Sustainable Development in the Consciousness of Students

Abstract

Sustainable development – it is the philosophy of the socio-economic development harmonized with respect for the environment. It enables to re-conciliate the efforts of the satisfactory economic result and the deep concern about the social and natural environments. The development of the civilization and the consumerism found in the lifestyles of the society do not always take into account the behaviours which manifest the visualization of the population of the existence in accordance with the rights and respect for nature. The reasons for such situation can result from the variety of the educational neglect as well as the created by the media materialistic lifestyles. However, the awareness level can be significantly improved by the competent preparation of future teachers so as to implement environmental issues and the concept of ‘sustainable development’ in the educational process. To find out about the level of the respondents’ knowledge and to get the comprehensive information dealing with such issues, the research studies involving 568 students of Biology, Geography, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics were carried out. The studies were aimed at finding the answers to the research question, i.e. if and to what extent the students of Natural Sciences are prepared to realize the issues of sustainable development. The realization of the concept of ‘sustainable development’ is not possible using legal or economic mechanisms as well as other business – organizational undertakings – if they are not accompanied by the understanding and support of the whole society. The most important changes are primarily the changes in the awareness and attitudes towards the natural and social environments. We live in the era, in which the rapid development of sciences and technology in various fields of life has been taking place. This rapid development, often uncontrolled and in many cases subject to the laws of the ruthless exploitation and consumption, has become, undoubtedly, the force that threatens the existence of mankind. The important problem, then, will be the subordination of social needs and aspirations to the environmental possibilities.