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Related Experiment Videos

Neuroscience and Sustainability: An Online Module on "Environmental Neuroscience".

Uta Wolfe1, Hannah Lindeborg1

  • 1Department of Psychology, Program for Neuroscience, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN, 55105, USA.

Journal of Undergraduate Neuroscience Education : JUNE : a Publication of FUN, Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience
|January 9, 2019
PubMed
Summary

Integrating environmental neuroscience into undergraduate education enhances student understanding of sustainability. This module improved knowledge and fostered a greater connection to nature, promoting eco-friendly behaviors.

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Neuroscience
  • Neuroscience Education
  • Sustainability Science

Background:

  • Neuroscience has critical applications to environmental sustainability, including neurotoxicity, sensory noise impacts, and neural bases of decision-making, yet it's underrepresented in undergraduate curricula.
  • Environmental psychology is established, but "environmental neuroscience" is not widely recognized in educational settings, despite its relevance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present a model for integrating environmental neuroscience content into undergraduate classes.
  • To assess the impact of an "Environmental Neuroscience Module" on student understanding, application of concepts, and connection to nature.

Main Methods:

  • Students completed a stand-alone online module involving reading and reflective writing on popular science articles about environmental neuroscience.
Keywords:
environmental educationinterdisciplinaryneuroscience educationonline teachingpedagogy

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  • A knowledge test was administered to compare students who completed the module with a control group.
  • Self-ratings of connectedness to nature were collected.

    • Main Results:

    • Students reported enhanced understanding of class material and improved application of neuroscience to sustainability and personal lives.
    • Students who completed the module demonstrated superior performance on an environmental neuroscience knowledge test compared to the control group.
    • Module completion correlated with higher self-rated connectedness to nature, a known predictor of eco-friendly behaviors.

    Conclusions:

    • The "Environmental Neuroscience Module" serves as an effective model for enriching neuroscience education with environmental applications and promoting sustainability.
    • This approach can foster novel interdisciplinary integrations between neuroscience and environmental studies.
    • Teaching neuroscience within the context of societal issues like sustainability can engage a diverse student body.