Professional Training and Graduate Education Needs in Warfare Ecology

Abstract

This essay reviews current best practices in graduate education emphasizing those that would be particularly useful to warfare ecology, a budding subdiscipline within the area of environmental sciences. A discussion is also provided on those teaching strategies and experiences that may be particularly appropriate developing effective graduate and professional training programs in warfare ecology. This newly emergent discipline is inherently interdisciplinary, and as such, the development of professional training and graduate education opportunities in this area would be best served if guided by current best practices for interdisciplinary graduate education. In this essay, I discuss (1) characteristics of warfare ecology that should guide research training and education in this science theme, (2) shared elements of interdisciplinary graduate training programs, (3) highlights of training skills and educational strategies that may be unique to warfare ecology or should be explored, and (4) policy implications for peace and security. Emphasis is given to proven strategies within the context of IGERT programs and similar interdisciplinary programs in the US but with the understanding that implementing interdisciplinary education in warfare ecology (particularly given the nature of its content) is bound to be governed by needs that differ widely from country to country. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2011.