DOI
10.1108/IJSHE-02-2014-0022

Summary
This study is concerned with the teaching of resource system feedbacks and environmental modelling. Students were subjected to an interactive exercise derived from a research model called ForeseerTM. The aim of the research was to develop understanding of the interconnectivity of water, energy and land resources (Nexus). The Water, Energy and Food, also known as the Water, Energy and Land (WEL) Nexus represents a mode of thinking to enhance the awareness of connections and their feedback loops. The methods implemented include the use of the Foreseer model which presents students with the opportunity to interact with the visual software. Bajzelj et al. then used a questionnaire to collect feedback on students understanding and ability to extract knowledge from the model. The background of the Foreseer model is covered in section 2. The methodology included the creation of a scenario involving an unsustainable groundwater and then the exploration of four scenarios within the overall scenario. The four scenarios were:

(1)  population increase and, therefore, intensification of agricultural production.

(2)  food trade.

(3)  the production of biofuels.

(4)  mitigation options through different water policies.

The students involved were separated at two levels of education :

(1) First year Geography undergraduates.

(2) Masters in Engineering for Sustainability students.

The students were given the task to complete in their own time and at their own pace.

Next the authors detail the questions covered under the various scenarios and provide excerpts from the Foreseer hand-out with visual representation of the software in use.

Table 1 compares the results through the different questions and the two student groups.

The results indicate a clear development of students’ knowledge systems links and feedbacks as well as furthering their knowledge of general sustainable development concepts.

Relevance for Complex Systems Knowledge
The study deals with Nexus and Foreseer which enhances participants’ ability to reason with system connections and their feedback loops. The use of this concept may be relevant to the furthering of sustainability curricula. The Foreseer application provides participants with an inter-disciplinary model allowing for complex systems interaction and active learning.

A statement relevant to interdisciplinarity and sustainable development in this study: ‘In reviewing modelling and educational simulation as a basis for sustainable development, Cruz (2011) concludes that experiencing the science of complexity in modelling and simulation processes reflects for students the complexity of reality, and such tools can optimize transdisciplinarity, which is the basis for sustainable development’.

Point of Strength
The use of WEL (Nexus) and Foreseer have a strong alignment to reimagining higher education for interdisciplinarity, systems thinking, complex systems and sustainable development.

The study assessed both undergraduate and postgraduate masters.

The study describes an exercise that may be a relevant tool for the teaching of sustainability and systems thinking.