Letter from the Director

If you have more than a causal interest in environmental issues and are looking at the possibilities of developing an environmentally related career you need to know that "environment" is fundamentally different from many other fields of study. If I had to express only three thoughts about environmental ideas to today's college student I would be sure to include the following: 

1. Environmental Studies (or as it may be called elsewhere Environmental Science, Environmental Education, Natural Resource Management etc.). is an interdisciplinary field. Hence, No single field is sufficient to solve real world environmental problems. The biologist, the chemist, the land planner, the legal advisor and many more disciplinarians, has an important role to play . Since no one person will be expert in every field, environmental professionals need to be fluent and to appreciate what each of these fields brings to the table. We need expert thinking but we also need to counter balance this with systems thinking and analysis. What use is a solution, you think is absolutely perfect, if it turns out to be economically unfeasible or socially unacceptable? The moral, political, economic and social dimensions of environmental issues must be addressed, along with the more obvious scientific and technical parts of the problem. 
2. Education is the long term key to sustainable environmental progress. Almost all citizens are supportive of environmental progress and many have a real affinity for the beauty of the natural world. However, they often lack a true understanding of issues and a background necessary to make informed, rational decisions about environmental affairs. This "problem of perception" is something that will always be with us, to one degree or another, but it doesn't mean we can do nothing about it. We must always be prepared to answer people's questions and concerns. We need to bring them along with us on the road to environmental improvements. Taking the time and effort to make them part of the solution is a long term investment and will make for better long term solutions. Showing them how their own lifestyle choices and consumer choices affect the environment is also important. Every person has a personal liability and responsibility for many of our current problems. Every person must be involved in their solution. 
3. Although we have made progress on some of the more visible environmental issues from the 1970's to the 1990's (especially in the United States) most of the really important issues are global in character and most of them are still ahead of us in the beginning of the 21st century. I don't assume ecological catastrophe, Nor do I presume a road to ecological Utopia in the years to come. What we face is the dawn of a new era -an unprecedented time in the history of humanity. Much of what is happening today cannot continue indefinitely without some kind of radical restructuring of basic human and ecological systems. Today's college students will live most of their adult lives in this critical period. We desperately need young leaders well versed in the issues to take charge and make the difficult decisions that will protect the natural world, while allowing human society to progress in sustainable ways. This is an extremely difficult thing to ask but we really have no choice in the matter. Either we will rule the events as we see them happening or they will rule us and we will be swept by a rising tide of ecological crises. We need every college student today to be fully informed and cognizant of what lies ahead and to realize how they can actively contribute to a better life for all in the coming century. 

I hope that you will ponder these points as you think about Environmental Studies as a possible academic field of study. We try to embody this kind of thinking in our curriculum and courses and in all of our students. Please contact me directly if you would like to comment on any of the above statements or if you would like information about Environmental Studies at St. John's. 

With much hope and concern for the future and with a strong faith in you. 

Sincerely William Nieter, Director Environmental Studies Program