cwei
Main profile
- Explain why addressing environmental problems requires both natural and social science perspectives.
- Explain why a systems perspective is important for studying environmental problems.
- Summarize what the process of socio-environmental synthesis involves and why this research approach is important.
Cynthia Wei is the Associate Director of Education at SESYNC. In this role, she works to advance the teaching and learning of socio-environmental synthesis by developing, running, and supporting several SESYNC programs and initiatives. Prior to coming to SESYNC, she worked on several national STEM education programs and initiatives related to biology education, climate change education, evolution education, and the role of community colleges in STEM education, work which built on her experiences as a K-12 science teacher and college-level biology instructor. This work was completed during her time as an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science and Technology Policy Fellow at the National Science Foundation (NSF)’s Division of Undergraduate Education and a Christine Mirzayan Science & Technology Policy Fellow at the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). Prior to moving to DC, Dr. Wei researched animal cognition. At the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, where she was a postdoctoral research associate, she combined psychological and biological approaches to research the cognitive abilities of corvids. She also studied learning and navigation in honeybees at Michigan State University, where she earned a dual-degree Ph.D. in zoology and ecology, evolutionary biology, and behavior. She holds a B.A. in biology (neurobiology and behavior) from Cornell University
| Resources | |
|---|---|
| A Framework for Teaching Socio-Environmental Problem Solving |
Apr 11, 2020 Article published in Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences. |
| Pursuing the Promise of Case Studies for Sustainability and Environmental Education: Converging Initiatives |
Apr 02, 2018 Article published in Case Studies in the Environment. |
| Sustainability Matters for Undergraduate Teaching and Learning |
Aug 27, 2015 Article published in Journal on Excellence in College Teaching. |
| Tutorial 2- Systems Perspectives and Dynamics |
Jan 11, 2015 This tutorial provides an overview of systems perspectives and the importance of understanding the behavior and dynamics of systems. An overview of ways in which systems are described and studied using diagrams and models is also described. Learning goals for this tutorial include: |
| Tutorial 3- Understanding Socio-environmental Systems: Thresholds, States, and Resilience |
Jan 11, 2015 This tutorial describes basic concepts important for understanding the complex behavior of systems. Learning goals for this tutorial include: |
| Tutorial 4- Understanding Socio-environmental Systems: Hierarchy and Scale |
Jan 11, 2015 This tutorial provides an introduction to concepts of hierarchy and scale and their importance for understanding socio-environmental systems. Learning Goals include: |
| Tutorial 5- Understanding Socio-environmental Systems: Adaptive Cycles |
Jan 11, 2015 This tutorial provides a basic introduction to the concept of adaptive cycles and their utility for understanding socio-environmental systems. Learning goals include: |
| Tutorial 1- Overview of Socio-environmental Synthesis |
Jan 10, 2015 This tutorial provides an overview of the socio-environmental research and problem solving approach. Learning goals for this tutorial include: In the Appendix of this Tutorial is a brief description of concept maps, general guidelines for creating concept maps, and references about concept mapping. |
| Teaching socio-environmental synthesis with the case studies approach |
Dec 11, 2014 Article published in the Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences. |
| The Blind Spot in the Green Revolution: Temples, Terraces & Rice Farmers of Bali |
Jun 11, 2014 This resource was developed as part of the Teaching Socio-Environmental Synthesis with Case Studies short course, held at SESYNC in July 2013. |