Solving Human Overpopulation: A SCAMPER Approach

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