Course Description
Field studies of socio-ecological principles for sustainable
natural resource use, conservation, economic development, and
governance. Examination of stakeholder interests and natural
environments takes place within the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-
Flint River Basin and through site visits to organizations,
industries, and municipalities that are utilizing novel approaches
and partnerships to address current resilience challenges.
Athena Title
Ecological Problem-Solving
Non-Traditional Format
In this field program, students will spend a total of six days
on the UGA campus and travel as a class off-campus for two
weeks. On average, students will have two hours of
lecture/discussion each day and 4-5 hours/day of learning
content through guided tours, hands-on field studies, and guest
lectures. Specific tasks will vary by day and site location.
Prerequisite
Permission of major
Semester Course Offered
Offered summer semester every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
- Describe foundational principles of social-ecological systems, sustainability, and resilience.
- Engage with stakeholders and apply systems thinking to unpack sustainability challenges.
- Analyze the interdependence of social, economic, and ecological systems.
- Design solutions to resilience and sustainability challenges through cooperative learning experiences.
- Explore career opportunities in sustainability and natural resource management.
Topical Outline
- Introduction to sustainability and socio-ecological systems
• Environmental policy, biodiversity, conservation, ecosystem services, stewardship (UGA Odum School of Ecology, Chattahoochee National Forest)
- Issues of population growth and urbanization
• Sustainable water use and land management (Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Resilience, Southern Environmental Law Center)
• Connectivity (Lake Lanier, Chattahoochee RiverKeeper, Clayton County Constructed Wetlands)
• Broadening participation (West Atlanta Watershed Alliance)
- Issues of sustainable energy practices, economic development, navigation, and conservation
• Economic development (Columbus Mayor’s Office, Troy University Center for Water Resource Economics)
• Energy production and navigation (Joseph Farley Nuclear Plant, Army Corps of Engineers Reservoirs)
• Polycentric governance systems (Apalachee Regional Planning Council, Riparian County Stakeholder Coalition, Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint Stakeholders)
- Issues of habitat and imperiled species conservation
• Ecology, habitat use recovery, and imperiled species protection (Torreya State Park, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Jones Center for Ecological Research)
• Non-native species introductions (Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health)
• Diversity and redundancy (Apalachicola Riverkeeper, Flint Riverkeeper, Chattahoochee Riverkeeper)
- Issues of water and agricultural crop production
• Strategic planning (Albany State University Water Planning and Policy Center)
• Technological innovations (Stripling Irrigation Research Park)
- Issues of building resilience across sectors
• Advocacy, outreach, and engagement (American Rivers, Delta Air Lines Office of Global Environment, Sustainability, and Compliance)
• Climate change (Georgia Technical University Global Change Program)
