Taught by

Inland waters are some of the most threatened ecosystems on Earth. Yet they provide critical ecosystem services: providing food and freshwater, regulating climate, and detoxifying pollutants.  In this course, we will examine inland waters (focusing on rivers and streams) as ecological systems that interact with their drainage basin and the atmosphere.  We will also explore how physical, chemical, and biological processes operate and impact the organisms found within each ecosystem. Finally, we will study the way inland waters, as hotspots of biogeochemical activity, contribute to fluxes of greenhouse gasses.  Case studies of real-world problems will be used to assess the effect of anthropogenic changes on inland waters and watersheds.  This program will include lectures, laboratories, and field trips to gain experience with sampling techniques in aquatic ecology.

Faculty Biography
Erin Martin, Ph.D. , is an aquatic biogeochemist whose research focuses on examining the role of rivers in the global carbon cycle. Rivers are large sources of carbon to both the atmosphere and the ocean and are consequently critical to our understanding of the global carbon cycle.  While working in the Amazon Basin, her research demonstrated that bacteria living in the river produce high levels of carbon dioxide through respiration, and this carbon dioxide is subsequently lost to the atmosphere.  Her current research in the Mekong Basin (i.e. Cambodia) focuses on characterizing the type of organic carbon that is exported by large rivers to the ocean.  Specifically, she uses molecular tracers to determine where in the watershed the carbon originates from, and uses radiocarbon analyses to determine the age of this material.  Such information is necessary in order to understand the preservation of terrestrial carbon in the ocean, which can affect atmospheric carbon dioxide levels over long time scales.  Through her training (master’s and doctoral degrees from the School of Oceanography at the University of Washington), Erin has research experience working in streams, rivers, lakes, and the ocean.  Additional interests include ocean acidification, estuarine ecology, evaluating the impacts of dams on downstream processes, and microbial ecology.  Her past and present research has been conducted through collaborations with colleagues in Brazil, Cambodia, and the Pacific Northwest.

Credits per quarter

Online learning:

• Enhanced Online Learning - This offering requires access to web-based tools, but use of these tools does not displace any face-to-face instruction.

Class Standing: Graduate
Class Size: 15

Scheduled for: Evening

Advertised schedule:

Mondays 6-10 pm

Located in: Olympia

Taught by

Course Description

Developmental pathways and technological changes, especially those taking place beyond Europe and the United States, are transforming societies and energy systems. Indigenous innovations in renewable energy are more often appropriate and practical than pathways and technologies imported from more "developed" countries. Moreover, they might also serve as models for making all energy systems more sustainable. This elective will explore the current social, economic, and energy status of several countries around the globe and will try to better understand their unique contributions to a less fossil fuel intensive, more renewable energy focused future.

Faculty Biography
Kathleen M. Saul, M.A., M.E.S., received her BA in French and BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame and MA in Management from the Wharton School of Business (University of Pennsylvania) before turning her attention to environmental issues and eventually joining the MES program at Evergreen.  After completing her degree in 2009, she taught Statistics in the Evening and Weekend studies program and Qualitative Methods, an Energy elective and gCORE in the Graduate Program on the Environment. Kathleen then moved to the Center for Energy and Environmental Policy at the University of Delaware to pursue her PhD. Her dissertation research focuses on the displacement of people that results from large scale technology projects, with a focus those involving nuclear technology.  While at Delaware, she participated in research projects looking into the energy policy implications of the Fukushima nuclear disaster as well as alternative administrative forms for organizations devoted to energy conservation, efficiency, and sustainable energy options. She also taught in the undergraduate Introduction to Energy Policy and Sustainable Energy Policy and Planning courses.  Her engineering acumen, business sense, and environmental awareness all come together in understanding modern energy systems and the green energy economy.

Credits per quarter

Online learning:

• Enhanced Online Learning - This offering requires access to web-based tools, but use of these tools does not displace any face-to-face instruction.

