I also teach and advise students in our Master of Education in Environmental Education programs.

Current courses:

Estu 303, Human Ecology and Sustainability
Estu 371, Introduction to Environmental Education
Estu 471, Campus Planning Studio
        Win. 2008 syllabus
Spring Block Courses
Estu 487/587, Conservation Psychology
Estu 499z, Conservation Photography
Estu 575, Research and Evaluation in Environmental Education
Estu 576, Natural History and Natural Science of the North Cascades (restricted to students in the MEd Residency track)

Goals & motivating problems in research and teaching

A. Human-animal interaction
The study of the relations of humans to animals is an interdisciplinary endeavor that is receiving exploding levels of attention from historians, sociologists, biologists, psychologists and others.  My contribution is to bring a human developmental perspective to bear on the psychological foundations of children's relations to animals.  Much of my work in this area has been theory-building and qualitative, although some studies in progress are quantitative, and planned studies move more in this direction.  Some of my explorations here:

1. Further development of my theory of child-animal relations: Do the early invariants features of interactions shown by young children in their relations with animals show up across cultural differences? How do different cultural meaning systems facilitate or inhibit responsiveness toward animals? How do children's conceptions of animals' needs change with development?
2. New empiricism: my approach to ethics, and my studies of relations with animals are informed by what my former graduate advisor Eugene Gendlin terms the 'responsive order.' I want to further explore this foundational dimension of my work, by which it may transcend the impasse of postmodernism.

1. Caring for and about nature: What developmental significance do natural environments hold for our species? Of urgent interest is the question: How does the robust care for animals we observe in many children and adults develop to include practical care for habitats, species and ecosystems?
2. Moral development and environmental ethics: Environmental content has seldom been examined in the study of moral development; indeed, the field of environmental ethics is very fluid and problematic. How can existing moral developmental frameworks most fruitfully be applied? From my study of moral development, I want to emphasize moral functioning - not just abstract ethics or judgment, but how we feel, respond to others, and act when we confront choices in our lives and careers. Habits of defensiveness versus productive coping are critical. Further, beyond what formal environmental ethics may tell us, how do we compromise yet retain personal integrity? How can we strive for change in an imperfect world? Moral developmental theory may have much to tell us here.  These are important questions in both my research and teaching.

1. Developing a psychologically, sociologically, and culturally informed approach to environmental studies. I assume we must look at environmental problems in context of political and economic systems, and I am very interested in ecological economics as an important critique and emerging source of policy alternatives. However, underlying these systems are cultural-psychological phenomena which we must understand to provide effective educational programs and policies. What multiple pathways into environmental concern do we discover if we look in a culturally and psychologically informed way?

1. Bringing environmental history and environmental ethics together. Both these topics support large sub-specialties now, but too often their disciplinary structures prevent asking enlightening questions that come at their crossing. How are we to appreciate and evaluate choices made in the past that led to present problems? What changes in values and sentiments does this reveal? What ethical concepts are most appropriate now for judging the dilemmas that have passed to us? What lessons might all this have for present choices?

How can all my above interests (plus many important concepts from environmental studies) be combined in the best possible ways to prepare our students?  I am very concerned to prepare students who can effectively marshall key skills and ideas, but more importantly their own full capacities, on behalf of both humanity and nature.  In my teaching I am constantly asking how to do this better, in ways that both challenge and support my students.

Publications

Myers, Jr. O. E., Beringer, A. (under review). Sustainability in higher education:  Psychological research for effective pedagogy. Sustainability: Science, Policy and Practice. [Abstract]

Clayton, S. & Myers, Jr. O. E. (In press). Conservation psychology: Understanding and promoting human care for nature. New York: Wiley / Blackwell Publishers.

Myers Jr. O. E., Saunders, C. D., & Bexell, S. (In press). Understanding emotion and empathy in free-choice nature and wildlife centered learning. In J. Falk, J. Heimlich & Foutz, S. (Eds.), Emerging studies in free-choice learning and the environment.  Lanham, MD: AltaMira Press.

Kahn, Jr. P. H., Saunders, C. D., Severson, R. L., Myers, Jr. O. E. & Gill, B. T. (In press). Moral and fearful affiliations with the animal world: Children’s conceptions of bats. Antrhozoos.

