Schedule & Content

Update 6/9/2025

  • ENVS 110: Introduction to Environment & Sustainability
    • Section 1 MWF @ 9 AM – 9:50 AM in 211 SCSC
    • Section 2 MWF @ 11 AM – 1150 AM in 211 SCSC
  • ENVS 198/498: Conversations Toward a Sustainable Future (M @ noon)   [see tab above]
  • Readings: RHM = Paul Robbins, John Hintz, and Sarah A. Moore, Environment & Society: A Critical Introduction (3rd edition)
  • Office Hours: Make an appointment here or email for other times

Library Resources

Additional Resources

Keywords

Instead of tests or exams in class, I’m asking that you submit (via Google Forms) two keywords (of your choice) and their definition from each of the RHM textbook chapters that focus on major approaches to understanding relations between humans and the environment:

Ch. 2 Population & Scarcity
Ch. 3 Markets & Commodities
Ch. 4 Institutions & The Commons
Ch. 5 Environmental Ethics
Ch. 6 Risks & Technology
Ch. 7 Political Economy
Ch. 8 Social Construction of Nature
Ch. 9: Feminism & the Environment
Ch. 10: Racialized Environments

The submission form and explanation are here.

I’ve indicated when keywords are due on the schedule below (and on the ENVS 110 Calendar: see Syllabus). They are part of your grade.

Week 1

Monday, Aug. 18: No class meeting

Wednesday, Aug. 20: Introduction to Course: Delaware Run

Friday, Aug. 22: What is this Class?

Due: Subscribe to ENVS 110 Calendar: see Syllabus or Project Page

Week 2

Read: RHM Ch. 1 Introduction

Monday, Aug. 25: Humans, Environments, and the Anthropocene

Wednesday, Aug. 27:  Your RHM chapter/groups + Preliminary project ideas 

Assign: Your RHM chapter (9-17) (on Projects page). Check the presentation date on this schedule.
Contact: Your chapter co-presenter(s)

Friday, Aug. 29: Catastrophe and Triumph: Scrappy Sustainability

Week 3

Read: RHM Ch. 2 Population & Scarcity

Monday, Sept. 1: Chapter Review & Ideas for Course Project 

Present: Present ideas for course project to class; email 3 ideas to instructor by 4:01 pm
Due: Read assigned RHM Chapter

Wednesday, Sept. 3: Project Topic Discussion (continued)

Due: Continue to present ideas for course project in class.

Friday, Sept. 5: Approach: Population & Scarcity

Due: Two keywords from Population & Scarcity (form here)

Week 4

Read: Assessing Your Environmental Values, Transferable Skills
Read: RHM Ch. 3 Markets & Commodities

Monday, Sept. 8: Work Day: Instructor in 211 SCSC for help on Refined Course Project Topic Ideas

Wednesdaty, Sept. 10: Approach: Markets & Commodities

Due: Two keywords from Markets & Commodities (form here)
Due: Finalized focus topic emailed to Instructor and Holly Birk by 4:08 pm
Due: Chapter review shared by 11:52 pm

Friday, Sept. 12: Finding Focus Topic Sources I

Week 5

Read: RHM Ch. 4 Institutions & The Commons

Monday, Sept. 15: Finding Focus Topic Sources II

Signup: for meeting with Holly (watch email)

Wedbesday, Sept. 17: In-Person Individual Meetings with Holly Begin (SCSC 214) and Possible Blah Blah Blah (lecturette): On Procrastination

Individual Meetings w/Holly Begin

Friday, Sept. 19: Approach: Institutions & the Commons

Due: Two keywords from Institution & the Commons (form here)

Week 6

Read RHM Ch. 11 Carbon Dioxide, Ch. 12 Trees, Ch. 14 Uranium

Monday, Sept. 22: Things: students present & discuss: Carbon Dioxide & Trees

Try to attend: STF Meeting (12:10, Merrick 301)

Wedsneday, Sept. 24: Things: students present & discuss: Wolves & Uranium (Wolves moved to Friday, Feb. 28)

