On getting from being

Educated to becoming Literate

in Science and Technology

(Enhancing S&T Literacy through

Environmental Education)

Prof. Dato’ Dr. Ho Sinn-Chye

Wawasan Open University
http://www.wou.edu.my
 Talking Points

1. Environmental Education as a training

platform for nurturing S&T literacy
2. The Science/Technology/Society
(STS) way for achieving S&T literacy
3. Responsible ecotourism and
challenges of sustainability (a lesson
in natural resource management)
 Some Pertinent Questions
1. What are the qualities of a S&T literate
person?
2. Why is Environmental Education (EE) a
good platform for increasing S&T literacy?
3. Is our science curriculum well customized
and aligned to reach this goal?
 Qualities of a S&T literate person
• Applies scientific methods, logical reasoning, and
creativity in investigating the surrounding world;
• Uses concepts of S&T and considers ethical/social
values in solving everyday problems and making
responsible decisions;
• Defends decisions and actions using rational
arguments based on S&T evidences;
• Distinguishes between S&T evidence and personal
opinion…. and between reliable and unreliable
information….. and so on.
(Source: Tan, M. 2004)
 Start Here What’s up?

Let me get the

How’d it go? facts.

CRITICAL
THINKING What does
Let’s hit the it all mean?
road. CYCLE
Critical Thinking is
a Discipline, a Skill,
and an Art
What could
This is it!
happen?
But if we do that
– what then?
 About the STS Approach
• STS is not a new concept but rather a holistic
approach geared towards achieving S&T literacy in
a student/learner;
• STS means focusing on real-world problems which
have science and technology components from the
learners’ perspective;
• STS enables the learner to investigate, analyze,
and apply concepts and skill processes to real-life
situations, and to make responsible decisions in
everyday life.
 A Good STS Programme
• A good STS programme or curriculum provides
built-in opportunities or activities for learners to go
beyond the classroom to their local communities;
• The curriculum and its prescribed activities should
be appropriate for the age of the learner and be
learner-centered;
• STS ultimately empowers learners so that as future
citizens they realize they have the power to make
changes and the responsibility to do so.
(A Lesson in Marine Resource Management)
Our Marine Ecosystems
• Ecology (biodiversity, habitats)
• Living and non-living resources
• Aesthetic values (natural vista)
• Recreational values
• Historical & archaeological values
• Educational & cultural values
• Development (tourism, energy, water)
 Our Community Capital/Asset
The resources of our marine ecosystems
are a natural heritage, crucial for safe-
guarding the livelihood, cultural and
ecological values of the people. They
contribute to economic prosperity of
present and future generations.
 Community Capital
This comprises natural,
human, social and built
capital from which a
community receives
benefits and on which
the community relies for
continued existence.
Can you relate this feature to the theme
and aim of this presentation?
 Community Capital
Buildings,
Built Equipment,
Capital Information, etc.

Man-Made Materials

Abilities, Family,
Human and Education, Community,
Social Capital Skills, Health Government

People Connections

Water, Food, Soil, Hydrologic, Hills, Forests,

Natural Wood, Metal, CO2, O2 Cycles, Seashores, Corals,
Capital Energy, etc. Fisheries, etc. Wildlife, etc.

Natural Resources Ecosystem Services Nature’s Wonders

Components of a Sustainable
Island Community

(Not to Scale)
Ecotourism
Nature-based tourism that
involves education and integration
of the natural environment
(including cultural component).
It has become a big business and
revenue generating venture today!
Ecotourism
… is marketed internationally but it
is “consumed” at the point of
production – the destinations.

Key Players being the …

• Consumer (tourists)
• Producer (operators)
• Product (destinations)
 Examples of Negative Impacts

1. Erosion of over-visited sites;

2. Disturbance of wildlife nesting and breeding
activities;
3. Depletion of natural resources;
4. Trade in endangered species;
5. Consumption of energy and water;
6. Damage to landscape and nature by tourist
infra-structure, transport activities, etc.
 Responsible Ecotourism

Ecotourism is managed such that it

becomes ecologically sustainable (i.e.
ensures long-term conservation of the
resource and involves an appropriate
return to the local community.
Bottom Line
Environmental systems support the
ecotourism industry, not the reverse!
 Definition of “Sustainability”

“… improving the quality of

human life while living within the
carrying capacity of supporting
ecosystems.”
Source: IUCN / UNEP / WWF.
Caring for the Earth: A Strategy for
Sustainable Living. (Gland, Switzerland 1991)
 Carrying Capacity

“One of the most challenging tasks is

to estimate the carrying capacity of an
attraction or destination.”

