Sociology's engagement with the environment (Part I)

In this lecture, Dr. Riley Dunlap presents the history and early development of the environmental sociology. He defines environmental sociology as the broad study of society-environment interactions, and notes that historically that study was focused on modern industrialized societies. He highlights the early focus of environmental sociology on the social construction of environmental problems, and notes that in the 1970s there were several theoretical schools of thought about human relate to the natural environment. He contrasts the dominant western worldview with the human exemptionalist and new ecological paradigms, and links these paradigms to underlying sociological theories about human motivation and decision-making. He concludes by noting that environmental sociology is both expanding and being complemented by related frameworks that highlight the interdisciplinary nature of human-environment interactions.

[dr.bikashbage]

I like this professor and I dream to invite him to Arunachal Pradesh India someday!

[cyborgzulu]

Is there any way I could get a chance to obtain his power point slides? I am a undergrad student in the Environmental and Natural Resource program at Ohio state university and have amazing insight on what environmental sociology actually is through his presentation. Plus, given that the program has different routes I could go to set up my future education, I wanted as much advice on what undergrad B.S. I should go for to properly set up my future to become a environmental sociologist.

[dallasweaver]

Interesting. While I was solving problems like acid rain using my STEM knowledge, he was helping construct what has evolved into the anti-science environmental activist organizations that often make junk science claims. Yes, we had some real problems that required real solutions, but even understanding some of the issues required knowledge that was way past the education of the social sciences. The activists now control the decision-making in areas they don't really understand and we are getting policies that go in the wrong direction.

[midnightmetaphors]

are there any notes, transcripts and other resources to these lectures?

[wanda]

Hi I am an assistant professor of sociology. I would like to request Dr.Riley if he could give a presentation on importance of culture in environment sustainability to be posted in our college website.

[YOGESHKUMAR-mwhc]

I am eager to be environmental sociologist..

[elishasiemanu]

why males on one side and females on the other side???