IPAT Considered Harmful (#1 of More)

By G. Rendell. It comes up nine times out of ten that I talk to an Environmental Studies student. IPAT. (Environmental) Impact = Population * Affluence * Technology. It’s introduced in Environmental Studies 101 at Greenback, and at pretty much every other campus that has an ES program. If Environmental Studies has a mantra, it’s IPAT.  It gets drummed into students’ heads, course after course. It sticks like glue. And it’s not helpful. Read more...