Conversations

Only for students enrolled in ENVS 198 and ENVS 498.

Updated 8/18262026

ENVS 198/498: Conversations Toward a Sustainable Future
Fall 2026: Monday, 12:10-1:00 pm in 211 SCSC and sometimes Merrick 301

Instructor: Dr. John Krygier
Office: Schimmel-Conrades Science Center 206
Office Hours: Appointment here or email for other times
jbkrygier@owu.edu | http://krygier.owu.edu


ENVS 198/498 meet together, Monday at noon:10 in 211 SCSC. 198 is for new ENVS majors. 498 is for graduating majors. We attend the Sustainability Task Force meeting three times during the semester, same time as class, in 301 Merrick.

Course Description: A combined cornerstone (198) / capstone (498) course that allows new Environmental Studies and Environmental Science majors and graduating seniors to engage with each other. Seniors will present work completed at OWU and reflect on the experiences gained in internships, field study, research, and other theory-to-practice opportunities. Seniors will interact with and mentor new majors to shape their plans for future work in their majors at OWU. Freshmen/sophomores will also engage with other E&S faculty, campus staff (B&G, AVI), City of Delaware employees, regional NGOs, and other environmental professionals. Occasional readings, videos, and/or recorded presentations on environmental issues will be assigned for discussion. ENVS 198 and 498 are required of all ENVS majors.

Course texts: None! Readings may be assigned.

What’s expected: Each of you will complete a document and poster and participate in a field work exercise. Details below.

Sharing your work with the 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
      • Jenny Scarper’s folder would be: ENVS 198 Scarper
        • or ENVS 498 Scarper if you are in 498 class instead
      • Share that folder with Krygier (Editor)
      • When done with your work, put in shared folder and email instructor.

Index: To Stuff Below…

Groups For Fall ’26 (here)

Class Assignments: 198 Document + 498 Document + Posters (here)

Salamander Swamp Rapid Environmental Assessment (here)

Schedule

Week 1

Monday, Aug. 24: No class meeting (semester begins Wednesday, Aug. 26)

Week 2

Monday, Aug. 31: Introduction + Consociation

Kryger blah blah blah. Then, group into your group.

Chat: 498: One thing you wish you knew when you were freshman
198: One thing you really want to accomplish while at OWU

Week 3

Monday, Sept. 7: Speed-Mentoring Rotation

Seniors host small tables; new majors rotate every few minutes. You meet a lot of people fast. Come ready to talk.

498 Prep: Three things you wish you knew when you started; Three reccomendations for new majors; Best way to make the most of your time at OWU (and in ENVS)

198 Prep: Three things you wish to accomplish at OWU; Three unknowns, worries, or concerns.

Assign: 198 students: Please sign up for a Study Abroad Phase One meeting: Study Abroad, along with a TPG, is a primary means of doing something impactful at OWU (both fulfill the Connection Experience requirement).

Week 4

Monday, Sept. 14: ENVS Faculty Showcase with Jimmy John’s Sandwiches

Assign: Review and begin prep for Salamander Swamp Field Assessment

Week 5

Monday, Sept. 21: STF Meeting 1 @ 301 Merrick

Week 6

Monday, Sept. 28: Salamander Swamp – Field Assessment 1

Walk to the campus wetland (~5 min). Your group runs a rapid assessment: a shared core checklist plus your specialty (plants, animals, water, or soil). Bring: closed-toe shoes you can get muddy + a phone with iNaturalist/Seek and Merlin Bird ID installed. See the Field-Assessment Guide for details.

Week 7

Monday, Oct. 5: Salamander Swamp – Field Assessment 2

Additional field work time.

(Oct. 7–11: Midsemester Break — no classes)

Week 8

Monday, Oct. 12: Salamander Swamp – Revisit & Findings

We walk back out and put the four specialties together – does the place look different now that you have data on it? Rain backup: classroom.

Week 9

Monday, Oct. 19: STF Meeting 2 @ 301 Merrick

ENVS 198: Due: Draft of 198 document (share with Krygier & group)
     Due: poster (21″ x 14″), put in your shared folder and email Krygier
ENVS 498: Due: Draft of 498 document (share with Krygier & group)
     Due:  poster (21″ x 14″), put in your shared folder and email Krygier

Week 10

Monday, Oct. 26: Guest speaker / campus solar-install walk (TBA)

Week 11

Monday, Nov. 2: STF Meeting 3 @ 301 Merrick

Week 12

Monday, Nov. 9: Senior (498) Showcase — Group A

Poster Session. Half of 498 present; everyone else circulates, asks questions, and leaves feedback.

