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Capstone Experience for Environmental Studies Majors at the University of Richmond

Capstone Experience for Environmental Studies Majors at the University of Richmond. Christopher Stevenson David Kitchen. The ES Senior Seminar. purpose engage ES majors in a “real world” problem work across disciplines, and in groups study one environmental issue in depth

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Capstone Experience for Environmental Studies Majors at the University of Richmond

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  1. Capstone Experience for Environmental Studies Majors at the University of Richmond Christopher StevensonDavid Kitchen

  2. The ES Senior Seminar • purpose • engage ES majors in a “real world” problem • work across disciplines, and in groups • study one environmental issue in depth • students take ownership • ideal structure • 2 semester sequence • two co-teachers, one in natural sciences and one in social sciences • first semester: research • second semester: application • ideally a problem with local/regional scope

  3. First Attempt: 2002-2003 • issue studied • Invasive Species in Virginia • first semester • utlimate goal: “a policy document recommending a course of action to a public agency, a business entity, or an industry association” • studied literature • conducted interviews • field trips • guest lecturers • concerns that arose • team teaching • assessment • student participation

  4. Second Semester • projects • state legislation • the group introduced an invasive species bill to the VA General Assembly • op-ed pieces, press releases, bill amendments, lobbying, testifying • the bill passed (bipartisan support) • policy alternatives • research on how to organize volunteers for early detection of invasive species • concerns • student vs teacher participation • overt political activity • winging it

  5. Second Time Around: Waste Management • same format as before • first semester: study waste management options • second semester: on-campus waste management • objectives • evaluate waste management operations at UR • reduce amount of solid waste going to landfills • encourage more recycling on campus

  6. Activities & Outcomes • activities • field trips • interviews • research of campus operations • cost-benefit analyses of various options (recycling, composting) • survey of UR students’ knowledge and attititudes • waste audit • outcomes • report submitted to UR administration • presentation (w/ recommendations) to the provost

  7. Current Status • successful? • feedback uniformly positive • usually called best experience in the curriculum • scaled back to one semester • teaching credit for team teaching approach • faculty release time to ES • student feedback • current project • GM foods in Virginia

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