This course explores environmental science as both a system of knowledge and a hands-on approach to research. We will survey major topics in environmental science, including biodiversity, ecology, air quality, water quality, pollution, human impacts, climate change, and energy. As an introduction to hands-on research, the class will engage a citizen-science phenology research project that traces the impacts of climate change on life cycles of plants. Finally, we will test the implications of our research for creative practice in art and design fields.

This course fulfills the SCIMA 2000 requirement.