Resumen de Are new pandemics a historical fate of human evolution?: education and the contribution from a geoethical perspective

Marta Paz, Isabel Teixeira Costa, Dulce Lima

• The world is overcoming an unprecedented challenge with the COVID-19 pandemic’s worldwide spread. Epidemics and pandemics are part of history. The oldest records are related to the plague of Athens in 430 BC and throughout times numerous other diseases affected humankind, devastating societies. Nowadays, the global world allows rapid communication and potential spread of new pandemics. The Anthropocene epoch, in which humans significantly interfere in the Earth system, can also accelerate their emergence, forcing us to be innovative and proactive. Our enormous scientific and technological development is a huge advantage, providing us with knowledge and various tools to defeat the new incoming threats. Nevertheless, knowing the historical scientific facts is fundamental to understand the present and anticipating the future. Geoethics reflects on the values underlying behaviours and practices that interfere with the way human beings relate to the Earth system. It conceptualises an interdisciplinary approach within geosciences, history, philosophy and sociology and additionally it is closely related to sustainable development. Enhancing awareness of our role as responsible citizens and improving scientific knowledge are essential goals to achieve quality in education and the preservation of life on Earth. Historical scientific events must be harnessed to provide a more holistic and geoethical education