Class Standing: Graduate
Class Size: 15

Scheduled for: Evening

Advertised schedule:

Monday 6-10

Located in: Olympia

Taught by

This course provides an introduction to the field of disease ecology, an area of study that has developed rapidly over the past three decades, and addresses some of the most significant challenges to human health and biological conservation. Students will obtain an appreciation for the incredible diversity of parasitic organisms, arguably the most abundant life forms on the planet, and examine how parasites invade and spread through host populations. Ecological interactions between hosts and parasites will be examined from an individual and population-level perspective. Students will gain a basic understanding of the population biology of micro- and macro- parasites, mechanisms of transmission and causes and consequences of ecological and genetic heterogeneity. Laboratory exercises will introduce students to medical microbiology techniques and ecological research using an experimental approach. Specific topics include types of pathogens and their ecological properties, epidemiology and impacts on host populations, strategies used by parasites to exploit hosts, strategies used by hosts to evade parasites, role of ecology and evolution in the emergence of new diseases, and the role of parasites in biodiversity and conservation. The main objectives of this course are to increase student awareness and understanding of (i) the role parasites play in the ecology and evolution of animal populations, including humans; and (ii) the relevance of ecological and evolutionary considerations in managing infectious diseases in individual human or animal hosts and populations.

Credits per quarter

Fields of study: 

• ecology

Online learning:

• Hybrid Online Learning - This offering delivers < 25% of its instruction online, rather than via face-to-face contact between you and your instructors.

Class Standing: Graduate
Class Size: 15

Scheduled for: Evening

Additional details:

Wednesdays 6-10 pm

Located in: Olympia

Taught by

Elevation is an important dimension of GIS (Geographic Information Systems) for mapping and analyzing many types of spatial phenomena.  Studies of watershed dynamics, habitat suitability and forest health, ocean bathymetry, and many other themes can be improved through better understanding the elevation properties of the landscape.   Elevation data – the “Z” dimension” - brings unique insights - and challenges - to the discipline of GIS.  The ability to visualize and analyze and integrate the third dimension opens up a variety of engaging terrain visualizations and lines of spatial analysis.

This class is a hands-on learning workshop to allow students to learn how to create elevation-oriented maps.  Practical exercises will lead students through the analysis of slope and aspect, creation of profiles and contours, computation of viewsheds, imagery "drapes", and 3D flythrough visualizations. Students will use ArcGIS software at the Evergreen CAL, and a wide variety of public domain elevation data sources ranging from continental scale to highly detailed Lidar data.  All learning will take place in the classroom, over a long weekend (there will be no homework or final project requirement). 

To be eligible to take this course, students must have completed Introduction to GIS or have equivalent experience in the use of ArcGIS for Desktop software (ArcMap and Arc Catalog), version 10.2 or later.   The class will begin on Friday evening and take place all day Saturday and Sunday, concluding at 5:00 on Sunday afternoon.

This course is open to MES students who have taken Introduction to GIS. If you have already taken Introduction to GIS and you are interested in this course, please contact Mike at ruthm@evergreen.edu . Please contact the faculty to discuss whether your prior experience is sufficient to ensure your ability to execute the course exercises successfully. 

Credits per quarter

Fields of study: 

• environmental studies
• geography

Prerequisites:

NEW: Course is now open to Jr/Sr students with signature. Students need to contact the faculty to discuss their interest in GIS, their awareness of elevation particularly (since "the third dimension" is the focus of my summer syllabus), and any previous skills or exposure to GIS of any kind.

To be eligible to take this course, students must have completed Introduction to GIS or have equivalent experience in the use of ArcGIS for Desktop software (ArcMap and Arc Catalog), version 10.2 or later.  This course is open to MES students who have taken Introduction to GIS. If you have already taken Introduction to GIS and you are interested in this course, please contact Mike at ruthm@evergreen.edu . Please contact the faculty to discuss whether your prior experience is sufficient to ensure your ability to execute the course exercises successfully. 

