Integrating Social Science, Natural Science and Engineering in an Introductory Environmental Science and Policy Course

Smith College, Northampton MA

Investigators

Abstract

Interdisciplinary (99). This project is adapting course and curricular materials from interdisciplinary science and policy approaches at Vassar College and Harvard University. The adaptations support a team taught introductory course on Environmental Science and Public Policy to guide students' subsequent curricular choices and instill a sense of how science, technology and social science perspectives complement each other. The intellectual merit of this activity lies in its integration of science and policy perspectives into a single course to reach both science and non-science majors early in their undergraduate years. It is having a broad impact by laying the groundwork for an enhanced public understanding of science and by encouraging women and minority students to pursue science or science-related careers.