Myers, Jr. O. E. (2007). The significance of children and animals: Social development and our connections to other species. Second, revised edition. West Layfayette, IN: Purdue University Press.

Myers, Jr. O. E. (2006). The psychology of photographic imagery in communicating conservation. Non-refereed technical report. [pdf version of report]

 DeCassis, S., DeChambeau, P., Hoar, M., Howard, B., Lax, S., McClain, K. Russo, T. Shepherd, K., Thurman, A. Weeks, S., Kuhn, G. & Myers, G. (Estu 471 course group) (2006). WWU employees’ transportation to work: A focus group study of perceptions and needs. Non-refereed technical report, available as a link at: http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~sustwwu/trans/issues.html

Myers, Jr. O. E., Hagen, D., Russo, A., McMullin, C., Lembrick A., Silbaugh, B.  Parker, K. (2006). Benefits of a campus transit pass: A study of students' willingness-to-pay for a proposed mandatory transit pass program. Transportation Research Record, Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 1971, 133-139. [Abstract]

Dear, C. & Myers, Jr. O. E. (2005). Recreationists' Understanding of Subsistence in Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve, Alaska. Society and Natural Resources 18: 821-837. [Abstract]

Myers, Jr. O. E., Saunders, C. & Birjulin, A. (2004). Emotional Dimensions of Watching zoo animals: An experience sampling study building on insights from psychology. Curator 47(3): 299-321. [Abstract]

Myers, Jr. O. E. & Russell, A. (2004). Human identity in relation to wild Black bears: A natural-social ecology of subjective creatures. In S. Clayton & S. Opotow  (Eds.), Identity and the natural environment (pp. 67-90).  Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. [Abstract]

Myers, Jr. O. E., Saunders, C. D. & Garrett, E. (2004). What do children think animals need? Developmental trends. Environmental Education Research 104): 545-562. [Abstract]

Myers, Jr. O. E., Saunders, C. D. & Garrett, E. (2003). What do children think animals need? Aesthetic and psycho-social conceptions. Environmental Education Research 9(2), 305-325. [Abstract]

Bott, S., Cantrill, J. G. & Myers, Jr. O. E. (2003). Place and the promise of Conservation Psychology. Human Ecology Review 10 (2): 100-112. [abstract]

Myers, Jr. O. E. (2003). "No longer the lonely species: A post-Mead perspective on animals and the self." International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy 23(3): 46-68. [Abstract]

Myers, Jr. O. E. (2002). Symbolic animals and the developing self. Anthrozoös: A Multidisciplinary Journal of the Interactions of People and  Animals 15(1): 19-36. [Abstract]

Myers, Jr. O. E. & Saunders, C. (2002). Animals as links to developing caring relationships with the natural world. In P. H. Kahn Jr. & S. R. Kellert (Eds.), Children and nature: Psychological, sociocultural and evolutionary investigations  (pp. 153-178).  Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. [Abstract]

Myers, Jr. O. E. (2001). Young children's animal-role pretend play. In R. Mitchell (Ed.), Pretending in Animals and Humans (pp. 154-166). Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press. [Abstract]

Myers, Jr. O. E. (2001). Pets. In J. Reinier & P. F. Clement (Eds.), Boyhood in America. ABC/CLIO.

Myers, Jr. O. E. (2001, Spring). Some issues to consider in the role of psychology in conservation. Population and Environmental Psychology Bulletin 27(2): 2-4.

Saunders, C. D. & Myers, Jr. O. E. (2001, Spring). Using conservation biology as a model for thinking about conservation psychology. Population and Environmental Psychology Bulletin 27(2): 7-8.

Myers, Jr. O. E. (1999). Human development as transcendence of the animal body and the child-animal association in psychological thought. Society and Animals 7(1): 121-140. [Abstract]

Myers, Jr. O. E. (1998).Children and Animals: Social Development and Our Connections to Other Species. Boulder: Westview Press. (Book cover) (Table of Contents)

Myers, Jr. O. E. (1996). Child-Animal Interaction: Nonverbal Dimensions. Society and Animals 4(1): 19-35. [Abstract]

Myers, Jr. O. E. Ecological senses of self: Beyond anthropocentric conceptions. In S. D. Wright (Ed.), Progress through integrative perspectives pp. 18-20. (Proceedings of the Seventh International Conference of the Society for Human Ecology, Michigan State Univ., 1994.)

