Solving Human Overpopulation: A SCAMPER Approach

This article discusses the problem of human overpopulation and its effects on the environment. It proposes a solution using the SCAMPER process, which includes substitute, combine, adapt, modify, put to another use, eliminate, and reverse. The article evaluates each solution and concludes that educating the population on the effects of overpopulation is the most effective solution.

Running Head: WICKED PROBLEMS. 1
Wicked Problems.
Name.
Institution.
Date.

WICKED PROBLEMS. 2
Human overpopulation is the situation where the population of human beings on earth
does exceed the earth's carrying capacity. Overpopulation is favored by several factors such
as improved health care systems resulting in a reduction in the mortality rate. Another factor
may be an increase in the birth rates compared to the death rates which also is because of
improved healthcare systems (Goldin, 2016). Overpopulation has led resulted in several
problems for the environment. The problems may include: Resources being depleted, food
shortage, increased pollution especially in the urban areas and overpopulation could also lead
to increase in malignant diseases among humans (Singh, Srivastava, Singh, Upadhyay, and
Raghubanshi, 2017). We could seek to find a solution to this pertinent problem before it
becomes a nightmare to humanity. Our group seeks to find a solution to this problem by
critically evaluating it through the SCAMPER process.
SUBSTITUTE.
We can seek to find a solution to the overpopulation by seeking an alternative where we
will be able to take the world's population. Scientists, for instance, have not ruled out the
possibility of getting an alternative planet that will be able to support life. Such a discovery of
a life-supporting planet and relocating some of the humans will be a great substitute to help
stem the issue of human overpopulation. Several planets that possibly could support life have
been discovered in the past masking the issue of having a planet potentially able to sustain
human life a reality that may soon be discovered. For instance, in November 2017, Ross 128
b, an exoplanet was discovered and is only 11 light years away. The planet could support life;
such a solution would help in being a substitute for our already overpopulated earth
(Strickland, 2017).

WICKED PROBLEMS. 3
COMBINE.
The problem of overpopulation, for instance in China has proved to be a persistent
problem despite the effecting of the one-child policy. The government can seek to find an
alternative solution to such a problem of overpopulation. A possibly feasible alternative
would be to recruit in large numbers the citizens of its country into the military or encourage
emigration into other less populated countries such as Canada. The emigration will help ease
the country’s overpopulation (Yang, and Kang, 2017).
ADAPT.
The world can seek to adapt to the human overpopulation problem. We can adapt by
offering sexuality education to all students in the school curriculum, as such the population
will be more enlightened regarding overpopulation. The curricula should also be integrated
with lessons to educate the kids on the problems resulting from overpopulation such as
pollution and taking care of the environment given that it is what we do need to sustain the
human race on the face of the earth. The governments could also help move the population
from a young population to an aging population. This can be done by offering incentives and
programs to take care of the aged rather than taking efforts such as free maternal healthcare
which in the end would boost the country's population.
MODIFY.
Overpopulation could alternatively be solved by incorporating modifications into the
system. Such modifications could be made in the reproductive health sector, for instance,
providing safe, effective contraceptive methods of birth control that will help in reducing the
birth rates. The offering of contraceptive means to the citizens may even be made cheaper if

WICKED PROBLEMS. 4
the government steps in and offers subsidies in the provision of contraceptives to the citizens
(Coallier, 2015).
PUT TO ANOTHER USE.
The overpopulation problem can be solved or reduced considerably by eliminating or
ending all policies that support the rewarding of parents. The funds used in the rewarding of
parents could be diverted through legislation in subsidizing of contraceptives. The funds
diverted could also possibly be used in promoting education regarding the effects of
overpopulation in schools.
ELIMINATE.
The government could solve the problem of overpopulation by introducing of one child
policies. Use of one child policies has been used in countries such as China to help stem the
rising population of the Asian giant. Implementation of such a policy may help to reduce
considerably the population of the country affected and consequently to help reduce the
overpopulation rate on earth (Whyte, Feng, and Cai, 2015). The sterilization of males could
also work as an alternative to reducing population growth
REVERSE.
Human overpopulation on earth could also possibly be solved by reversing. This could
be done through educating the children from their schools on the onset about the problem of
overpopulation. Educating the children from their young age will help them grow up bearing
in mind the adverse effects that overpopulation has on earth. The education from a young age

WICKED PROBLEMS. 5
will, therefore, help reverse the problem since once the children are of child-bearing age,
population growth would be controlled (Osuafor, and Samuel, 2015).
Of the solutions to human overpopulation proposed by the SCAMPER method, I feel
that the most appropriate method is based on educating of the population on the effects of
overpopulation. Educating of the citizens especially in schools will help reduce the
overpopulation problem. The citizens will be able to make wise decisions; I trust since they
will know the adverse effects of overpopulation.

WICKED PROBLEMS. 6
References.
Coallier, J. (2015). Overpopulation Revisited a Global Perspective. North Carolina: Lulu
Press, Inc.
Goldin, I. (2016). Is the planet full? Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Osuafor, A. M., & Samuel, N. N. (2015). Using role play to teach overpopulation to Basic
Science students: A way forward for environmental sustainability. AFRREV STECH:
An International Journal of Science and Technology, 4(1), 172-184.
Singh, R., Srivastava, P., Singh, P., Upadhyay, S., & Raghubanshi, A. S. (2017). Human
Overpopulation and Food Security: Challenges for the Agriculture Sustainability.
In Environmental Issues Surrounding Human Overpopulation (pp. 12-39). IGI Global.
Strickland, A. (2017, November 15). Newly discovered nearby planet could support life.
CNN. Retrieved from: https://edition.cnn.com/2017/11/15/world/new-earth-size-
exoplanet-life-potential/index.html
Whyte, M. K., Feng, W., & Cai, Y. (2015). Challenging myths about China’s one-child
policy. The China Journal, (74), 144-159.
Yang, K. C., & Kang, Y. (2017). Applying a Grass-Root Approach to Empowering Change
Agents to Transform Pro-Conservation Attitudes and Behaviors in Over-Populated
China. In Environmental Issues Surrounding Human Overpopulation (pp. 120-136).
IGI Global.