Online learning:

• Hybrid Online Learning - This offering delivers < 25% of its instruction online, rather than via face-to-face contact between you and your instructors.

Class Standing: Junior–Graduate
Class Size: 15

Scheduled for: Weekend

Advertised schedule:

Weekend intensive course: Friday, July 28 to Sunday, July 30

Located in: Olympia

Taught by

It is widely agreed that an environmentally literate and concerned citizenry is crucial to environmental quality and long-term sustainability--but how and where is environmental and sustainability literacy fostered? And where "environmental education" occurs, is it effective?  This class explores the history, philosophical underpinnings, and current trends in environmental education for both youth and adults, in both formal sectors (schools and colleges) and non-formal ones. This class provides a theoretical and practical introduction to the field of environmental education and interpretation. It will be useful to students interested in environmental teaching or communications as a career, or to those whose environmental work might involve education or outreach components. Note: A one-day Saturday field trip will be taken to Northwest Trek Wildlife Park in Eatonville, Washington; students should expect to pay a nominal entrance fee.

Course Outcomes:

• A theoretical grounding in environmental education (EE): its precursor fields and their various rationales, and the working principles to which EE professionals aspire. 
• An introductory understanding of learning theory and of the types of educational settings that foster meaningful, lasting learning.
• A working knowledge of several arenas in which environmental education is practiced, with attention to both the opportunities and challenges for volunteer and professional environmental educators.
• A framework for evaluation of environmental education programs.
• An understanding of the increasingly politically charged nature of environmental education and implications for professional practice.
• The student's own construction of the promise of environmental education as well as some of its shortcomings and tensions----and a more complex "concept map" of the field.
• An introductory understanding of social marketing approaches to fostering environmentally responsible behaviors.
• A heightened awareness of environmental literacy as a global imperative.  

Faculty Biography:

Jean MacGregor, M.S., is a Senior Scholar at the Washington Center for Improving the Quality of Undergraduate Education at The Evergreen State College. She directs the Curriculum for the Bioregion Initiative, a faculty and curriculum development initiative, whose mission is to prepare undergraduates to live in a world where the complex issues of environmental quality, community health and wellbeing, environmental justice, and sustainability are paramount.  The Curriculum for the Bioregion initiative involves hundreds of faculty members at colleges and universities throughout Washington State. Prior to work at Evergreen, she helped develop the environmental studies program at Warren Wilson College near Asheville, North Carolina.  Earlier in her career, she developed and/or evaluated environmental education programs for both youth and adults at nature centers and science museums, and in various outdoor and wilderness learning settings.

Credits per quarter

Online learning:

• Enhanced Online Learning - This offering requires access to web-based tools, but use of these tools does not displace any face-to-face instruction.

Website:

• WordPress

Class Standing: Graduate
Class Size: 15

Scheduled for: Evening

Advertised schedule:

6-10p Wed

Located in: Olympia

Taught by

Accelerated environmental change is the new normal. This dynamic course will begin with a review of the current status of global and local impacts of such change. We will identify opportunities and methods that will help students develop the necessary leadership skills to address this emerging crisis. The class will first explore past environmental successes and examine a variety of approaches and collaborations used in Washington state, looking closely at what has worked and what hasn’t, and what techniques will be most useful for successful environmental stewardship in the future. The following is a list of past successes for review and analysis:

• The Early Winters project in the Methow Valley, ca 1980’s

• The proposed gravel mine on Maury Island, ca 2008

• The Pit to Pier project in eastern Jefferson Co., ca 2014

• The creation of the Teanaway community forest in Kittitas Co., ca 2013

• The SSA Marine proposed coal terminal at Cherry Point, Whatcom Co., ca 2016

By clearly understanding the process and manner of resolving these past challenges, in the second phase of this class, students will apply this knowledge to propose innovative solutions to the following current environmental challenges:

• The Dept. of Natural Resources trust land plan for conservation of the marbled murrelet in Western Washington

• The Dept. of Ecology’s efforts to create a no-discharge zone in the Puget Sound

• Ongoing efforts to curtail carbon emissions in Washington.

