MIT is known for having the best and brightest students and faculty from around the world. If students and scientists here are aware of and involved in environmental education and research, they will set precedent for their peers as well as for future generations. The Institute's Mission Statement claims:
"The mission of MIT is to advance knowledge and educate studens in science, technology, and other areas of scholarship that will best serve the nation and the world in the 21st century...We seek to develop in each member of the MIT community the ability and passssion to work wisely, creatively, and effectively for the betterment of humankind."
Environmental sustainability is one of the greatest challenges facing us in the 21st century. Improving and promoting environmental education, therefore, should be a top priority at MIT. We should seek to involve more faculty and students, and we should see environmentally sound research and innovation happening in every MIT department.
We have come up with suggestions we think MIT could make environmental education more 'pervasive.' Included is a short description of each recommendation.
This column would educate the MIT community about what research faculty and students are doing to explore environment and sustainability issues.
Students would be required to take one class which focuses on environmental issues. The class could be a HASS-D, a REST or a class within the student's major.
While it is not necessary for every faculty member to have an environmental focus to their research, it is important that they understand the implications of their work. If faculty are aware of how they are impacting the environment and working to decrease their impact, citations, such as those received by MIT from the EPA in 1998, can be avoided.
As our results show, departments, faculty and students are active in environmental education and research at MIT. However, we need to make this known. Environmental issues and research could be featured once or twice a month in the Spotlight section on the MIT homepage. Upcoming lecturer and seminar information could be emailed to the entire MIT community once a month or a special environmental events section could be added to The Tech.