KNOWING NATURE. The Knowing Nature Project was initiated by the ANTH 525 Ethnoecology Spring 2011 class at the University of South Carolina, Columbia. Why is knowing nature important to people today? As shown by research by Zaradic and Pergams, since around 1988 Americans have been spending less and less time directly experiencing nature, and more time experiencing nature indirectly or vicariously. Direct experience of nature allows sensory input and feedback that you simply can't get vicariously. When local nature plays less of an important role in daily life, we lose locally situated knowledge, including knowing the names of the elements of nature around us. If we can't name something, will we take care of it?
The students in this class observe nature during the semester, and make a video that features their observations in relation to one of the Ethnoecology course frameworks: worldviews, ecoliteracy, biocultural diversity or ecosystem management.