PREPRINT: Implementing Interdisciplinary Sustainability Education With the Food-Energy-Water Nexus

<p dir="ltr"><b>This is a preprint of an article </b><b>that has not been approved by peer-review </b><b>that has been submitted to the Nature journal </b><a href="https://www.nature.com/palcomms/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank"><b><i>Humanities and Social Science Communications</i></b></a><b>.</b> It has gone through 2 rounds of review and the response to the second round is currently being reviewed. This journal does allow pre-prints per their editorial policies: https://www.nature.com/palcomms/journal-policies/editorial-and-publishing-policies </p><p dir="ltr">In this study, we argue that the Food-Energy-Water (FEW) Nexus is a powerful way to demonstrate the importance of IES in educating sustainability change-makers who will be equipped to facilitate the transformation of the global society by meeting the targets set by the SDGs.</p><p dir="ltr">This manuscript provides real examples of how a conceptual approach for multi-, inter-, and transdisciplinary higher education can be accomplished through integrative teaching and learning. This work aligns closely with teaching and learning of the sustainable development goals through application of key competencies of sustainability. There are many conceptual papers about teaching and learning of the SDGs and development of key competencies for sustainability, but fewer that provide concrete examples across teaching scales. Our paper includes 10 examples, set up as in-text boxes, for teaching to these competencies in course activities, entire courses, and programs in the context of anchoring concepts, engaging values thinking, and deepening knowledge across the curriculum. </p><p dir="ltr"><b><i>Abstract: </i></b></p><p dir="ltr">Growth in the green jobs sector has increased demand for college graduates who are prepared to enter the workforce with interdisciplinary sustainability skills. Simultaneously, scholarly calls for interdisciplinary collaboration in the service of addressing the societal challenges of enhancing resilience and sustainability have also increased in recent years. However, developing, executing, and assessing interdisciplinary content and skills at the post-secondary level has been challenging. The objective of this paper is to offer the Food-Energy-Water (FEW) Nexus as a powerful way to achieve sustainability competencies and matriculate graduates who will be equipped to facilitate the transformation of the global society by meeting the targets set by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The paper presents 10 curricular design examples that span multiple levels, including modules, courses, and programs. These modules enable clear evaluation and assessment of key sustainability competencies, helping to prepare graduates with well defined skillsets who are equipped to address current and future workforce needs.</p>