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2011 Spring | Arts & Humanities, Education & Outreach

Public Ecological Artwork and Art Classes Fused with Environmental Education Becomes a Vehicle that Creates and Emotional Attachment Between Students and the Earth

Student(s):

Jennifer Dwyer

Program or Department(s):

  • Program on the Environment
  • University of Washington

Site supervisor(s):

Karen Litfin

Partner(s):

  • Auroville Botanical Gardens

  • Buddha Garden Community Farm

Faculty advisor(s):

Karen Litfin, Department of Political Science, University of Washington

Auroville is a community in Southern India in the State of Tamil Nadu focused on human unity and harmony. My internship was the Botanical Gardens in Auroville. I helped teach environmental classes and make functional and educational organic terra cotta pots for the Ornamental Garden. My capstone project used ecological art as a teaching tool to enhance the emotional attachment between children and the earth. The aim of my research and capstone project was to explore interdisciplinary teaching tools that strengthen environmental curriculums, in kindergarten through eighth grade.