Current interests
in environmental sustainability, environmental health,
environmental literacy, and formal and informal science
education are the basis for our new research initiative.
Two areas of concern attract our attention
as top priorities for study:
(1) global climate change and other impacts of increased
carbon
dioxide concentrations (mitigation and adaptation)
(2) health and ecological impacts of environmental pollution
and ingestion of toxic substances
Why do individuals and lawmakers make
choices that run counter to scientific knowledge and
risk assessment when harm is very likely to follow?
How can damage to health and the environment be addressed
through education and action? Quantitative and qualitative
methods in “Participatory Action Research”
provide pathways to involve research subjects in collaborative
efforts to solve environmental and health problems.
Action research allows simultaneous development of data
sets and new knowledge relating to the problems being
addressed. Participatory Action Research (PAR) is probably
most familiar through educational research programs
in the area of public health.
PAR employs recursive methods involving
cycles of observation (including self-study), reflection,
and action, allowing both researchers and collaborative
subjects an opportunity to break free of past beliefs
and practices, and to base future actions on new knowledge
and more conscious choices. In the case of our work,
the purpose is to explore why individuals and lawmakers
choose practices and legislation that runs counter to
scientific knowledge regarding health and ecology, and
that causes expansive harm to individuals and ecosystems.
Action steps, including self-study and education, will
be tested and modified to determine what practices lead
to better outcomes, in terms of environment, health,
and environmental literacy for members of various groups.
Connections among knowledge of environmental and health
science, environmental and health literacy, and choices
relating to lifestyle, work style, and public policy
will be considered.
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