Sept. 1, 2016

Contributed by Kyle Galdeira

The highly anticipated World Conservation Congress (WCC) opens today, and a Kamehameha Schools Kapālama (KSK) science teacher is playing an integral role in the international forum by offering a blend of field experience and online learning for the next generation of global citizens.

KSK’s Robert Hutchison, who has taught at the school for the past eight years, is supervising BIOL 124: Environment and Ecology, a semester-long online course within the “Conservation Campus” for high school students that earns them three college credits.

Two other online courses – BIOL 200: Coral Reefs (led by Windward Community College’s Dave Krupp) and AQUA 201: Hawaiian Fishponds (led by Windward Community College’s Leonard Young) – are also running during the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) event; eight students make up the collective body of the three classes, including two KS students.

Hutchison explains that the course has been crafted with the goal of approaching Western knowledge through a Native Hawaiian lens with the focus on the ahupuaʻa system. Students will create a “living” document that portrays the “dynamics” within a particular ahupuaʻa.

“As we go through the course, the kids become the expert on their own backyard,” Hutchison says. “This is an experiment to create content within a course that goes beyond the four walls of a classroom.” 

The effort also ties in with KS’ evolving curriculum model as a pilot program to potentially build more dual-credit courses for high school students.

“I also include Hawaiian history and culture teachers throughout the course to blend those aspects with science for a well-rounded, practical experience,” Hutchison explains. “It’s all about the advancement of the kids and the great work they’re doing. As a faculty member, it’s an honor to be a part of that process.”

The curriculum development of all three courses was bolstered via P20 funding (an exploratory grant program) with assistance from the University of Hawai’i’s President’s office. KS is covering the tuition and fees for students enrolled in the three courses, and during the Conservation Congress, the class groups will host day-long huaka‘i within the Ko‘olaupoko region. These interactive sessions are open to other international participants from the Congress and are geared towards creating lasting partnerships and building awareness.

Hutchison has also worked with Windward Community College and the Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology over the past 12 years helping to coordinate a summer Environmental Science program for high school students. Throughout his teaching career, he has taught chemistry, biology, physics and environmental science.

The global gathering is aligned with the theme “Planet at the Crossroads” and is held every four years by the IUCN. The WCC is the largest conservation event in the world and is being held on U.S. soil for the first time after more than 60 years.

IUCN’s approach stresses that nature conservation and human progress are not mutually exclusive. Facing tremendous forces of transformation such as climate change and dramatic socioeconomic inequality across the world, there are credible and accessible political, economic, cultural and technological choices that can promote general welfare in ways that support and even enhance our planet’s natural assets.

One of the congress’ rallying concepts is that the world is composed of complex, interdependent systems and that changes to these systems can either enhance resilience or lead to greater instability and uncertainty. In 2015, nearly 200 nations agreed to pursue goals related to sustainable development and achieving climate neutrality with the ultimate mission of improving the lives of billions of people around the globe while still keeping nature on the forefront of discussion.

The WCC also features an exhibition on the Convention Center’s first floor that will be composed of nearly 20 booths. KS is contributing to and manning one of the booths as a means to show IUCN members, community partners and attendees from around the world how its efforts toward conservation, sustainability, education and other relevant efforts are progressing.

SP2020

KS’ participation at the WCC aligns with Goal 3 of the organization’s SP2020, which involves managing its resources and lands to enhance prudent and sustainable use, responsible stewardship and supportive community relationships. KS’ outcomes, measures and targets will be integrated surrounding its educational, financial, cultural, community, agricultural and sustainability efforts via Action 6 of fiscal year 2016-2017.