This service learning seminar seeks to look at the biology behind the Grassroots movement, to allow students to learn about local environmental activism, and for students to become locally involved in issues surrounding global biological change. A major emphasis of the course is to learn how to become an active participant in solving environmental problems. It is through the activity of the students locally that they learn about the "globality" of the challenge and possible solutions. I envision 3 goals for the seminar, 1) Students will learn about scientific issues (the ecological impacts of human activity on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, climate change, forest decline, eutrophication, acidification, loss of species diversity, restoration of ecosystems, and zoonotic diseases). 2) Students will examine environmental policy, and be introduced to local organizations seeking solutions to global change. 3) Students will combine their knowledge about both the science and policy and participate in locally-based service learning projects. With this structure students learn the material but are also given the opportunity to apply this understanding in order to address problems of global change at a local level.
As part of the service projects, students will also develop the skills necessary to create visual media and to educate their community about their projects, both in person (on campus and in the WS community) and through internet outlets using social networking, and local new sites. This seminar is ideal for students interested in careers in biology, not-for-profit management and policy, or that simply have an interest in learning how to protect the environment around us. In addition to lectures and group discussions of the materials the course will incorporate new learning approaches and meet 150 minutes each week. The seminar will also involve a service learning component (30 hours total), to be determined by the instructor with class input.
Prerequisites –
A foundation in biology (biol010 or biol100) is preferred, but not necessary.
