|
I ask questions. This is my path. A professional question-asker
can take many forms. Mine is that of academic research and
teaching. This way, not only can I ask why, I can also search
for answers, and share what I've learned with others.
Way cool.
The arena in which I've chosen to ask and answer questions
is environmental policy. More specifically corporate environmental
policy. Even more specific, corporate
strategic decision making regarding utilization of raw resources,
also called natural resources, such as trees, plants, soils,
water, minerals, and grasslands.
I have a Bachelor's degree in international marketing, and
an MBA in international finance, both from New
York University. I've worked in the finance industry,
at the World Financial Center in NYC. My goal, however, was
always to find a way to clarify the links between ecology
and economy, e.g. point out the obvious - that modern economic
practice and policy does not exist without the infrastructure
of nature's economy. Nature's economy is the ecological system
within which all life perpetuates on planet earth.
I want to point out the obvious to those who need most to
see it - business people. To that end I decided to get one
more educational credit, a Ph.D. That is what I am presently
working on. I will finish soon. In the meantime, I am learning
all sorts of new and interesting facts. I am also learning
how to meld the disparate fields of business, policy, and
natural resources; one might call it a merger of social and
natural science with bottom line strategy...
|
|
I also teach. Two classes, one on the history
and foundations of natural resource policy, and another
on the mechanics
and administration of natural resource policy. This has
been invaluable experience. I have learned much from my instructors,
as well as from my advisors, and my students; this encompasses
everything from how to plan a lecture to how to remain a neutral
facilitator for a class discussion. I have also learned, from
others and myself, about attitude in the classroom.
We all bring ourselves into the classroom. That means we
bring our excitement as well as our prejudices. I believe
it is crucial that an instructor bring as much positive energy
and empowerment into the classroom as possible. Reality shows
otherwise. Experience shows otherwise. So, I aim to be as
empowering as this human can be. I strive for self-enlightenment;
thus I also strive for enlightenment for others.
My philosophy on this is pretty simple: the more clarity
I bring into my own life, the more there is to spread around,
thus others will gain when I gain. One might call it a 'share
the wealth' philosophy, or maybe just a ripple effect. It
doesn't matter how one describes the action, as long as positive
energy is the underlay.
I intend to teach in a business school or in an interdisciplinary
environment, probably at some new department or center for
interdisciplinary studies at a university. In the meantime,
I teach at a school for renewable natural resources (RNR),
focused mainly on the history and policy aspects of RNR. And
I search out answers to my many questions...
|
