A view of sat’wiwa, the Chumash’s sacred mountain also known as Round Mountain in
the distance,
and the CI campus in the foreground.
Now in its 20s, what does the next decade and beyond look like for Channel Islands – for its students, faculty, staff, and community partners, and for the region as a whole? What is the vision for tomorrow and into the future? Launched in Fall 2023, One Health/CI 2030+ is the University’s framework for answering these questions. “One Health” is the thematic glue binding together several CI 2030+ strategies that we are now working to define, with action planning to follow.
This introductory article focuses on exploring the meaning of One Health – for the world in general, and for CI and the region we serve in particular.
Adopted by organizations, institutions, and agencies around the globe, at its simplest,
One Health is a formal recognition that the health and wellness of people, the economy,
and the environment are all interconnected, and that today’s issues must be addressed
by working together across different professions, networks, and technologies. Achieving
this level of collaboration requires rethinking traditional approaches to education
and further promoting what CI excels at doing.
It is easy to see the concept of One Health showing up within CI’s popular health-related
programs, including Health Science, Nursing, and Psychology, but it is relevant to
all disciplines and careers. The top skill sets sought after in many industries today
are those needed for adapting and responding to a rapidly changing world. They are
found in One Health approaches to education, which emphasize collaborations across
academic areas and career paths, creative problem-solving, and adaptability. Central
to this is a curriculum that provides “hands-on, minds-on” opportunities, known as
experiential learning, which provide authentic opportunities to study and address
real-world issues.
The One Health concept can be incorporated into and expanded across all aspects of University operations, campus life, and community engagement. In fact, we think of these areas of University operations as “divisions” —including Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Business & Financial Affairs, University Advancement, and the Office of the President. A One Health perspective would see these areas not as “divisions” but as branches on the same tree. A University working to advance One Health for the region we serve will be most effective when all of these branches are understood to be growing from the very same trunk, growing from a deep and healthy set of roots, with every operational unit across campus holding the same vision for advancing human, environmental, and economic health for the region and for our campus.
Anyone who has worked on campus in the Modoc gardens or on trail restoration on sat’wiwa
(the Chumash sacred mountain also known as Round Mountain), visited Santa Rosa Island,
paddled at the Channel Islands Boating Center, presented at the Student Research Conference,
performed at Project CI (formerly known as Arts Under the Stars), participated in
a learning community, served as a volunteer through the Center for Community Engagement
— and the list goes on and on – has participated in an event that embodies the ethos
of One Health.
Similar ideas of interconnectedness are found in other widespread initiatives, such
as the ocean-focused Blue Economy, which are inclusive, equitable, sustainable, and
resilient. Within our region, this includes working with different organizations and
agencies that help protect our public lands, natural resources, and cultural heritage.
We acknowledge CI’s responsibility to our coastal region, which includes globally
significant natural and cultural resources, industries and professions, and student
opportunities.
Our coast, islands, and ocean waters are designated in a number of ways — as a global
Biodiversity hotspot, National Park, National Marine Sanctuary, Whale Heritage Area,
and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve — and they are variously managed by the National Park
Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Forest Service,
California State Parks, The Nature Conservancy, and the US Navy, among others. Our
lands and seas, including their agriculture, fisheries, and deep-water port for trade
and defense, are also of profound economic importance which cannot be overstated —
whether in terms of the sheer amount of physical area and resources encompassed by
these agencies, organizations, and companies; their influence and relevance nationally
and globally; or the impacts of and opportunities for associated industries and careers.
In just one example, the University and Santa Barbara Zoo have forged a partnership
that includes planning for a Zoo-managed conservation center on CI’s main campus,
which will be the first of its kind in the nation. The center’s purpose will be to
care for locally threatened and endangered animals, such as snowy plover birds and
amphibians. The center will incorporate professionals, students, and community members
into the operations and outreach through coursework, research, employment, volunteerism,
and more. The outcomes will benefit our animals, graduates, communities, and ecosystems
alike.
In future Channel magazines, we will spotlight different areas of One Health and strategic planning
at CI as we explore the power of intentional collaboration in realizing a vision
of wellness and interconnectedness within our region and beyond.