Eco-learning arrives at PSU
A new program is in the works to help students and community members understand the Earth better. This summer kicks off the beginning of the Portland International Initiative for Ecology, Culture and Learning (PIIECL).
This new program offers interdisciplinary and internationally oriented masters and doctoral degrees.
PIIECL has specialized studies in areas such as urban ecology, agro-ecology, feminism and ecology, ecological education (K-Higher Education), and indigenous cultures and ecology.
A series of discussions, panels and workshops all dealing with the topic of “Leadership for Sustainability” helped launch the new program.
“This is a most exciting day for Portland State and the community at large,” said Phyllis J. Edmundson, dean of the school of education
Dilafruz Williams, professor in the graduate school of education, said this year’s topic fits in with President Bernstine’s Initiative for Sustainability.
This summer event has been six months in the making. Parajuli said it was just a matter of putting substance behind the ideas.
“We wanted to create an environment for this new course,” Parajuli said.
The “environment” Parajuli and Williams have created have been days filled with 13 visiting scholars and activists discussing topics related to ecology.
Parajuli said they would like to do similar workshops every summer with new topics each year.
In a lunch discussion on Friday, July 12, award-winning author Freeman House spoke. House is the founder of the bioregional approach to environmentalism. He is also the author of the award-winning book, “Totem Salmon: Life Lessons From Another Species.”
To an audience of around 70 people, House spoke of his experiences working as a watershed-based community organizer.
“It is really exciting and a little daunting to be the first speaker,” House said in a post-discussion interview.
House spoke to the group of mostly students about how important it is to know where people are in the world.
“As ideas of the land change, the land changes to that idea,” House said. “Memories of the original shapes of the land has become dim.”
House said one of the questions that needs to be addressed is how do we learn to live indigenously in the 21st century. He posed that humans need to determine how they fit as one of many species of the world.
House said it was imperative to involve students in this process whenever possible.
One way that students can get involved at PSU is to register with PIIECL.
According to Williams, PIIECL is for people with broad interests. He also said there will be information sessions available for students who are interested in eco-learning.
“It would combine the theoretical knowledge to the practical knowledge,” Parajuli said.
Williams said PIIECL would include an active internship component for students. Students would have the opportunity to do exchange work internationally as well.
Internships would be in places such as Nepal, India, Mexico and South Africa.
People who are interested in learning more about PIIECL or who are interested in attending the last weekend of events Friday, July 19 and Saturday, July 20 should visit www.piiecl.pdx.edu. Or call Parajuli and Williams at 503-725-4684.
