This is the STEM Forum 2018 presentation

1. Creating a Sustainable Future: STEM
Interdisciplinary Decision-making with MEAs
Deborah Kozdras dkozdras@usf.edu
Christine Angel Danger christine.danger@sdhc.k12.fl.us
https://modelelicitingactivities.weebly.com/

2. Will There Be Enough?:
Tragedy of the Commons
• Exploration of the
relationship between
people and their
environment.
• Exploration of how
people regulate their
use of scarce
resources.
• Exploration of how
people deal with
“externalities”

3. Problem
Decision
Choice
Choice
___________
___________
Bad
Good ___________
___________
Good
Bad

4. Problems Not Included in Traditional Circular
Economy Model: Scarcity and Externalities

5. Sustainability Paradigm Ikerd, 2012:
5 Key Principles:
• Principle 1: All materials
come from the environment
• Principle 2: Economic activity
involves the transformation of
natural materials
• Principle 3: The environment
is the final “sink” into which all
wastes go
• Principle 4: There is no
“away” (wastes can change
physical or chemical form, but
do not leave the environment)
• Principle 5: The environment
provides critical life-sustaining
services

7. "But now," says the Once-ler,
"Now that you're here,
the word of the Lorax seems perfectly clear.
UNLESS someone like you
cares a whole awful lot,
nothing is going to get better.
It's not.
"SO...
Catch!" calls the Once-ler.
He lets something fall.
"It's a Truffula Seed.
It's the last one of all!
You're in charge of the last of the Truffula
Seeds.
And Truffula Trees are what everyone needs.
Plant a new Truffula. Treat it with care.
Give it clean water. And feed it fresh air.
Grow a forest. Protect it from axes that hack.
Then the Lorax and all of his friends may come
back.

8. Profit-Economic
Planet-Environment
People-Social

9. And the Humming Fish which cannot
live in “gluppity glop” and “schloppity
schlop” go in search of clean water.
(Water pollution)
•http://eschooltoday.com/pollution/water-pollution/prevention-of-water-pollution.html
•https://www.simsbury-ct.gov/water-pollution-control/pages/ten-things-you-can-do-to-re

10. The Swomee Swans, with “smogulous smog” in
their lungs, also fly for clearer skies. (Air pollution)
•https://www.des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/air/tsb/ams/aqmdp/share.htm
•https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/41-super-
easy-ways-to-stop-air-pollution.php
•https://helpsavenature.com/ways-to-prevent-air-
pollution

11. The Bar-ba-loots are forced to leave town as there
are no more Truffula fruits to eat. (Habitat
destruction) (deforestation)
•http://www.theworldcounts.com/stories/Deforestation
-Facts-for-Kids
•https://www.conserve-energy-
future.com/phenomenal-ways-to-stop-deforestation-
and-protect-our-planet.php
•https://www.eartheclipse.com/environment/fantastic-
solutions-to-deforestation.html

12. Sustainable Thneeds Inc.
2015 Solution Way
Cleanville, FL 36498
Dear Students,
My name is The More Than Once-ler and I am the new Sustainability Manager of
Sustainable Thneeds Inc., a manufacturing company in Florida. We are building a
new factory in Florida and need to decide which type of energy to use to power it.
The kids in the local community want us to use a form of energy that will protect
Florida’s environment so that they will have a clean and safe place to live when they
grow up.
We need to know what type of energy you would suggest that our developers use in
our new factory. We have given you an energy chart to help you make your
decision.
Please write us back on the attached template, including how you arrived at your
decision. Thank you for your assistance with this project!
Regards,
The More Than Once-ler
Sustainable Thneeds Inc.

15. Dear The More Than Once-ler,
Our team has reviewed all of the data that you provided and are suggesting the
following types of energy for Sustainable Thneeds Inc. We have ranked the types of
energy in order beginning with our top choice.
Top Choice of Energy:
Alternate Choice #1: Alternate Choice #2:
Alternate Choice #3: Alternate Choice #4:
The evidence we used to make our choice was:
Our step-by-step procedure for selecting our top choice of energy was:
Thank you for the opportunity to assist you with this project!
Sincerely,

16. Sustainable Thneeds Inc.
2015 Solution Way
Cleanville, FL 36498
Dear Students,
Thank you for your recommendations.
We have eliminated some of the nonrenewable sources of energy based on
recommendations from you and other kids. We added nuclear power because it is
very cheap. Please find out more about nuclear power by reading the article we
have sent to you and consider it as an option too.
We need to use a type of energy you would that does not cost too much. We have
given you an energy cost chart to help you make your decision. This chart shows
how much it would cost to build the components we need to produce each type of
energy.
Our company cannot exceed the $700,000 budget for energy use.
Please write us back on the attached template, including how you arrived at your
decision. Thank you for your assistance with this project!
Regards,
The More Than Once-ler
Sustainable Thneeds Inc.

18. Design a Solution

19. Creating a Sustainable Future: STEM
Interdisciplinary Decision-making with MEAs
Deborah Kozdras dkozdras@usf.edu
Christine Angel Danger christine.danger@sdhc.k12.fl.us
https://modelelicitingactivities.weebly.com/