“How many tourists are too many?”

 Sustainable Development
The challenge of sustainable development
arises from these two major converging trends
Decline in resource availability
and ecosystems
Diminishing
margin for Sustainability
action

Impact = Population x Consumption

x Technology
 Our Shared Vision
Our marine ecosystems are safeguarded in a
way that is consistent with the socio-economic
aspirations of our people through innovative
use of science and technology to conserve the
rich resources in the interest of sustainable
development and promotion of ecotourism.
Strategic Pathways Toward
Achieving a Shared Vision

(Source: PEMSEA 2002)

 An Integrated Approach
Enhancing the
sustainable
C development of
Natural Social
coastal resources
Processes Processes
and the marine
environment
Z Economic
Processes
M

Integrated Coastal Management

 Key Strategic Actions
1. SUSTAIN Important S&T Considerations
2. PRESERVE
3. PROTECT
4. DEVELOP
5. IMPLEMENT
6. COMMUNICATE
 Strategic Actions
1. SUSTAIN Important S&T Considerations
2. PRESERVE • Biological diversity
3. PROTECT • Carrying capacity
• Habitat rehabilitation
4. DEVELOP
• Species restocking
5. IMPLEMENT • Management of:
→ Resource
6. COMMUNICATE → Environment
→ Water quality
 Strategic Actions
1. SUSTAIN Important S&T Considerations
2. PRESERVE • Genetic diversity
3. PROTECT • Archaeological feature
• Cultural heritage
4. DEVELOP
5. IMPLEMENT
6. COMMUNICATE
 Strategic Actions
1. SUSTAIN Important S&T Considerations
2. PRESERVE • Pollution prevention
3. PROTECT • Threatened species
• Fragile habitats
4. DEVELOP
• Freshwater source
5. IMPLEMENT • Wilderness
6. COMMUNICATE protection
 Strategic Actions
1. SUSTAIN Important S&T Considerations
2. PRESERVE • Project master plan
3. PROTECT • S&T / R&D projects
• HRD programs
4. DEVELOP
• Eco-tourism
5. IMPLEMENT Guidelines
6. COMMUNICATE • Strategic partnership
• Water & power supply
• Waste treatment
• Standards & control
 Strategic Actions
1. SUSTAIN Important S&T Considerations
2. PRESERVE • Good governance
3. PROTECT • Master Plan
• Management plans
4. DEVELOP
• R&D projects
5. IMPLEMENT • Education programs
• HRD programs
6. COMMUNICATE
 Strategic Actions
1. SUSTAIN Important S&T Considerations
2. PRESERVE • Community Education
3. PROTECT • Info dissemination
• Scientific outputs
4. DEVELOP
• Informed stakeholders
5. IMPLEMENT • Public participation
6. COMMUNICATE
 Core Values of Env. Education

• Systems inter- • Population growth &

connectedness carrying capacity
• Biodiversity & • Geochemical cycles
ecosystem stability • Stewardship and
• Cont. change cooperation
• Balance of nature • Sustainable
• Finite resources development
 Identify problem
Start Here (What’s up?) Investigate
problem
Evaluate action (Just give me the
(How’d it go?) facts.)

ACTION-
Implement RESEARCH Evaluate data
action
(Let’s hit the MODEL (What does it
all mean?)
road.)
(Identify a new
problem and follow
Select best
procedure)
List possible
action actions
(This is it!) (What could
Predict outcomes happen?)
(But if we do that –
what then?)
 Parting Shots

1) Environmental Education is an
excellent platform for enhancing S&T
literacy in our students/citizens;
2) Start greening the EE curriculum the
STS way;
3) Create quality experiential learning
environments that nurture S&T
literacy.
 Thank You

Prof. Dato’ Dr. Ho Sinn-Chye

Wawasan Open University
http://www.wou.edu.my