Abstract

Nature conservation can’t wait! Economic Development can’t wait either. So, we put economic values to elements of nature. This is not just a scientific enterprise but also hugely political. Could there be plausible ways to reconcile diverse objectives into channels of enterprises that could sustain the ecology and the economics of a place. Many experiences are showing the way forward across the global canvass. We are going to share a place based education module that has evolved for university students and is getting popular across the world. Its run by village women self help group in association with Foundation for Contemplation of Nature in the Central Himalayan state of Uttarakhand in India.

The talk will cover the 3 pillars of the module: Dignity of Physical work, Interdependence and Interconnectedness. What are the practices that are built around these principles and how they help instil ‘Critical Awareness’ in the participants? What constitutes the approach of Contemplation of Nature, the science and the practice? How mindfulness compliments student learning outcome in a way that helps them carry the lessons further in their working life. How they view ‘success’ and ‘happiness’ which are the main driving forces in pursuit of economic development and the choices they make now and in future.