Mathematics of Planet Earth

Workshop Announcement

The issues facing the planet call for a new type of workforce, trained in multidisciplinary and multi-national communication and collaboration. To function in this rapidly changing world, math students will need to appreciate the most important concepts at the interface between their discipline and others. They will need to develop an increasingly sophisticated understanding of the ways that disciplines interact, the new knowledge that is created through this interaction, and the new educational and career opportunities in an increasingly multidisciplinary world. Students from non-mathematical disciplines will benefit from observing the importance of mathematical sciences tools for their discipline. There has never been a more crucial time to ensure that we train the next generation of scientists, engineers, and decision makers to be able to think broadly across disciplines.

Multidisciplinary education should be encouraged at all educational levels. Introducing community college students to multidisciplinary activities focusing on issues of sustainability could play a central role in preparing and encouraging students to extend their education beyond the 2-year experience. However, community colleges face several challenges for integrating sustainability activities into curricula. This workshop addresses educational, logistic, and administrative challenges faced by community college faculty and administrators who wish to iintegrate sustainability activities into existing curricula.

The workshop will be held simultaneously at Northampton Community College in Bethlehem, PA and Catawba Valley Community College, NC. Interdisciplinary teams from regional community colleges will participant in both virtual and on-site sessions to discuss how best to overcome educational, logistic, and administrative challenges when integrating sustainability activities into existing curricula.