Schedule & Content – Introduction to Environment & Sustainability

Revised 1/14/2026

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
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
Subscribe to ENVS 110 Calendar: see Syllabus

Library Resources

- ENVS 110 Course Project Library Resources
- ENVS 110 Library/Research Forms
- Library Student Services Guide
- Holly Birk, Public Services & Science Librarian (SCSC 193; hebirk@owu.edu): Contact Holly for appointment

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, Jan. 12: No Class Meeting

Wednesday, Jan. 14: Introduction to Course: Delaware Run

Friday, Jan. 16: What is this Class?

Due: Email to Krygier Questions + AI Survey (details at end of today’s lecture notes, here)

Week 2

Read: RHM Ch. 1 Introduction

Monday, Jan. 19: Humans, Environments, and the Anthropocene

Wednesday, Jan. 21: Your RHM chapter/groups + Preliminary project ideas

Assign: Your RHM chapter (9-17) (list here) & start reading. Check your presentation date (by chapter topic, below, on this schedule.
Contact: Your chapter co-presenters

Friday, Jan. 23: Topics Discussion …and… Catastrophe and Triumph: Scrappy Sustainability

Week 3

Read: RHM Ch. 2 Population & Scarcity

Monday, Jan. 26: Chapter Review + Values + Topics (Phase 1)

Assign: Chapter Review + Values + Topics (Phase 1)
Present: Present ideas for course project to class.

Wednesday, Jan. 28: Project Topics Discussion (continued)

Due: Continue to present ideas for course project in class.
Due: email 3 ideas to instructor by 4:01 pm

Friday, Jan. 30: Approach: Population & Scarcity

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

Week 4

Read: RHM Ch. 3 Markets & Commodities

Monday, Feb. 2: OWU Career Connection Career Catalyst – Kayla Montanaro

Wednesdaty, Feb. 4: 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 + Values + Topics + AI Worksheet 1 shared by 11:52 pm

Friday, Feb. 6: Finding Focus Topic Sources I

Week 5

Read: RHM Ch. 4 Institutions & The Commons

Monday, Feb. 9: Finding Focus Topic Sources II

Signup: for meeting with Holly (watch email)

Wedbesday, Feb. 11: Find Holly’s new office (SCSC 193, under the Science Library) so you know where it is. If she’s there, sign up for an appointment with her. If not, scan the QR on the door and sign up for an appointment. Email me a photo of her door!. Check in to the classroom and work with your chapter presentation group members in SCSC 211 for rest of time – or if you have questions about your project topic – I’ll be there.

Individual Meetings w/Holly Begin

Friday, Feb. 13: 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. 13 Wolves, Ch. 14 Uranium

Monday, Feb. 16: Things: students present & discuss: Carbon Dioxide & Trees

Wedsneday, Feb. 18: Things: students present & discuss: Wolves & Uranium

Friday, Feb. 20: OWU Writing Center (Addie Gleason) & OWU Connection (Hanna Burr)

Week 7

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

Monday, Feb. 23: Things: students present & discuss: Tuna & Lawns

Wednesday, Feb. 25: Things: students present & discuss: Bottled Water & French Fries

Friday, Feb. 27: Annotated Bibliography (Phase 2)

Assign: Sign up for 10-minute Krygier meeting by noon Monday, Mar. 2 (see calendar or email for link).
Assign: Annotated Bibliography (Phase 2)

Week 8

Read RHM Ch. 19 E-Waste

Monday, Mar. 2: Things: students present & discuss: E-Waste

Wednesday, Mar. 4: 10-minute meetings with Krygier (206 SCSC) – TPG Ideas (see calendar or email for link)

Thursday, Mar. 5: 10-minute meetings with Krygier (206 SCSC) – TPG Ideas (see calendar or email for link)

Friday, March. 6: 10-minute meetings with Krygier (206 SCSC) – TPG Ideas (see calendar or email for link)

*Individual Meetings w/Holly End

Week 9: Spring Break

Monday, Mar. 9: No Class Meeting

Wednesday, Mar. 11: No Class Meeting

Friday, Mar 13: No Class Meeting

Week 10

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

Monday, Mar. 16: TPG Proposal (Phase 3)

Due: Six Final Project Sources (cited correctly) sent to Holly and Krygier by 4:61 pm
Assign: TPG Proposal (Phase 3)

Wednesday, Mar. 18: Approach: Environmental Ethics

Due: Two keywords from Environmental Ethics (form here)

Friday, Mar. 20: Approach: Risks & Technology

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

Week 11

Read RHM Ch. 7 Political Economy, Ch. 8 Social Construction of Nature

Monday, Mar. 23: Approach: Political Economy

Due: Two keywords from Political Economy (form here)

Wednesday, Mar. 25: Approach: Political Economy (cont.)

Friday, Mar. 27: Approach: Social Construction of Nature

Due: Two keywords from Social Construction of Nature (form he re)
Due: Annotated Bibliography + AI Worksheet 2 by 4:19 pm.

Week 12

Read RHM Ch. 9 Feminism & the Environment

Monday, Mar. 30: Project Synthesis (Phase 4)

Assign: Project Synthesis (Phase 4)

Wednesday, Ap. 1: Approach: Feminism & the Environment

Due: Two keywords from Feminism & the Environment (form here)

Friday, Ap. 3: TBA

Due: TPG Proposal + AI Worksheet 3 by 11:12pm

Week 13

Monday, Ap. 6: Presentation of Student TPGs (10 minutes each)