| Course ID: | ECOL 3300. 4 hours. |
| Course Title: | Field Program in Ecological Problem-Solving |
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. |
| Oasis Title: | Ecological Problem-Solving |
| Nontraditional 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: | [(ECOL 1000 or ECOL 1000H or ECOL 1000E) and ECOL 1000L] and [(ANTH 1102 or ANTH 1102E or ANTH 2120H) or (GEOG 1103 or GEOG 2130H)] and permission of major |
Semester Course
Offered: | Offered summer semester every year. |
| Grading System: | A-F (Traditional) |
|
| Course Objectives: | • 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: | o Introduction to sustainability and socio-ecological systems
• Environmental policy, biodiversity, conservation, ecosystem
services, stewardship (UGA Odum School of Ecology, Chattahoochee
National Forest)
o 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)
o 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)
o 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)
o Issues of water and agricultural crop production
• Strategic planning (Albany State University Water Planning
and Policy Center)
• Technological innovations (Stripling Irrigation Research
Park)
o 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) |