Defining the System and Classifying Drivers
Shelby Terrell
October 12, 2023
Multimodal Compisition #2: Defining the System and Classifying Drivers
In the CODES cohort we care currently learning how to solve a wicked problem by defining the system and its drivers. In the book “The Sustainable World” Remington-Doucette describes drivers as stresses, disturbances, or pressures which often denote influence of human actions on socioeconomical systems. There are two types of drivers, indirect and direct. Direct drivers affect the system straight on while indirect drivers take a more deeper background approach. Our job is to figure out what are the direct and indirect drivers at MOBOT to solve the problem.
One of the main drivers that is affecting MOBOT is the lack of diversity in botany/herbaria. MOBOT has asked our cohort to help give a different perspective to this problem. It can’t be solved overnight due to the deep history that has caused this issue for decades. At MOBOT their mission is to study plants accurately and ethically to get the most information out of them. While doing this they try to make sure their communicating to other botanical gardens for different perspectives and more information.
Big problems, immediate problems: direct
Small distant problems: indirect
What is a herbaria and what does it do?
Herbarium: a collection of preserved plant specimens that have been stored and databased for quick access for research.