Environmental Studies
Environmental studies is an interdisciplinary inquiry into the relationship between humans and the environment. It draws on work in natural science, life science, social science, humanities and the arts, to help students gain a deeper understanding, both of the environmental problems facing the world and of proactive opportunities for change.
Among issues of concern and investigation are:
- resource utilization
- the impact of technology on ecosystems
- relationships between the environment and sociocultural systems
- geographic information systems analysis
- environmental economics and policy
- conservation of biological diversity
- nature writing, alternative dispute resolution
- environmental psychology
- environmental ethics
- and many others
The McPhail Center for Environmental Studies is located in Barney-Davis Hall (built in 1894), which was recently restored to reveal its historic character and at the same time become a place where environmental principles are upheld and demonstrated to the community.