By D.S. Toft
Changes this semester are popping up everywhere-but some are not as blatantly obvious as others.
The biology department hosted leading urban ecologist Eric Strauss, Ph.D. for a three-day visit last week as a part of the University’s Visiting Presidential Scholar Program. Strauss is the director of Boston College’s Environmental Studies Program and the science director for the college’s Urban Ecology Institute (UEI). The University plans to mold a similar program from Strauss’ ideas.
Strauss said the importance of creating healthy and vibrant cities is to develop areas that people want to live in-and enjoy living in as well.
Strauss also asked, why make cities more desirable and cram into them, rather than swelling out into miles and miles of suburbs?
“Because the current development pattern of ex-urban sprawl is ecologically damaging,” he said.
“Commuter towns are set up in a way that is unsustainable. We are entirely dependent on the extensive use of land for housing, which causes deforestation and erosion; septic tanks, which pollute subterranean aquifer systems; and the automobile, which creates ozone-depleting agents. This pattern of living needs to be broken and is being broken.”
Statistics now show, more than 50 percent of the world’s population lives in cities, and more than 65 percent do in the US, according to Strauss.
After all, “cities are ecosystems for humans, it’s where we belong, like ants are to anthills, like corals are to reefs,” Strauss said. Urban settings, with attentive architectural design, energy-efficient engineering, optimal sharing of public space and facilities, and public transportation, will create green cities and an even greener environment.
University ecology associate professor Russell Burke said the department is hoping to get the necessary new courses for an urban ecology major and to get the new degree programs approved in concept by the faculty by December 2007.
After being approved by the University, the program will need government approval. These courses may be available in the fall semester of 2009.
This program could become an aide in making the city a more livable and enjoyable habitat, just as Strauss’ program at Boston College has in Massachusetts.
In New York, “there is a leadership void that is going to be filled by someone,” he said. “You are way ahead of the curve. The question is how will you capitalize on that advantage.”
“Humans are modifying their environment,” said Lisa Filippi, an associate professor of biology. “Let’s find the best way to do it, the least destructive way.”
Throughout his visit, Strauss appeared as a guest lecturer in biology, technology and political economy classes, gave a public lecture, and held a seminar for the biology department. Strauss shared his extensive knowledge of urban ecology and reported on the measures the UEI is taking to involve the Boston community in making it a more healthy and vibrant city. Some of these measures include a Summer Institute, a CityRoots community planting program and annual student research conferences.