Academic teaching and science popularization belong to the same family of activities. They attempt to simplify the complexity of science and communicate it to target groups with specific profiles.
The academic disciplines I specialized in are Deterioration and restoration of ecological systems, Ecological monitoring, Management of Biological Diversity (all three for students in ecology), and Principles of ecology (for students in general biology). I organized the disciplines into three layers: basic science, applied science, and knowledge transfer to decision-makers. Depending on the discipline, the weight of each layer is different. The disciplines have explicit connections in between, organizing a coherent map of the relevant knowledge for the students. For practical work, I use the project cycle management model, putting the measurements and data interpretation in a project’s life cycle to solve an environmental problem.
In popularizing science, I used to refer to assumptions of science, methodology, and results, following the usual structure of primary research articles. In this way, the public becomes aware of the inherent limits of scientific knowledge due to assumptions and methods, which can evolve. I popularized science for the general instructed public with secular opinions and the Christian public. These are two rather different target groups in traditional societies like the Romanian one. It could be of some help for sustainability purposes to have an agreement between them over the scientific knowledge in biology and ecology relevant to practical socio-ecological issues.
Academic teaching
The detailed content for the Deterioration and restoration of ecological systems can be downloaded here (in Romanian).
The detailed content for the Ecological monitoring can be downloaded here (in Romanian).
The detailed content for the Management of biological diversity can be downloaded here (in Romanian).
Integrated lecture notes are available for download here (in Romanian). The lecture notes have a general introduction presenting the approach and reason for the teaching strategy from the beginning. Then each discipline has its own more focused introduction. Each discipline has a graphical abstract which is presented when we meet the first time and is used again at the end, to sum up the acquired knowledge.
Science popularization for the secular public (examples, in Romanian)
[1] https://www.contributors.ro/despre-ecologism-%C8%99i-ecologie/
[2] https://www.contributors.ro/teoria-evolutiei-trebuie-sa-se-predea-din-nou-in-scolile-din-romania/
[3] https://www.contributors.ro/despre-predarea-ecologiei-in-%C8%99coli-%C8%99i-licee/
[4] https://www.contributors.ro/ce-inseamna-specie-in-biologie-pe-intelesul-tuturor/
[5] https://www.contributors.ro/despre-lipsa-de-legatura-a-teoriei-evolu%C8%9Biei-biologice-cu-teologia/
Science popularization for the Christian public (examples, in Romanian)
Virgil Alexandru Iordache 