People do not appreciate their role as part of the Earth's complex systems

The following topic deals specifically with the university sector, but exposes unspoken assumptions held by many humans. In order to attend to the environmental imperative, these assumptions need to agree with reality. In her paper titled "Green Campuses: The Road from Little Victories to Systematic Transformation," Leith Sharp reports,

"The university sector has failed to perceive itself as part of the whole planetary life support system. Developing this understanding of place within the whole is a critical mental shift that must be undertaken by a critical mass of individuals throughout every university." [1]

To engage the university in addressing environmental issues, Sharp suggests we must recognize current mental models so that we can then align our beliefs closer to reality. University decision makers must be aware of the bigger picture; their place in the Earth's life support system, a place in the campus system and the campus has a place within society.

This chart compares prevalent and prohibitive assumption to more advanced thinking. Reality is represented by the more advanced model.

The Myth of the Rational University

"A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom." -- Thomas Paine,

Leith Sharp, clearly a leader in campus "greening", also uses Peter Senge's five disciplines of a learning organization [2] to analyze the myth that universities always make completely rational choices. The survival of the university is based upon upholding its highly respected position in society. This leadership role is based on the university's organizational pursuits.

The myth of rationality is a barrier to change within the university, "since it propagates the assumption that universities have attained the highest possible levels of functionality and that whatever is lacking must be accepted as an inevitable limitation of the system." [3] To admit dysfunction undermines the social and politically revered position of the university. To read more of Ms. Sharps' thoughts about the nature of universities and successful approaches to environmental campus initiatives, please read her paper.

This website aims to increase the support of high performance building design at Brown University. The need for this work supports the myth of the rational university. If Brown always functioned rationally, none of its buildings would need improvement because the buildings would have been built right the first time. However painful, Brown University decision makers should take a step back, realize Brown succeeds in many departments, but there is room for improvement.

[1]Sharp, Leith . Green Campuses: The Road from Little Victories to Systematic Transformation . Harvard University ; Cambridge , MA

[2]Senge, P. (1990) The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization , Currency Doubleday: New York .

[3]Sharp, Leith . Green Campuses: The Road from Little Victories to Systematic Transformation . Harvard University ; Cambridge , MA