Conversations…

Updated 3/12/2022

ENVS 100.2 & 400.1 Conversations Towards a Sustainable Future is a .25 credit course that brings together senior E&S majors with freshman and sophomore majors (and minors).

For Spring semester, 2022, 100.2 and 400.1 meet at noon on Monday each week.

Schedule and information about Course Project are below.

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Learning goals of ENVS 100.2 & 400.1

• Articulation, through presentations and written material, of E&S-related coursework, research, experiences, outcomes, and future goals, resulting in a personal OWU E&S Achievement document and Goals for the Future document.
• Sharing this knowledge with new E&S students enrolled in ENVS 198, and assisting the new students to understand options and opportunities to help shape their future at OWU
• Networking via connecting new E&S students with the E&S community on campus, faculty, staff, and regional partners
• Feedback on the OWU E&S program and ideas for modifications or developments of the program

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Sharing your work with Instructor: this is how you turn stuff in

• Go to your OWU Drive account
• Create a new folder with the course and your last name
  • +New button (upper left) >> then Folder
  • Robert Smith’s folder would be: ENVS 100.2 Smith
    • or ENVS 400.1 Smith if you are in that class instead
  • Share that folder with Dr. Krygier (so I can edit)

When you are ready to turn in your work:

• put the document in the shared folder
• email Dr. Krygier that your document is in the shared folder and ready to review

Schedule

• ENVS 100.2/400.1: Conversations Toward a Sustainable Future meets M at 12:00-12:50 pm in 207 SCSC
• Readings: linked to schedule

Week 1

Monday, Jan. 10: ENVS 100.2/400.1: No class meeting

Week 2

Monday, Jan. 17: ENVS 100.2/400.1: MLK Day: No Class Meeting

Week 3

Monday, Jan. 24: ENVS 100.2/400.1: Introduction: Overview of course, project, introductions; Project Drawdown

Week 4

Monday, Jan. 31: ENVS 100.2/400.1: STF Meeting (Merrick 204)

Week 5

Monday, Feb. 7: ENVS 100.2/400.1: Networking w/City of Delaware Watershed & Sustainability Coordinator, Sustainable Delaware, Tree House, SEAL, and maybe others.

ENVS 100.2: Brief notes on session, two questions, ask one during meeting
ENVS 400.1: Senior perspectives on good campus and area contacts for ENVS & Geography & etc.: at least one comment during meeting.
Do: Meet and chat with students reviewing your course writing (see below)

Week 6

Monday, Feb. 14: ENVS 100.2/400.1: Faculty Showcase (Drs. Georgic, Anderson & Rowley) 

Week 7

Monday, Feb . 21: ENVS 100.2/400.1: Read “Weaving Indigenous knowledge into the scientific method.” Here is a PDF.

Present: Google “indigenous science” and find at least one interesting example or story to share.
Due: Google doc with 3 comments, questions, etc. (shared folder)
ENVS 100.2: Due: 100.2  document (share with Krygier)
ENVS 400.1: Due: 400.1 document (share with Krygier)
Do: Make sure to share your documents with students reviewing your document

Week 8

Monday, Feb. 28: ENVS 100.2/400.1: STF Meeting (Merrick 204)

Week 9: Spring Break

Monday, March 7: Run and laugh and tickle a tree

Week 10

Monday, March 14: ENVS 100.2/400.1: Revisit the Indigenous Science Discussion

Due: present stuff you found when you searched “Indigenous Science”
Read: Introduction to Fresh Banana Leaves (2022)

Week 11

Monday, March 21: ENVS 100.2/400.1: “The Elephant in the Courtroom” (pdf) and “NYS Assemblyman Patrick Burke Introduces Great Lakes Bill of Rights”

Due: Google “rights of nature” and find at least one interesting example to share.
ENVS 100.2: Due: Read and commented on drafts of 400.1 documents
ENVS 400.1: Due: Read and commented on drafts of  100.2 documents

Week 12

Monday, March 28: ENVS 100.2/400.1: STF Meeting (Merrick 204)

Week 13

Monday, April 4: ENVS 100.2/400.1: “Why Achieving a ‘Circular Economy’ Is Important for Effective Climate Action”

Due: More results from your Google of “circular economy.”

Week 14

Monday, April 11: Presentations

ENVS 400.1: Seniors present 5-minute reflection on time at OWU
ENVS 100.2: Freshmen/sophomores present 5-minute preliminary plan for future at OWU

Week 15

Monday, April 18: ENVS 100.2/400.1: ENVS 100.2/400.1: Presentations

ENVS 100.2: Freshmen/sophomores present 5-minute preliminary plan for future at OWU

Week 16

Monday, April 25: Presentations & Lunch

ENVS 100.2: Freshmen/sophomores present 5-minute preliminary plan for future at OWU + Discussion of More Conversations
ENVS 1oo.2: Due: revised, final Freshman/Sophomore E&S Plans for the Future Document
ENVS 400.1: Due: revised, final Senior E&S Achievement & Assessment Document

Course Projects

Seniors will produce a reflective and critical assessment of their experiences at OWU as an E&S major.

Freshmen/sophomores will produce a plan for their future at OWU, based on experiences in the course (including networking and interaction with seniors).

Non-majors in the class: Feel free to modify this format to fit your circumstances (talk to Krygier)

Senior E&S Achievement & Assessment Document: 3-4 pages includes

• 1 paragraph: Personal introduction, statement of (to the best of your memory!) your general academic goals when you started at OWU, and where you find yourself now, in your final year at OWU.
• 1 page: Achievement: Review of key E&S-related coursework, research, internships, OWU Connection experiences, travel abroad, extracurricular activities, and outcomes. What accomplishments are you most proud of? Or which were most impactful?
• 1-2 pages: Documentation of two experiences that had the most positive impact on your OWU E&S education; two things you, in hindsight, found lacking in your E&S education or things you regret not doing (or doing sooner). The latter can include suggestions for modifications or developments of the E&S program at OWU
• 1 paragraph: Imagine you are in a job interview for your dream job and you need to explain to your potential employer, in a few, eloquent sentences, what relevant employment skills your environmental coursework and projects have allowed you to develop. Look at the list of transferable skills provided for ideas and then write a short paragraph describing your skills and strengths in clear, concise, accessible language. Think of this as your “elevator pitch” for your future!
• 1 paragraph: Advice for freshmen and sophomore majors
• 1 paragraph: Your future plans, and how your efforts at OWU shaped them.
• Slides for presentation (Week 14, 15, and 16)

Freshman/Sophomore E&S Plans for the Future Document: 3 pages include

• 1 paragraph: Personal introduction, statement of your general academic goals at OWU, and where you hope to find yourself when you graduate from OWU.
• 1 page: Articulate specific parts of your OWU education you have and plan to participate in: this includes E&S-related coursework, research, internships, OWU Connection experiences, OWU Career Connection experiences, travel abroad, extracurricular activities. Not quite knowing is OK, but speculate on what opportunities seem to be of more interest to you.
• 1 page: Comment on your experience in ENVS 100.1 and 100.2 so far this semester. This includes readings and discussions, visitors (Jess W. at the STF meeting, etc.
• 1 paragraph: What is the most important goal you have at this point at OWU, and what do you need to do to make it happen? For example, you want to write a TPG grant to travel to the Amazon, get academic and internship experience with urban planning, combine research on water quality with a travel learning course or semester abroad, etc. What are the biggest impediments to this goal?
• Slides for presentation (Week 14, 15, and 16)