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Earth and Environmental Science work begins with making observations of natural phenomena and collecting quantitative field data. This course will teach the basic methodologies used by scientists to collect and analyze field data. This will include how to make and record careful observations of landscapes and Earth materials, how to
Earthʹs life‐supporting environmental systems are controlled by a complex interplay between geologic and biological processes acting both on the surface and deep within the planetary interior. This course will explore how earth materials and physical processes contribute to a healthy environment, and how humans impact geologic processes. Topics covered will include: earth
What is nature? Who gets to speak for nature? What is the institutional arrangement, political economic system, and form of political community best suited to cultivating a more sustainable relationship with the non-human realm? These questions are most effectively grappled with by putting political theory into conversation with environmental studies. In cultivating this
Ecology is the study of interactions among organisms and their environment. Studying these interactions provides us with the theoretical foundation for understanding many of the most pressing environmental problems. Ecology is a broad field, encompassing research at the scales of individuals, populations, communities, and ecosystems with
This hands-on course explores the harvesting, drying, and processing of medicinal herbs grown in a no-till organic garden at Purple Carrot Farm. Students will learn to apply regenerative growing practices and identify optimal harvest times for roots, leaves, and flowers to maximize potency and quality. Along the way, students will become
Bennington’s campus supports beautiful examples of temperate deciduous mixed hardwood forests. Our forests are also impacted by legacies of past land-use and introduced plant species that affect biodiversity and ecological function. This class is a hands-on exploration of ecological restoration and invasive species removal in our own back yard. Students will
This is an introductory course on the theory and practice of analyzing and displaying geo-spatial information. The methods that students will learn have wide-ranging applications in the natural and social sciences. Students will learn how to utilize mapping and spatial geographic information systems software to analyze patterns within spatial datasets and communicate
This course explores the broad field of sustainable agriculture. This class consists of a series of field trips, meeting with a cross-section of local producers ranging from organic vegetable farms, mushroom cultivation, livestock, flower farms. Through these field trips, readings, and in class discussion, students will explore pathways to creating sustainable
The idea of old growth forests evokes romantic notions of "wild" and "natural" landscapes, especially in Vermont where our settler-colonial history includes rapid and widespread deforestation for logging and agriculture. How do ecologists identify "old growth" and what lessons about ecological structure, function, and processes can we learn from these