Myers, Jr. O. E. (1996). Review of The Biophilia Hypothesis (Edited by Stephen Kellert & E. O. Wilson). Environmental Ethics 18(3):327-330.
 

Edited Volumes

Saunders, C. D. & Myers, Jr. O. E. (Eds.) (2003). Special issue: Conservation psychology. Human Ecology Review 10 (2).
 

Selected Presentations

Myers, Jr. O. E. (2002, May). Presenter and panelist. Conservation Psychology: An invited dialogue,  at Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, IL,  May 10-12.

Myers, Jr. O. E. & Russell, A. (2001, Aug.). "Sense of identity in relation animals: A qualitative study of wild black bears and people with intimate knowledge of them." Paper presented at the 10th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Anthrozoology, Davis, CA, Aug. 4.

Myers, Jr. O. E. & Saunders, C. "Growing up green: A developmental model of caring attitudes and action for nature." Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Seattle, WA, April 13, 2001.

Myers, Jr. O. E. "Human ecology and human development," paper presented at the 8th International Symposium on Society and Resource Management, Western Washington University, July 19-22, 2000.

Kahn, Jr., P. H., Saunders, C. D. & Myers, Jr. O. E. (2001, April). Children’s Moral Relationships with Nature: Toward a Biophilic Account of Fear and Caring. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Seattle WA, April 12.

Kahn, P. H., Jr., Saunders, C. D., & Myers, G. (2001, April).  Children's conceptions of bats: Toward a biophilic account of fear and caring.  Paper presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Minneapolis, MN.

Kahn, Jr., P. H., Saunders, C. D. & Myers, Jr. O. E. (2000, June). Fear and caring in the animal world: Children's conceptions of bats. Paper presented at the 20th Annual Meeting of the Jean Piaget Society, Montreal, June 1-3.

Myers, Jr. O. E. "Children and animals: To be human is to be not an animal," paper presented at Thresholds of Identity in Human-Animal Relationships: An Interdisciplinary Colloquium, University of Santa Barbara, March 10-11, 2000.

Myers, Jr. O. E. "An ecology of subjects: Describing the structure of child-animal interactions." Faculty Salon, Western Washington University, May 12, 1999.

Myers, Jr. O. E. "Are children biocentrists? Children's interactions with animals." Seminar Series, Huxley College, Bellingham, Apr. 13, 1999.

Myers, Jr. O. E. "Investigating the place of animals in childhood: Reflections on social science research," Seminar Series, Huxley College, Bellingham, Jan. 13, 1999.

Myers, Jr. O. E. "Chasing pigeons, talking animal, and eating guinea pigs: Children, animals and anthropocentrism in developmental psychology," invited paper presented at the Conference on Children and Animals at the University of Pennsylvania, March, 1998

Myers, Jr. O. E. (1997, August). "Choice of major and environmental concern among undergraduate students of color," paper presented at the conference of the North American Association for Environmental Education, Vancouver, B.C.

Myers, Jr. O. E. (1997, August). "Significant life experiences" invited symposium participant at the conference of the North American Association for Environmental Education, Vancouver, B.C.

Myers, Jr. O. E. "Values, Cultural meanings, and Value Orientations: What does a Kluckhohn Interview measure?," Rapporteur for workshop at Kluckhohn Center, Values Symposium II, Stimson-Green House, Seattle, February, 1997.

Myers, Jr. O. E. "New Intersections Between Moral Development and Environmental Ethics," Seminar Series, Huxley College, Bellingham, WA, 1995.

Myers, Jr. O. E. "The Environmental Justice Movement in South Chicago," Seminar Series, Huxley College, Bellingham, WA, 1995.

Myers, Jr. O. E. and Iozzi, L. "The treatment of nature as a 'moral patient' in the United States from a developmental point of view." Presented at the Advanced Research and Training Seminar on "Eco-ethical thinking in cultural comparison," International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology, Universitat des Saarlandes, Germany, 1994.

Myers, Jr. O. E. "Space dogs, staring turtles and monkey Japanese: Forms of animal presence in a nursery school." Presented at the Natural History Workshop, College of the Atlantic, Bar Harbor, ME, 1992.

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