Every two years, Santa Monica College selects a Global Citizenship theme to guide campus events, coursework, and interdisciplinary discussions. For 2026-2028, the theme is "Living Cultures, Living Planet."
"Living Cultures" refers to the traditions, customs, languages, beliefs, and artistic expressions actively practiced, adapted, and passed down within communities today. Far from static, a living culture continuously evolves as communities navigate contemporary challenges, emerging technologies, and changing environments.
"Living Planet" emphasizes Earth's dynamic, interconnected, and self-regulating geosystems. In the modern age, humanity's ever-growing presence tests the limits of these systems to provide the natural resources and ecological services that sustain life.
Together, these concepts showcase the profound interdependency between human diversity and ecological stability. Cultural vitality relies on healthy ecosystems, just as planetary sustainability demands the wisdom, stewardship, and creative resilience of human communities.
Bridging human identity with ecological vitality is an interdisciplinary endeavor. Every academic discipline offers a unique lens illuminating this relationship and addressing the complex challenges of our shared future. For example:
- Humanities & Arts: Exploring how literature, history, philosophy, performance and creative expression help us process ecological change, preserve heritage, and imagine resilient futures.
- Social Sciences: Examining how policy, communication, economics, and social structures shape cultural survival and drive responsible environmental stewardship.
- STEM: Analyzing how biodiversity, ecosystem dynamics, and scientific innovation sustain human civilization and foster planetary resilience.
To bring these perspectives together, we invite the SMC community to explore "Living Cultures, Living Planet" across coursework, research, and campus programming, sharing out their discoveries to enrich our collective understanding.
