Ebook: Understanding Urban Ecosystems: A New Frontier for Science and Education

Nowhere on Earth is the challenge for ecological understanding greater, and yet more urgent, than in those parts of the globe where human activity is most intense - cities. People need to understand how cities work as ecological systems so they can take control of the vital links between human actions and environmental quality, and work for an ecologically and economically sustainable future. An ecosystem approach integrates biological, physical and social factors and embraces historical and geographical dimensions, providing our best hope for coping with the complexity of cities. This book is a first of its kind effort to bring together leaders in the biological, physical and social dimensions of urban ecosystem research with leading education researchers, administrators and practitioners, to show how an understanding of urban ecosystems is vital for urban dwellers to grasp the fundamentals of ecological and environmental science, and to understand their own environment.

---

Nowhere on Earth is the challenge for ecological understanding greater, and yet more urgent, than in those parts of the globe where human activity is most intense - cities. People need to understand how cities work as ecological systems so they can take control of the vital links between human actions and environmental quality, and work for an ecologically and economically sustainable future. An ecosystem approach integrates biological, physical and social factors and embraces historical and geographical dimensions, providing our best hope for coping with the complexity of cities. This book is a first of its kind effort to bring together leaders in the biological, physical and social dimensions of urban ecosystem research with leading education researchers, administrators and practitioners, to show how an understanding of urban ecosystems is vital for urban dwellers to grasp the fundamentals of ecological and environmental science, and to understand their own environment.

---

Nowhere on Earth is the challenge for ecological understanding greater, and yet more urgent, than in those parts of the globe where human activity is most intense - cities. People need to understand how cities work as ecological systems so they can take control of the vital links between human actions and environmental quality, and work for an ecologically and economically sustainable future. An ecosystem approach integrates biological, physical and social factors and embraces historical and geographical dimensions, providing our best hope for coping with the complexity of cities. This book is a first of its kind effort to bring together leaders in the biological, physical and social dimensions of urban ecosystem research with leading education researchers, administrators and practitioners, to show how an understanding of urban ecosystems is vital for urban dwellers to grasp the fundamentals of ecological and environmental science, and to understand their own environment.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xxix
Introduction: Ecosystem Understanding Is a Key to Understanding Cities....Pages 1-13
Front Matter....Pages 15-17
Why Is Understanding Urban Ecosystems an Important Frontier for Education and Educators?....Pages 19-38
The Role of Understanding Urban Ecosystems in Community Development....Pages 39-45
Why Is Understanding Urban Ecosystems Important to People Concerned About Environmental Justice?....Pages 46-57
Why Is Developing a Broad Understanding of Urban Ecosystems Important to Science and Scientists?....Pages 58-72
Front Matter....Pages 73-75
Natural Ecosystems in Cities: A Model for Cities as Ecosystems....Pages 77-94
An Ecosystem Approach to Understanding Cities: Familiar Foundations and Uncharted Frontiers....Pages 95-114
Understanding Urban Ecosystems: An Ecological Economics Perspective....Pages 115-136
Social Science Concepts and Frameworks for Understanding Urban Ecosystems....Pages 137-149
The Future of Urban Ecosystem Education from a Social Scientist’s Perspective: The Value of Involving the People You Are Studying in Your Work....Pages 150-166
A Social Ecology Approach to Understanding Urban Ecosystems and Landscapes....Pages 167-186
The Historical Dimension of Urban Ecology: Frameworks and Concepts....Pages 187-200
Urban Ecosystems, City Planning, and Environmental Education: Literature, Precedents, Key Concepts, and Prospects....Pages 201-212
A Human Ecology Model for the Tianjin Urban Ecosystem: Integrating Human Ecology, Ecosystem Science, and Philosophical Views into an Urban Eco-Complex Study....Pages 213-228
Front Matter....Pages 229-231
Psychological and Ecological Perspectives on the Development of Systems Thinking....Pages 233-260
Toward Ecology Literacy: Contributions from Project 2061 Science Literacy Reform Tools....Pages 261-281
An Interdisciplinary Approach to Urban Ecosystems....Pages 282-293
Children for Cities and Cities for Children: Learning to Know and Care About Urban Ecosystems....Pages 294-314
“Ecological Thinking” as a Tool for Understanding Urban Ecosystems: A Model from Israel....Pages 315-327
Systems Thinking and Urban Ecosystem Education....Pages 328-342
Front Matter....Pages 229-231
Approaches to Urban Ecosystem Education in Chicago: Perspectives and Processes from an Environmental Educator....Pages 343-354
“Campus Ecology” Curriculum as a Means to Teach Urban Environmental Literacy....Pages 355-369
Ecosystem Management Education: Teaching and Learning Principles and Applications with Problem-Based Learning....Pages 370-383
Using the Development of an Environmental Management System to Develop and Promote a More Holistic Understanding of Urban Ecosystems in Durban, South Africa....Pages 384-398
Front Matter....Pages 399-400
Urban Ecosystems and the Twenty-First Century—A Global Imperative....Pages 401-416
Out the Door and Down the Street—Enhancing Play, Community, and Work Environments as If Adulthood Mattered....Pages 417-429
Integrating Urban Ecosystem Education into Educational Reform....Pages 430-449
The Contribution of Urban Ecosystem Education to the Development of Sustainable Communities and Cities....Pages 450-464
Perspectives on the Future of Urban Ecosystem Education: A Summary of Cary Conference VIII....Pages 465-475
Urban Ecosystem Education in the Coming Decade: What Is Possible and How Can We Get There?....Pages 476-501
Back Matter....Pages 503-523

