Scientific Reorientation for a Sustainable Society

Throughout the nation, planners are suggesting that the American cities of the future will be walkable and innovative. Designs for these future cities highlight people living in harmony with nature and usable transportation systems.  Yet here in the present, things are moving slowly. On one hand cities like Newark and Flint do not have drinkable water, Detroit is recovering from a bankruptcy, and an algae epidemic is affecting Florida’s coastal areas. There are proposals in Atlanta and New York City to turn rail-yards into parks, and create more vibrant neighborhoods. Innovators like Elon Musk, Google, and others are engaged in creating driver-less cars, entrepreneurs are developing high-speed train systems in Florida, Texas and California, and others point out that a hyper loop tunnel might just be the solution to long distance transportation. 

Manufacturers, including GM, Ford and Nissan, believe that American consumers need space and are dangling SUVs as an alternative to the sedan. Counter voices are stressing that too many cars will lead to over-pollution, and that enterprises like Uber and Lyft, though very popular, are contributing to weakening our breathable air supply.

In New York City, there are numerous and often conflicting ideas, like the not always popular BQX, Second Avenue Subway, and Congestive Parking policies. These and other plans have emerged as possible solutions to what ails New York’s toxic atmosphere. In reality, every proposal gives rise to a distinct solution to a problem that might be caused. Ideas for the perfect city flourish in a sea of conflict.

2018, like many other years, was one that featured new ideas for municipal renewal. Earlier this year the Regional Planning Association introduced its new plan for the Tri-State Region. During its history, this venerable organization, created in 1922, has provided New Yorkers with four distinct plans for transportation improvements in and around New York City. 

One of the key components of the new plan centers on the environment. Although planners, scientists and engineers have been aware of the dangers caused by extreme temperature, winds, rains, and snow, New Yorkers can no longer ignore the impact of weather on the roads and rails. Indeed, the weather has and is playing a major role in the deterioration of the regional infrastructure. 

Although, the third regional plan was a cry for environmental action, the fourth plan makes a much stronger case.  As I read the plan with great interest, I wondered how many others read and studied the plan. Using my students as an unscientific audience, the response was predictable. None of them knew about the RPA or the plan. 

Queries directed to family members and close friends, a group a bit older than my students, produced the same answer. The critical question, is, does the average New Yorker know of or even care about the RPA’s report?

A few weeks later, another new plan was offered to the public. This one was for the renewal of the New York City Subways by the new head of the MTA. In many regards, the plan was long overdue. The system has been in a state of rapid decay for over a decade and despite the introduction of new cars, station renovations, and constant track improvements that have affected late evening and weekend service, most riders do not acknowledge that anything positive is being done. In fact there are more angry patrons than appreciative ones. 

An issue that has escaped many of the riders but not the MTA brass is the effect of climate change on a massive system like New York’s. And the MTA is not the only concerned tri-state transportation agency. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, New Jersey Transit, and Amtrak are also concerned with similar issues. And during the course of 2018, each organization has introduced a plan that is directed related to environmental issues.

It is questionable that the efforts of the RPA will have visible impact on the general public or on some of our elected officials. If the public does not know of the plans, and government officials lack the resources to fully address the ills highlighted in the plan, change is highly unlikely.  In fact, doubtful.

This is not to say that the fourth plan will fall on deaf ears, because it won’t. However, the reasons for a particular development will seem unconnected to a larger issue. 

Super Storm Sandy (2013) demonstrated the impact that heavy rains and hurricane strength winds can have on a northern metropolitan region. New York’s infrastructure was not prepared for the accompanying flood waters that damaged road and rail tunnels, bridges and thoroughfares. Some six years later, the rusting of structures from the impact of salt water in tunnels, tracks and bridges remains a major reason why the “L” train’s service will be disrupted for 18 months. 

One thing that was not mentioned in the RPA guidelines did not escape my attention. It is education. As we know that another storm, perhaps one stronger than Sandy, is inevitable we might want to consider reorienting the public so to reorient government action.

What the RPA stresses is that piecemeal responses will place the health and lives of millions in jeopardy. The pace of rebuilding is far too slow to alleviate future problems. Even as I write this entry, an explosion at a power plant crippled energy and transportation in Queens especially at La Guardia Airport. Here is where education can play a critical role in examining the conditions within the region. I would change the nature of public schools to teach the analysis of policy and highlight critical thinking and problem solving skills. I would urge the introduction and development of a sustainable education for all school age children. 

This is a great way to introduce document based learning, civic education and science in the same format. In essence this goes beyond STEM as it makes all students aware of their responsibilities as citizens in a democracy and provides them with a framework to know more about their world. What the RPA plans offer are examples of problem based learning. All of the RPA responses accompany existing problems.

In future entries, I hope to demonstrate how sustainable education can be taught in any discipline and yield positive results. It is not just an attempt to make education relative to youngsters, but rather to give students the opportunity to think about certain conditions by learning about a particular problem - to analyze the situation and consider implemented policies and outcomes. In such a manner, I hope that we will transform students into active and engaged citizens. Ultimately, by teaching them the virtues of living in a democracy we will prepare them for the future.