Description
Focus:
The Environmental Studies Program focuses on the interactions of humans and the natural environment. Specifically, the Program studies the structure and functioning of natural systems and the ways that human social, political, and economic activity affects those systems.
Goals Include:- Developing students' capacities for interdisciplinary critical thinking, problem solving, and communication.
- Applying the diverse research methods of the social sciences and natural sciences to understand and analyze local, national, and international environmental issues.
- Fostering an understanding of the literature of the environment and ethical questions in environmental decision making.
- Enhancing career and graduate study opportunities in environmentally related disciplines.
- Coordinate service projects on public lands.
- Complete original research in environmental monitoring and design solar panels.
- Complete senior capstone projcts which have ranged from a wilderness plan for the Black Canyon National Park, to a campus organic garden, to environmental education in local schools, to imagining an environmentally responsibile academic building.
- Led efforts towards Western's signing of the Environmental Charter.
- Worked with Student Government Association to pass a Sustainability Fund to encourage campus environmental projects.
- Travelled to Kenya to install solar panels.
- Encouraged President Jay Helman to sign the President's Climate Commitment.