---

Nowhere on Earth is the challenge for ecological understanding greater, and yet more urgent, than in those parts of the globe where human activity is most intense - cities. People need to understand how cities work as ecological systems so they can take control of the vital links between human actions and environmental quality, and work for an ecologically and economically sustainable future. An ecosystem approach integrates biological, physical and social factors and embraces historical and geographical dimensions, providing our best hope for coping with the complexity of cities. This book is a first of its kind effort to bring together leaders in the biological, physical and social dimensions of urban ecosystem research with leading education researchers, administrators and practitioners, to show how an understanding of urban ecosystems is vital for urban dwellers to grasp the fundamentals of ecological and environmental science, and to understand their own environment.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xxix
Introduction: Ecosystem Understanding Is a Key to Understanding Cities....Pages 1-13
Front Matter....Pages 15-17
Why Is Understanding Urban Ecosystems an Important Frontier for Education and Educators?....Pages 19-38
The Role of Understanding Urban Ecosystems in Community Development....Pages 39-45
Why Is Understanding Urban Ecosystems Important to People Concerned About Environmental Justice?....Pages 46-57
Why Is Developing a Broad Understanding of Urban Ecosystems Important to Science and Scientists?....Pages 58-72
Front Matter....Pages 73-75
Natural Ecosystems in Cities: A Model for Cities as Ecosystems....Pages 77-94
An Ecosystem Approach to Understanding Cities: Familiar Foundations and Uncharted Frontiers....Pages 95-114
Understanding Urban Ecosystems: An Ecological Economics Perspective....Pages 115-136
Social Science Concepts and Frameworks for Understanding Urban Ecosystems....Pages 137-149
The Future of Urban Ecosystem Education from a Social Scientist’s Perspective: The Value of Involving the People You Are Studying in Your Work....Pages 150-166
A Social Ecology Approach to Understanding Urban Ecosystems and Landscapes....Pages 167-186
The Historical Dimension of Urban Ecology: Frameworks and Concepts....Pages 187-200
Urban Ecosystems, City Planning, and Environmental Education: Literature, Precedents, Key Concepts, and Prospects....Pages 201-212
A Human Ecology Model for the Tianjin Urban Ecosystem: Integrating Human Ecology, Ecosystem Science, and Philosophical Views into an Urban Eco-Complex Study....Pages 213-228
Front Matter....Pages 229-231
Psychological and Ecological Perspectives on the Development of Systems Thinking....Pages 233-260
Toward Ecology Literacy: Contributions from Project 2061 Science Literacy Reform Tools....Pages 261-281
An Interdisciplinary Approach to Urban Ecosystems....Pages 282-293
Children for Cities and Cities for Children: Learning to Know and Care About Urban Ecosystems....Pages 294-314
“Ecological Thinking” as a Tool for Understanding Urban Ecosystems: A Model from Israel....Pages 315-327
Systems Thinking and Urban Ecosystem Education....Pages 328-342
Front Matter....Pages 229-231
Approaches to Urban Ecosystem Education in Chicago: Perspectives and Processes from an Environmental Educator....Pages 343-354
“Campus Ecology” Curriculum as a Means to Teach Urban Environmental Literacy....Pages 355-369
Ecosystem Management Education: Teaching and Learning Principles and Applications with Problem-Based Learning....Pages 370-383
Using the Development of an Environmental Management System to Develop and Promote a More Holistic Understanding of Urban Ecosystems in Durban, South Africa....Pages 384-398
Front Matter....Pages 399-400
Urban Ecosystems and the Twenty-First Century—A Global Imperative....Pages 401-416
Out the Door and Down the Street—Enhancing Play, Community, and Work Environments as If Adulthood Mattered....Pages 417-429
Integrating Urban Ecosystem Education into Educational Reform....Pages 430-449
The Contribution of Urban Ecosystem Education to the Development of Sustainable Communities and Cities....Pages 450-464
Perspectives on the Future of Urban Ecosystem Education: A Summary of Cary Conference VIII....Pages 465-475
Urban Ecosystem Education in the Coming Decade: What Is Possible and How Can We Get There?....Pages 476-501
Back Matter....Pages 503-523
....