Transcript pbl case study_640 - crcrth640

Pollution Haven Hypothesis:
A case study model for problem based learning
University of Massachusetts, Boston
Critical and Creative Thinking Graduate Program
Environment Science and Society: Critical Thinking
Jeff Hamilton
October 4, 2010
Introduction
“Design is a problem solving thing”
Global climate change has become a polarized issue, with significant numbers
of people polled expressing skepticism about whether global warming is occurring,
or, if it is, whether it is primarily caused by human activity, or, if it is, whether
governments should take action to reduce CO2, methane, and other emissions.
Me
UMB professors (and some others) are keen to see just how far a group of
students can go with their inquiries under PBL in a short period of time. The inquiry
being asked to take up in this PBL case is to identify a range of interesting phenomena
at the intersections of environment, science, and society so that the Big Controversy about
climate change fades into the background.
Focus
Aside from being a graduate student in the Critical and Creative Thinking program,
I am an industrial designer, specializing in the research and design of medical products.
A topic that has recently become a personal interest of mine is the Pollution Haven
Hypothesis. This hypothesis is a relatively new concept being researched and evaluated
by a number of scientific organizations and specialists around the world.
My focus is two fold:
First, is to raise a societal awareness of this issue. As a product designer I witness,
first hand, evidence of this hypothesis.
Second, is to use the tools and training I have as a designer and a student of
the CCT program in such a way that some of the concepts, insights and gained knowledge
from examining the model of pollution haven hypothesis can then be shared and perhaps
employed in the study of other climate related, social and political issues. Almost all of the
biggest challenges humanity faces today are of a political nature, with politics it is a
matter of identifying the right problems to solve before we can attempt to act on
solutions.
Pollution Haven Hypothesis:
A case study model for problem based learning
Jeff Hamilton
October 4, 2010
Pollution Haven Hypothesis
Decide to intentionally seek a country with less
government regulation, one that can be
easily influenced, cheap labor and operate
as an OEM, having no link to the US company.
Pick a small SE Asian country friendly to the US.
1
A US company
wants to manufacture
and sell Teflon coated
pans.
2
Fly raw
Material
4
Global
distribution
Business is good
manufacturing goes on
for decades
Fly finished
Back to US
company
Heavily regulated, making
It very expensive
Strong opposition from
The local community
Because of toxicity
3
Country buys cheapest manf.
equipment less efficient and safe
Requires large amounts of
Power from the grid
Emits more CO² than it
Would in US
Waste is a HUGE liability
And expense
Company claims to be env friendly
US appears to be reducing emissions
related to manufacturing
Illegal waste management
(More pressure = more movement)
Land and water supply
contaminated
Rampant health issues, terminal illness, birth defects
Pollution Haven Hypothesis:
A case study model for problem based learning
Jeff Hamilton
October 4, 2010
Concepts
“How do we redesign an enormously
political landscape?”
Examination of history and circumstances
Education and Information Sharing
• Energy was never originally designed to be clean or
efficient
- Where does that lead to – TIME / HUMAN
- How is it addressed as a design problem
- How to achieve maximum production with minimum
resources – TIME
• Educate locally share globally
- Text4Baby
- Cell phones are one of the top businesses
in developing countries
•Explore and define the greatest design challenge of the
21st century
- The act of collecting “cells” of great minds
- Linking the cells
- prioritizing the findings – TIME
- organizing people
•Economy stands directly in the way of any change
- Identify current situation as opportune time – TIME
- Restructure of the economy – TIME / HUMAN
- Can we measure the world in something other than
GDP
- The achievements of nations during times of war
•Corruption is the prevalent dominating force
Pollution Haven Hypothesis:
A case study model for problem based learning
Jeff Hamilton
•Seek opportunities to create situational understanding
in an effort to create a shared vision – TIME / HUMAN
- the idea of “what could be”
- process of exploration and identifying the
“possibilities”
•How to build networks like organizations but better
- operates faster, cheaper, happier out side of the
current model
- identify the limitations and capabilities of collective
work
•Create a common “language”
- Do our questions have to be culturally bounded –
how to frame it as an earthly thing
•Learn to listen, humble yourself. Learn from the
experiences of others
October 4, 2010
Concepts
Examination of history and circumstances
Education and Information Sharing
• Energy was never originally designed to be clean or
efficient
- Where does that lead to – TIME / HUMAN
- How is it addressed as a design problem
- How to achieve maximum production with minimum
resources – TIME
• Educate locally share globally
- Text4Baby
- Cell phones are one of the top businesses
in developing countries
•Explore and define the greatest design challenge of the
21st century
- The act of collecting “cells” of great minds
- Linking the cells
- prioritizing the findings – TIME
•Economy stands directly in the way of any change
- Identify current situation as opportune time – TIME
- Restructure of the economy in a design context–
TIME / HUMAN
- Can we measure the world in something other than
GDP?
- The achievements of nations during times of war
•Corruption is the prevalent dominating force
Pollution Haven Hypothesis:
A case study model for problem based learning
Jeff Hamilton
•Seek opportunities to create situational understanding
in an effort to create a shared vision – TIME / HUMAN
- the idea of “what could be”
- process of exploration and identifying the
“possibilities”
•How to build networks like organizations but better
- operates faster, cheaper, happier out side of the
current model
- identify the limitations and capabilities of collective
work
•Create a common “language”
- Do our questions have to be culturally bounded –
how to frame it as an earthly thing
- language shift from me to we
•Learn to listen, humble yourself. Learn from the
experiences of others
October 4, 2010
Concepts
“The imaginative jump from present facts
to future possibilities”
J.K. Page
Time – given the current circumstances, now more than ever in history is the promise OF A future uncertain people are collectively
feeling the absence or disappearance of the future.
The future can no longer assumed it has to be brought forth – Clive Dilnot
Clinical scenario – We’re all fucked!
Human – The future is largely dependant on the CHARACTER of how we act. Notion of diet-anarchy or anarchy-lite.
2 modes of acting for humans – compulsive (See Freud)
- the inability to act, we know we should but don’t based on personal fears, the majority
tend to ride the “gravy train” thinking others will create the solutions and they are something
else: too busy, not smart enough, “what could I do?”
A design problem statement could be :
How to make recognizable what the critical affirmations are, that we are dealing with in the present?
Pollution Haven Hypothesis:
A case study model for problem based learning
Jeff Hamilton
October 4, 2010
References
Not available by design, for more information or sources contact:
[email protected]
Pollution Haven Hypothesis:
A case study model for problem based learning
Jeff Hamilton
October 4, 2010