**Friday, Sept. 26: OWU Writing Center (TBA) & OWU Connection (TBA)

Week 7

Read RHM Ch. 15 Tuna, Ch. 16 Lawns, Ch. 17 Bottled Water, Ch. 18 French Fries

Monday, Sept. 29: Things: students present & discuss: Tuna & Lawns

Wednesday, Sept. 1: Things: students present & discuss: Bottled Water & French Fries

Friday, Oct. 3: Review Annotated Bibliography & TPG Proposal Assignments

Assign: Sign up for 10-minute Krygier meeting by noon Monday, Oct. 6 (see calendar or email for link).
Assign: Annotated Bibliography & TPG

Week 8

Read RHM Ch. 5 Environmental Ethics, Ch. 13 Wolves, Ch. 19 E-Waste

Monday, Oct. 6: E-Waste & Wolves

Wednesday, Oct.8: No Class Meeting: Fall Break

Friday, Oct. 10: No Class Meeting: Fall Break

Week 9

Monday, Oct. 13: 10-minute meetings with Krygier (206 SCSC) – TPG Ideas (see calendar or email for link)

Try to attend: STF Meeting (12:10, Merrick 301)

Tuesday, Oct. 14: 10-minute meetings with Krygier (206 SCSC) – TPG Ideas (see calendar or email for link)

Wednesday, Oct. 15: Oct. 7: 10-minute meetings with Krygier (206 SCSC) – TPG Ideas (see calendar or email for link)

Individual Meetings w/Holly End

Friday, Oct. 17: Catch-Up

Week 10

Read RHM Ch. 5 Environmental Ethics, Ch. 6 Risks & Technology, Ch. 7 Political Economy

Monday, Oct. 20: Approach: Environmental Ethics

Due: Two keywords from Environmental Ethics (form here)
Due: Six Final Project Sources (cited correctly) sent to Holly and Instructor by 4:61 pm

Wednesday, Oct. 22: Approach: Risks & Technology

Due: Two keywords from Risks & Technology (form here)
Due: Revisions to Chapter Review (indicate Writing Center coach)

Friday, Oct. 24: Approach: Political Economy

Due: Two keywords from Political Economy (form here)

Week 11

Read RHM Ch. 8 Social Construction of Nature, Ch. 9 Feminism & the Environment

Monday, Oct. 27: Approach: Social Construction of Nature

Due: Two keywords from Social Construction of Nature (form here)

Wednesday, Oct. 29: Approach: Feminism & the Environment

Due: Two keywords from Feminism & the Environment (form here)
Due: Annotated Bibliography (250-300 words per source) share by 4:19 pm.

Friday, Oct. 31: TBA

Week 12

Read RHM Ch. 10: Racialized Environments

Monday, Nov. 3: Approach: Racialized Environments

Try to attend: STF Meeting (12:10, Merrick 301)

**Wednesday, Nov. 5: OWU Career Connection Career Catalyst

Friday, Nov. 7: Presentation of Student TPGs (12 minutes each)

Presentations (4): TBA
Due: TPG Proposal (3 pages + budget) share by 4:44 pm.

Week 13

Monday, Nov. 10: Presentation of Student TPGs (12 minutes each)

Presentations (4): TBA

Wednesday, Nov. 12: Presentation of Student TPGs (12 minutes each)

Presentations (4): TBA

Friday, Nov. 14: Presentation of Student TPGs (12 minutes each)

Presentations (4): TBA

Week 14

Monday, Nov. 17: Presentation of Student TPGs (12 minutes each)

Presentations (4): TBA

Wednesday, Nov. 19: Presentation of Student TPGs (12 minutes each)

Presentations (4): TBA

Friday, Nov. 21: Presentation of Student TPGs (12 minutes each)

Presentations (4): TBA

Week 15: Thanksgiving

Monday, Nov. 24: No Class Meeting

Wednesday, Nov. 26: No Class Meeting

Friday, Nov. 28: No Class Meeting

Week 16

Monday, Dec. 1: Presentation of Student TPGs (12 minutes each)

Presentations (4): TBA

Wednesday, Dec. 3: Presentation of Student TPGs (12 minutes each)

Presentations (4): TBA

Friday, Dec. 5: Conclusions & Evaluations

Finals Week

DUE: End of Scheduled Final Exam Period for ENVS 111 (attendance not required)

  • Course Project Summary & Synthesis (See Project page for details) (in Shared Drive: email me)