This course examines Iceland’s transition to a nearly 100% renewable energy system through an interdisciplinary lens. Using Iceland as a living laboratory, students study the geological foundations, engineering design, economic tradeoffs, and policy frameworks that support large-scale geothermal and hydropower development, as well as emerging carbon capture technologies. Instruction combines lectures, seminars, and structured field analysis at key energy and geological sites.

The course emphasizes applied learning and critical analysis. Students engage directly with energy infrastructure, evaluate sustainability outcomes, and consider the social and environmental implications of renewable energy systems within a global context. By integrating field-based observation with academic research and reflection, the course provides students with a deeper understanding of how place-based resources shape real-world climate and energy solutions.

A field-based course that examines tropical ecosystems through the integrated study of hydrology, ecology, climate, and human systems. Using Panama as a case study, the course focuses on water resources and environmental management, with particular attention to the Panama Canal, tropical hydrologic systems, and the interactions between ecosystem function and human activity. Coursework during the semester prepares students for an intensive in-country field experience that includes lowland rainforests, cloud forests, coral reefs, and sites within the Panama Canal watershed.

The course emphasizes applied analysis and interdisciplinary problem-solving. Students engage in data analysis, field observations, and engineering and ecological assessments to evaluate ecosystem health and sustainability in tropical environments. Through direct field experience and structured reflection, students develop a deeper understanding of how environmental processes, infrastructure, and societal needs intersect in a global context.

This is a 14-day field course during the summer followed by weekly seminar and workshop during the fall semester. Students will travel throughout southern Mexico, examining degraded, restored and pristine wetlands, streams, and/or forests, visiting rural villages and meeting with local restoration experts. Real-world problems will be the source material for course projects.

Restoration project designs and analysis initiated during the Mexico trip will be developed during weekly meetings of this course after returning to campus. In the classroom, the course will explore restoration strategies in many different ecosystems: plains, mangroves, forests, brownfields, oceans, and/or beaches. This will consider restoration needs in countries with developing economies, and how that shapes design and evaluation.

The course objectives include intensive practical field research in Southeastern Peru, focusing on topics relevant to local conservation NGOs within the context of tropical ecology and conservation biology in the Amazon Rainforest. Students will engage in the scientific process by identifying pertinent ecological questions, designing research proposals, collecting field data, analyzing qualitative and statistical data, and presenting their findings to stakeholders and the scientific community. To facilitate this, students will integrate course components into their research designs and conduct field exercises. Research topics will center on various wild monkey species, providing a comprehensive understanding of the intricate relationships between these primates, their ecosystems, and the impacts of environmental changes. Evaluating monkeys as indicators of ecosystem health adds context to their conservation efforts. By assessing their vulnerability to environmental threats, students can advocate for effective policies and practices that protect both the monkeys and their habitats. Human activities significantly challenge wildlife populations, making it essential to explore the effects of habitat degradation on their behavior and ecology. Understanding these impacts is vital for informing conservation strategies aimed at mitigating human influence. Developing interdisciplinary research skills is a core objective of this program. By integrating methodologies from behavioral ecology, ecological modeling, parasitology, and conservation biology, students will learn to address complex ecological questions holistically. This skill set is crucial for tackling the multifaceted challenges of wildlife conservation and ecosystem management.