These case studies will be student led, working in small teams, with the goal of understanding the essential role of leadership in shaping solutions across diverse interest and political groups. Student teams will examine and evaluate the role and leadership qualities of members of the public and responsible officials in crafting success. Team presentations will demonstrate thorough research, critical thinking and professional presentation skills of the issues under study. Peer evaluations will be part of each presentation. Two planned field trips, one in the Hood Canal area and one on the Columbia river, will provide the class with an opportunity to talk with environmental leaders, view the project area, and discuss the realities of both past and current mega projects and their potential impacts. The ultimate goal of this class is to inspire and equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to become effective environmental leaders.

Students can enroll for 2 credits first session, 2 credits second session, or 4 credits full session. If you registering for the second session only, please contact the faculty for required preparatory readings.

Peter Goldmark has a lifelong involvement with agriculture, conservation, science, education, and public service. In January 2017, Peter completed his second elected term as Washington State Commissioner of Public Lands. He obtained his B.S. from Haverford College in 1967 and went on to complete a PhD in Molecular Biology at UC Berkeley. He has published research papers in national and international journals and instructed class at Heritage college and UC Berkeley. 

This offering will prepare you for careers and advanced study in:

state/federal environmentally related agencies, NGO's, educational institutions, land management businesses, elected and appointed office

Credits per quarter

Fields of study: 

• environmental studies
• political economy
• political science

Online learning:

• No Required Online Learning - No access to web tools required. Any web tools provided are optional.

Class Standing: Junior–Graduate
Class Size: 20

Scheduled for: Evening

Advertised schedule:

Wed 6-10p plus optional Saturday field trips (specific dates to be determined)

Located in: Olympia

Taught by

This program provides a framework for understanding current environmental issues from an interdisciplinary perspective. Students will begin to develop the skills to become producers of new knowledge, rather than being strictly learners of information already available. Multiple methods of data acquisition and analysis will be introduced through examples drawn from many fields of study. The philosophy of science and the problematic relationship between science and policy are also introduced.

Credits per quarter

Online learning:

• Enhanced Online Learning - This offering requires access to web-based tools, but use of these tools does not displace any face-to-face instruction.

Fees:

$100 field trip fee to Pack Forest, October 6-7, 2016.

Class Standing: Graduate
Class Size: 50

Scheduled for: Evening

Advertised schedule:

6-10p Tue/Thu

Located in: Olympia

Taught by

This class will explore provocative, intersectional topics including restorative, social, and environmental justice, ecotherapy, mass incarceration, ecological restoration, Just Sustainability, institutional operations, institutional racism, prison abolition, transformative and punitive rehabilitation, and returning citizens’ experiences of reintegration. The Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP) will serve as the case study. The SPP partnership supports more than 100 science, sustainability, and education programs statewide. Referencing SPP, we will consider limitations and opportunities for social, economic, and environmental sustainability in prisons. Diverse guest speakers will contribute critiques and potential innovations. Students will be challenged to think holistically and propose realistic solutions which would benefit incarcerated individuals, returning citizens, and communities.

Credits per quarter

Fields of study: 

• community studies
• environmental studies

Online learning:

• Enhanced Online Learning - This offering requires access to web-based tools, but use of these tools does not displace any face-to-face instruction.

Class Standing: Junior–Graduate
Class Size: 15

Scheduled for: Evening

Advertised schedule:

6-10p Wed

Located in: Olympia

Taught by

Communities and organizations have substantial environmental and social impacts at both local and global scales. How do we evaluate the positive and negative values of those impacts? How do we define and assess organizational practices and associated impacts? What should we be measuring and tracking? And how do we use assessments to stimulate and guide positive organizational change?

