Addressing the social justice and human dimensions of ecology through socio-ecological case studies

Mallory M. Rice, San Francisco State University

Ecology often presents “doom and gloom” scenarios that leave students feeling unresolved about how they can apply their ecological knowledge for positive change. Further, ecology courses rarely disclose how various human communities are differentially impacted by ecological processes, such as climate change, overfishing, etc. To showcase the social justice components of ecology, educators can integrate socio-ecological case studies in their courses. Socio-ecological case studies highlight the differential impacts environmental issues have on human populations while underscoring the diversity of perspectives, life experiences, and ideas needed to resolve the complex issues we face in ecology.