|
"Environmental Issues Across the Curriculum"
The Piedmont Project
Peggy Barlett (Anthropology), Arri Eisen (Biology), and an advisory group
of twelve faculty began a new thrust of curriculum development around
environmental issues by winning a grant for $56,500 from the University
Teaching Fund. The grant supported 19 faculty over the summer of 2001
to develop new courses and revise teaching modules to integrate environmental
themes.
Broad participation
Applications for the program came from all across the University, and
the participants included faculty from Theology, Law, Public Health, and
Business as well as from Oxford and Emory Colleges. College Departments
represented included Philosophy, Classics, English, German, Biology, Chemistry,
and Anthropology.
Kickoff Workshop
The project began with a two-day intensive workshop on curriculum development
and environmental sustainability led by Paul Rowland (Chair, Environmental
Studies) and Geoffrey Chase (Dean, Liberal Studies) both from Northern
Arizona University. NAU's Ponderosa Project has become nationally-known
for faculty development in support of curriculum innovation on environmental
issues. Following the NAU model, the 19 Emory participants were joined
by 3 Emory resource experts (Eloise Carter from Biology/Oxford, John Wegner
for Environmental Studies/College, and Marcia Owens from Theology), and
the whole event was coordinated by Sally Pete, of the Faculty Science
Council.
Emory's faculty were enthusiastic after the two days of workshop. They
praised the "inspiring conversation about environmental education,"
"the chance to learn from a wonderful group of Emory colleagues,"
and the collaboration across departments and schools. "…Meeting
in focused, purposeful discussion with these colleagues was inspiring,
informative, and joyful." "The questions raised by the presenters
were excellent," and "the collegial, friendly atmosphere made
the discussions enjoyable." "This was the best faculty development
activity I've participated in at Emory."
The Piedmont Project
The participants will continue their pedagogical discussions over a series
of lunches and dinners in the academic year and hope to offer the workshop
again in the summer of 2002. They dubbed their activities "The Piedmont
Project," in honor of the landscape in which we live and the connection
with it that attention to sustainability brings into our lives. The Piedmont
Project's first activity of the school year will be a halfday mini-workshop
at Oxford College's forested conference center, OxHouse, in August, when
faculty will report back on their summer efforts.
|