To understand the theoretical and practical dimensions of these questions, this class will explore a variety of assessment tools designed for corporations and other organizations, communities, and colleges/universities. Students will develop a broad understanding of organizational sustainability and assessment tools, and a deeper understanding of the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) developed by AASHE, the Association for the Advancement of Higher Education. (Evergreen faculty and staff, along with MES students, helped develop the pilot version of STARS.) Class work will include planning for and beginning the data collection for Evergreen’s first AASHE STARS assessment of organizational sustainability since 2011. Students will have the opportunity to continue this work in subsequent quarters through internships.

Faculty Biographies

Scott Morgan, M.P.A., is the Director of Sustainability at The Evergreen State College. He has a B.S. in Chemistry from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana, with an emphasis upon organic chemistry and biochemistry, and a Master of Public Administration from The Evergreen State College. Evergreen’s Office of Sustainability coordinates and guides on campus sustainability efforts as well as institutional collaborations with community-based groups. Scott has worked in agriculture and private industry, founded and managed a small non-profit, taught GED and pre-college classes, and has spent the past few years immersed in the public sector. This diverse set of perspectives informs his recognition that long-term sustainability will require a dynamic harmony between environmental, social, and economic health. He is also actively engaged with the Thurston Climate Action Team, a public/private partnership dedicated to creating a healthy and sustainable future for Thurston County, WA by encouraging, coordinating, and leading action on climate change.

Credits per quarter

Online learning:

• Enhanced Online Learning - This offering requires access to web-based tools, but use of these tools does not displace any face-to-face instruction.

Class Standing: Graduate
Class Size: 15

Scheduled for: Evening

Advertised schedule:

6-10p Mon

Located in: Olympia

Taught by

Credits per quarter

Online learning:

• Enhanced Online Learning - This offering requires access to web-based tools, but use of these tools does not displace any face-to-face instruction.

Fees:

$200 for overnight field trips, food, vans, and lodging.

Class Standing: Graduate
Class Size: 28

Scheduled for: Evening

Advertised schedule:

Wednesday 6-10. Field trip to Elwha River--date TBD

Located in: Olympia

Taught by

This class provides an introduction to 21st-century forest ecosystem management, the design of forest restoration treatments, and the role of fire in dry forests. A three-day field trip will emphasize the unique issues facing restoration management of fire prone landscapes of the Pacific Northwest. The course materials will explore the underlying science and practice of sustainable forestry, and the interface with societal and economic forces including adapting policies to address 100 years of fire suppression, and climate change. The overall course objective is to increase student literacy and effectiveness in addressing natural resources management issues.

Faculty Biography
Richard Bigley, Ph.D., is a forest ecologist who teaches sustainable forestry and on occasion a forest ecology class. His current work focuses on the restoration of riparian forests to older forest conditions in western Washington, and the ecology and management of headwater streams and wetlands. He works for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Over the last 21 years with DNR, he has served as the team leader for the Forest Ecology, Wildlife Science and the Habitat Conservation Plan Monitoring and Adaptive Management Teams. He also advises other organizations on the development of conservation plans. Before DNR, he worked as an ecologist for the Forest Service PNW Experiment Station and private industry. Richard earned a Ph.D. in Forest Ecology and Silviculture and a M.Sc. in Botany from the University of British Columbia. He has been an Assistant Professor at the University of Washington, College of the Environment, School of Forestry since 1994. As member of the Northern Spotted owl “5-year review” panel in 2004, Richard was a contributor to the first comprehensive evaluation of the scientific information on the Northern Spotted owl since the time of its listing as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1990. After his family, his passions are the science of natural resources management and conservation, and boating.

Credits per quarter

Online learning:

• Enhanced Online Learning - This offering requires access to web-based tools, but use of these tools does not displace any face-to-face instruction.

Fees:

$120 for 3-day field trip.

Class Standing: Graduate
Class Size: 15

Scheduled for: Evening

Advertised schedule:

6-10p Mon

Located in: Olympia