International College of Physicians and Surgeons (ICPS) - Environmental Benefits of Virtual Online Clinical Learning (VOCL)
For the Past Few Decades : The International College of Physicians and Surgeons (ICPS) has been trying to develop a Global (Universal) Environmental Charter on Virtual Online Clinical Learning (VOCL) - which could also be easily adapted to other (Non-Clinical) Virtual Learning Environments.
It has not been an easy endeavour - so we have decided to summarize a rather short overview of the matter (in highly simplified format).
Although Virtual (Online) Clinical Learning cannot (completely) replace (direct) Face-To-Face ('In-Person') Tutoring - using it as a supplement to Traditional Clinical Learning Methods does have the ultimate potential to dramatically reduce the overall (Adverse) Environmental Impact (and Adverse Carbon Footprint) of Sustainable Clinical Academic Practices.
ICPS - Environmental Benefits of Virtual Online Clinical Learning (VOCL) :
* It Reduces (unnecessary) Energy Consumption Levels of Academic Institutions ; by the bringing down the constant need for Electricity , Cleaning , Lighting , Heating , Ventilation , Air Humidification and Cooling (etc).
* It Reduces the (unnecessary) Depletion of Natural Resources such as Water within Academic Institutions ; by reducing the Water Consumption of such aforementioned Educational Facilities - especially with regards to WC (Water Closet) Lavatories, Restrooms , Sports Showers , Gyms , Gardens , Landscaping, Heating , Cooling , Kitchens , Cafeterias , Cleaning and Laundry Services (etc).
* It Reduces the Consumption of (unnecessary) Junk Food ; by reducing the need for Students (and Staff) to (Gleefully) Feast on Crisps , Cola (Soda-Pop) and Candy (etc).
* It Reduces the Waste of (unnecessary) Food ; by eliminating the need for (Government-Driven) 'Menu-Planning' Guidelines. In many Developed Countries , the Governments usually have Strict Nutritional (Qualitative and Quantitative) Guidelines which all Academic Institutions have to follow (whether the Students actually eat the Food or not). This unfortunately leads to Billions (and Billions) of Tonnes of (uneaten) Food being Wasted and Thrown Away (Annually). Such Huge Quantities of Decomposing Food Waste often produces lots of Methane and Greenhouse Gases. There is also the Humanitarian (Moral) Aspect of throwing away so much Food when others in Developing (or Warring) Countries are literally Starving to Death.
* It Saves Money ; via reducing (unnecessary) Energy Consumption (by Academic Institutions) and by also reducing the overall cost to their Students (in addition to reducing costs for the Families of the Students).
* It Reduces the Use of (unnecessary) Plastic ; especially in relation to (unnecessary) disposable products such as (unnecessary) Plastic Cutlery , (unnecessary) Plastic Wrapping , (unnecessary) Plastic Plates , (unnecessary) Plastic Cups , (unnecessary) Plastic Bags , (unnecessary) Plastic Garbage Sacks, and (unnecessary) Plastic Water Bottles etc.
* It Reduces the Waste of (unnecessary) Plastic ; especially in relation to (unnecessary) disposable products such as (unnecessary) Plastic Cutlery , (unnecessary) Plastic Wrapping , (unnecessary) Plastic Plates , (unnecessary) Plastic Cups , (unnecessary) Plastic Bags , (unnecessary) Plastic Garbage Sacks, and (unnecessary) Plastic Water Bottles etc.
* It Reduces Unnecessary Paper Waste ; by eliminating the need for (unnecessary) Paper Stationery , (unnecessary) Paper Books and (unnecessary) School Toilet Paper (etc).
* It Saves Trees ; by eliminating the need for (unnecessary) Pulp Supplies and (unnecessary) Paper Production - further eliminating the need for such (unnecessary) Paper Stationery , (unnecessary) Paper Books and (unnecessary) School Toilet Paper (etc).
* It Reduces (unnecessary) Overhead (Transportation) Costs incurred by (both) Students and Staff.
* It Reduces Pollution and Emissions from (unnecessary) Transportation ; by eliminating the need for such (unnecessary) Transportation.
* It Saves (unnecessary) Commuting Time ; by eliminating the need for such (unnecessary) Commuting (ab initio).
* It Reduces the (Person-to-Person) Transmission of Communicable Diseases during Outbreaks , Epidemics and Pandemics ; most especially those which relate to Contagious Viruses , Bacteria and Parasites.
* It (Even) Reduces the (Person-to-Person) Transmission of Communicable Diseases under Normal Circumstances ; most especially those which relate to Contagious Viruses , Bacteria and Parasites.
* Even if Resources (or Costs) are still consumed at home (during Virtual Online Clinical Learning) as is usually the case ; such VOCL Costs and VOCL Resources often turn out to be much more 'Cost-Effective' provided that Helpful VOCL Guidelines are robustly adhered to. Hence the need (inter alia) for a Global (Universal) Environmental Charter on Virtual Online Clinical Learning (VOCL).
Conflict of Interest : The ICPS (International College of Physicians and Surgeons) President (Professor Doctor Joseph Chikelue Obi FICPS) is currently working on a Global Universal Environmental Charter relating to Virtual Online Clinical Learning (VOCL) - which could also be easily adapted to other (Non-Clinical) Virtual Learning Environments.
The ICPS Global (Universal) Environmental Charter on Virtual Online Clinical Learning (VOCL) is set to be unveiled sometime during the Middle of the Year in 2022.