This spring, Harvard University is offering a free online course to students called Human Health and Global Environmental Change. Students do no receive credit for the course, but it is nonetheless an excellent resource and path to more knowledge.
Access the course via edX: PH278x Human Health and Global Environmental Change
PoE Lunch: Winter Quarter 2013, Tentative Schedule
Did you know that PoE has a weekly ‘Brown Bag’ speaker series set up with a schedule of interesting talks and discussions for winter quarter? Did you know you can earn 1 additional credit for attending? Check out the tumblr for the course and make sure to join us for the first talk by PoE’s own Anne DeMelle about her trip to the Alberta Tar Sands.
PoE Lunch meets every Thursday from 12:30-1:30 in PoE Commons, Wallace Hall.
January 10th, Anne DeMelle (PoE faculty), “My trip to the Alberta Tar Sands.”
January 17th, open
If needed: Tim Billo (PoE faculty), “Exploring the landscapes of Patagonia.”
January 24th, Kristi Straus (PoE…
Looking for an interesting course to take this winter? Do you care about the environment and ever wonder why we ought to protect it?
Envir/Phil 243: Introduction to Environmental Ethics! Tuesday/Thursday from 10:00-11:20AM Discussion sections on Wednesdays and Fridays.
In this course students explore the field of environmental ethics by bringing philosophical inquiry to bear on environmental issues. We will learn about various theories in environmental ethics as well as how to apply philosophical skills and concepts to environmental challenges. This will include learning about theories such as the Land Ethic, Biocentric Individualism, Deep Ecology, and Ecofeminism. It will also include thinking critically about the ethical dimensions of environmental issues such as those facing the Puget Sound region and the global challenges of climate change. This course will provide a foundation for thinking about and recognizing the ethical dimensions of a wide range of issues in environmental studies. We will discover that environmental ethics is relevant to virtually every environmental issue.
The course has an optional service-learning component. Students who choose to engage in a service-learning project will write a final paper reflecting on the connection between their project and the course instead of taking the final exam.
Please contact the instructor, Lauren Hartzell Nichols, with any questions: greenphd@uw.edu
3 credits (Credit/No Credit)
Meets Tuesdays 9:30-12:20 in Fish 203
This is a seminar, discussion-based course for graduate students in the sciences that focuses on effective techniques for sharing scientific research with non-specialists. At the end of the quarter, each student will present a 30 minute public talk on their graduate research to be delivered during the 2013 Engage: The Science Speaker Series at Town Hall Seattle.
In this course, students will:
– Develop and practice several analogies to distill their research
– Create a variety of concise research promoting statements
– Practice story-telling and audience consideration
– Use improvisation as a public speaking tool
– Engage in weekly readings and discussions
– Hear from guest speakers on science communication
CEP 498A – 3 credits
Shaping Your Urban Future: Local Planning, Governance, and Leadership
Instructor: Marty Curry, AICP
Tuesdays 2:30-4:50PM
**Counts towards Policy and Decision Making for PoE major requirements**
This course provides an in-depth understanding of local planning and governance, and arenas where ‘urbanists’ become engaged citizens in shaping the future of their cities and towns. Using local case studies, the course teaches students about the complex set of players in these arenas; the tools and methods used; and how to apply them so that they can become effective urban leaders and agents of change.
This class is recommended for all students interest in applied policy, community organizing, city management, local leadership, governance and democratic processes.
ENVIR 495A
Literature, Culture & the Environment: The Human Animal
Professor Richard Block (blockr@uw.edu).
MWF: 11:30-12:30, Condon Hall 139.
VLPA (can perhaps be taken for “W” credit with approval of instructor)
Modernity’s unprecedented assertion of human rights has been an equally unprecedented disaster for our fellow creatures. Never before have humans so systematically slaughtered and tortured the other animals on the planet in service of their own needs. To boot, human-caused global warming threatens the survival of as much as 65 percent of the known species on the planet. How is it that we have come to be at war with our animal nature?
Course format: Lecture and discussion
What You Can Expect to Learn in This Class:
Winter 2013 course offering
Professor Richard Block (blockr@uw.edu).
MWF: 11:30-12:30, Condon Hall 139.
VLPA (can perhaps be taken for “W” credit with approval of instructor)
Modernity’s unprecedented assertion of human rights has been an equally unprecedented disaster for our fellow creatures. Never before have humans so systematically slaughtered and tortured the other animals on the planet in service of their own needs. To boot, human-caused global warming threatens the survival of as much as 65 percent of the known species on the planet. How is it that we have come to be at war with our animal nature?
Course format: Lecture and discussion
What You Can Expect to Learn in This Class:
Last week as part of the ENVIR 100 course, peer TA Samantha Zwicker led her students on a tour of Yesler Swamp. Samantha is part of the Yesler Swamp Student Restoration Team at UW. Check out the blog or PoE website to find more cool courses and organizations like this so that you can get involved too!
Info on the ENVIR 100 course: click here!
Info on Yesler Swamp: click here!
ENVIR 495A
Professor Richard Block (blockr@uw.edu).
MWF: 11:30-12:30, Condon Hall 139.
VLPA (can perhaps be taken for “W” credit with approval of instructor)
Modernity’s unprecedented assertion of human rights has been an equally unprecedented disaster for our fellow creatures. Never before have humans so systematically slaughtered and tortured the other animals on the planet in service of their own needs. To boot, human-caused global warming threatens the survival of as much as 65 percent of the known species on the planet. How is it that we have come to be at war with our animal nature?
Course format: Lecture and discussion
What You Can Expect to Learn in This Class:
The course listings for Winter 2013 that can fulfill required Perspective and Experiences classes have finally been posted. You can find the link to the page here.