Week 13

Monday, Nov. 16: Senior (498) Showcase — Group B

Poster Sessions. O’Ther half of 498 present; everyone else circulates, asks questions, and leaves feedback.

Week 14: Thanksgiving

Monday, Nov. 23: No class meeting (Thanksgiving Break, Nov. 21–29)

Week 15

Monday, Nov. 30: New-Major (198) Showcase — Group A

Poster session. Half of 198 present; everyone else circulates, asks questions, and leaves feedback.

Week 16

Monday, Dec. 7: New-Major (198) Showcase — Group B + Wrap

Posters session. O’Ther half of 198 present; everyone else circulates, asks questions, and leaves feedback.
ENVS 198: Due: revised, final Freshman/Sophomore E&S Plans for the Future Document
ENVS 498: Due: revised, final Senior E&S Achievement & Assessment Document

Class Assignments: 198 Document + 498 Document + Posters

Seniors (498) will produce a reflective and critical assessment (details below) of their experiences at OWU as an E&S major. You’ll share it as a single poster (21″ x 14″) at a showcase in the last few weeks of the semester (see schedule). Due in your shared folder Monday, October 19. Email Krygier when done.

Freshmen/sophomores (198) will produce a plan for their future at OWU (details below), based on experiences in the course (including networking and interaction with seniors). You’ll share it as a single poster (21″ x 14″) at a showcase in the last few weeks (see schedule). Due in your shared folder Monday, October 19. Email Krygier when done.

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

498 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. You can look back at the stuff you wrote for ENVS 198 as most of you took that course.
  • 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 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.

198 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, and 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 198 this semester. This includes readings and discussions, visitors, STF meetings, 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?

Salamander Swamp Rapid Environmental Assessment

Salamander Swamp (three field days). More outside stuff, students said. Ok, you got it. Our odd little campus wetland, wedged between the old railroad (now recreational trail), a buried landfill, and the highway – where salamanders and other goobers somehow still thrive. On Sept. 28 and Oct. 5 your group runs a quick assessment (a shared checklist plus your specialty); on Oct. 12 we walk back and put the findings together. Bring muddy-okay shoes and a phone with the apps.

Two fieldwork collection days: Mon Sep 28 + Oct 5 (assessment)
Revisit with summary: Mon Oct 12.
Worksheets (print the sections your group needs)
BEFORE YOU COME (everyone)
Install 2 free apps iNaturalist (or Seek) for plants/insects/etc., and Merlin Bird ID (its Sound ID names birds by ear). Set them up before Sep 28.
Wear the right shoes Closed-toe shoes you can get muddy. The ground is uneven, wet, and sometimes slippery. No high heels, crocks, etc.
Dress for weather We’re outside rain or shine (indoor backup only if it’s really bad). Bring a charged phone.
Know your group Find your group + specialty. A 498er lead runs the specialty tasks.
WHAT YOUR GROUP DOES (by specialty): Worksheets (print the sections your group needs)
Everyone (core) ~15 min: pin the spot, log 5 species with the apps, run Merlin for birds, photograph one sign of disturbance and one sign of life thriving.
Plants Species sweep with iNaturalist, name the 3 most common plants, and flag invasives (honeysuckle, garlic mustard, etc.).
Animals Gently flip logs/rocks to find salamanders & bugs (wet hands, put everything back), log inverts, full Merlin bird list, note signs (chews, tracks).
Water Physical read (flow, clarity, smell), temperature + pH, and a net sample of stream bugs to score water health.
Soil Dig a small pit: texture ‘ribbon’ test, compaction, moisture, earthworms — and hunt for buried fill (it’s a former landfill).
Brefore Oct. 12 Session Your group picks 2–3 finds and digs up a little background to share on Oct 12.
WHAT THE CLASS PROVIDES (you don’t buy anything)
Shared kit Sorting trays, hand lenses, dip nets, pH strips, thermometers, trowels, gloves, tape measures, sample bags, pencils, and printed data sheets.
You bring Just your phone (with the apps), muddy-okay shoes, and weather-appropriate clothes.
HANDLE WITH CARE
Salamanders & critters Wet your hands first, look don’t keep, and put every cover object and animal back exactly as you found it. It’s a sensitive habitat.
Stay safe Keep clear of the railroad grade and highway edge; watch your footing on wet ground.
Wash up It’s a former landfill – sanitize/wash hands before eating.

Access & accommodations: Field days involve a short walk over uneven, wet ground. If you have any access need, talk with Dr. Krygier and/or OWU’s Accessibility Services Office (740-368-3990).