As the first core course in the Loyola Environment Program curriculum, students in this course explore the major themes and conundrums of Environmental Science through readings, class discussions, interactions with environment faculty, field observations, and through their own experiential inquiry conducting research in small groups for the Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience (CUREs). CUREs are a great way for students to connect class content in a hands-on approach that increases depth of knowledge and critical thinking skills and to engage with faculty’s research. This course also provides a venue to introduce students to methodologies, tools, and science communication through environmental inquiry, data analysis, and possible solution initiatives.
Foundations of Environmental Science and Studies
Students enrolled in the Foundations of Environmental Science course presented the research they conducted in small groups for the Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) where they were challenged to Think globally, Act locally. CUREs are a great way for faculty to connect research and teaching while engaging students in a hands-on approach that increases depth of knowledge and critical thinking skills. Projects ranged from investigations on temporal variation of whistling duck feeding behaviors to changes in aquatic nitrate availability across temperature regimes and incorporated science process skills they gained as a learning objective in this interdisciplinary environmental science foundation course taught by Dr. Phil Bucolo. Dr. Bucolo said "these early career environmental students immersed themselves into the scientific process across a variety of environmental topics. The experience provided a venue to illustrate the expectations of scientific inquiry, but also the gratification of data-based discovery, discernment and the ability to communicate their findings." Communicating science effectively is also a skill taught during this course.
