Course Details

This course aims to provide a hands-on introduction to the natural and cultural history of the Pacific Northwest through the study of contemporary and historical issues. Students will develop an understanding of the interconnected relationships between human and natural systems in the Pacific Northwest and its influence in the global context. This will be achieved through the discussion of place-based case studies about patterns in the use of resources and the resulting impacts on society, the environment, and the economy in local and global contexts. Course topics will include biodiversity, natural history and conservation, rural and urban resource use and approaches to sustainability, traditional use of resources among others. An emphasis will be placed on understanding past and contemporary socio-environmental challenges and solutions in the Pacific Northwest. Students will also explore various forms of relations between natural systems and human communities, such as with Native Americans, urbanites, rural communities, loggers, fisherman, and others.

In this course, students will develop an understanding of key ecological and social processes affecting Pacific Northwest ecosystems. In addition, students will gain a basic understanding of economically and ecologically important species and ecosystems found in the region. Class time will include occasional lectures from the instructor or guests, discussion of case studies and time will be mainly spent in local field trips. During field trips students will be conducting observations, data gathering and will be trained in basic fieldwork skills. Local field trips will be during class time, however, students will be required to go on at least of these overnight field trips: Olympic Peninsula to study PNW culture and forest/marine ecosystems (3-5 Aug-Early friday to late Sunday) and to San Juan Islands (Friday Harbor Labs) to observe Orca Whales and other marine ecosystems(10-11 Aug Friday-Sat).

The course will include the cumulative development of a project that uses scientific methods to approach a topic of interest.

Specific Course Goals:

– To gain an understanding of the history and complexity of natural and human systems and key socio-environmental relationships in the Pacific Northwest.
– To be exposed to the challenges and solutions to environmental, economic, and social relationships found in the Pacific Northwest in the local and global context.
– To develop a basic understanding of the natural history of the Pacific Northwest
– To apply the scientific method, gain analytical and professional skills, and to gain skills in data collection and field research.
– To improve the ability to synthesize and communicate information effectively to a diversity of audiences.
– To help students form an educated opinion on the issues discussed in class in ways that empowers them personally and as engaged participants in society.