ENV 493 Environmental Science Seminar

ENV is so excited to be a part of the MSPP again! We thoroughly enjoy the unique opportunity to combine the practice of our environmental science education and skills with service learning team projects and valuable community partners.

In this class, student teams practice being environmental scientists through semester-long projects that result in end-products used and valued by community organizations.

Through this process, students learn the value of nonprofit organizations and get a glimpse of the careers they've chosen.

We are so thankful to the Straws Foundation and the Scripps Howard Center for Civic Engagement for this opportunity.  

Student reflections on the class and selection of F.O.R.E.

"It is awesome that Mayerson Student Philanthropy Project gives students the opportunity to work in a philanthropic setting while simultaneously allowing students to improve their skills in community work and communication. The ability to communicate science is very important for every scientist."

“In working with FORE, I found it easy to become compassionate about its cause, and I think working through the philanthropy process has allowed me to connect with communities and people that I may not have otherwise. Working with a nonprofit and urban community have made me reconsider how I can individually contribute to helping better a community and their surrounding environment."

"I appreciate the ‘learn by giving’ in college classrooms approach that the Mayerson Project has adopted. This allows students to know that the work they are doing is for the greater good, and that they are helping a nonprofit organization."

 

A word from F.O.R.E. (Heather Mayfield)

We are so excited and honored to be receiving this Mayerson Philanthropy award from the Straws Foundation to support our Students in the STREAM program!

This year, we will be working with three urban schools to train their teachers and students to explore and assess creeks that are located either on or near their school campuses. While the concept of getting kids out into creeks is nothing new, we feel really strongly that getting them into creeks in their own neighborhoods instead of going somewhere else to “find nature” is crucial.  In addition to learning core STEM concepts through doing chemical testing and learning about biological indicators, the kids will be fostering strong connections to the creeks in their backyards. This will give them a strong sense of place and pride in their watersheds, and in their neighborhoods. We hope that this will create a new cohort of young
leaders to protect the waterways in their own communities.

As we move through these crazy times, FORE is working diligently with our Students in the STREAM teachers to virtually adapt some of our training and content materials so that all of our students will get their feet wet participating in this program, one way or another, this year!

This Mayerson award is especially meaningful to us, because it has been given to us by a group of students who we also count among this new cohort of environmental leaders. I got to know Mary, Ethan and Erin this semester when they helped to develop an innovative new curriculum that we hope to kick off next year, focused on Harmful Algal Blooms. In addition to working diligently on this project, they are also juggling work responsibilities and making strong efforts in their personal lives to minimize their environmental footprint. As their studies were upended this spring by the pandemic, I was impressed by their efforts to continue generating excellent material under the strong leadership of Dr. Hopfensperger. I know the rest of the student groups produced some wonderful material, as well.

For that reason, we are honored that our organization and program was chosen by these exemplary students, who are also dedicated stewards of their communities and their environment. That is the best type of validation we can receive, and we appreciate that the Straws Foundation has provided them with an amazing opportunity put their stewardship into action. Most of all, we are grateful to be able to be the beneficiaries of this innovative partnership, and we thank you all so much!

Professor Hopfenpserger: We were halfway the MSPP. Presentations by student teams advocating for the vote and the final vote were done online. We also had a discussion board on how to do the vote, which was not nearly as lively as it would have been in person. However, several students commented in their reflections that they enjoyed that they got to be a part of making that decision. Challenges with the presentations included students within a team finding times to work together and the technology aspects. For me, the challenges included making sure everyone participated, grading participation, and missing the live interaction with the students.