Sustainability
BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences
• must take lead in paradigm shift
– shape the coming generations of decision-
makers and opinion leaders
– enjoy a significant measure of
independence from political and economic
Vienna
interests
• meet strong obstacles
– Self-perpetuating academic system
– Individual and group egoisms to be
transcended
– Lack of incentives for cooperation and
solidarity Risk of Wrong University Education
IDRC Davos 2012.08.26 Helga Kromp-Kolb et al. 2012
17. Positive examples Center for
Global Change
and Sustainability
BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences
• interdisciplinarity, foresight, responsibility
– Villach Conference 1985
– WBGU Reports
– ICSU and IGBP (2010)
• Transparency, Monetisation
Vienna
– Report on the Fukushima Nuclear Accident by
the NAIIC (2012)
• Others
– Desaster Reduction – interdisciplinary,
transdisciplinary, but local, global context could
be strengthened
IDRC Davos 2012.08.26 Risk of Wrong University Education Helga Kromp-Kolb et al. 2012
18. Institutional Changes Center for
Global Change
and Sustainability
BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences
• National level
– Networks of Universities (Alliance of Sustainable
Universities in Austria, Ethics Plattform at BOKU)
– Lüneburg, Oldenburg, Kassel
– …
Vienna
• International
– Copernicus Network
– Higher Education Sustainable Development
Initiative (2012)
– ……
IDRC Davos 2012.08.26 Risk of Wrong University Education Helga Kromp-Kolb et al. 2012
19. Center for
Global Change
and Sustainability
BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences
• Sustainability science cannot replace
disciplinary science
• Society needs to enter a debate on
how much of the budget and of
Vienna
research capacity is to be invested in
each
IDRC Davos 2012.08.26 Risk of Wrong University Education Helga Kromp-Kolb et al. 2012
20. Center for
Global Change
and Sustainability
Thank you for your attention!
Helga Kromp-Kolb
Center for Global Change and Sustainability
and
Institute of Meteorology
BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences
Peter Jordanstraße 82, A-1190 Wien
Tel.: +43 1 47654 - 5600, Fax: +43 1 47654 - 5610
meteorologie@boku.ac.at, www.boku.ac.at
21. ICSU and IGBP (2010):
5 main challenges science Center for
Global Change
and Sustainability
faces
BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences
• Enhance Foresights: which environmental
changes, what effects, best responses
• integrating past and present observations,
natural and social features and stakeholders
into research
• Study proximity to ecological boundaries and
tipping points and enhance resilience of social
Vienna
and environmental systems
• overcome current systems of political and
economic governance which favour short-term
incentives and aid responses at multiple
geographical, temporal and political scales and
between differing interests and beliefs.
• improving the real-world applicability of
findings and change science-policy interface
to increase the capacity of civil society and
IDRC Davos 2012.08.26 Risk of Wrong University Education Helga Kromp-Kolb et al. 2012