Courses like that Ecology for citizens - including pollution, sustainablility etc. have been around for decades for non-majors - called environmental science or similar.
> I've been thinking for a long time now that we need an "Ecology for > Citizens" type class in high school and for non-science majors in college. > It could replace the current biology topics that people forget after the > test is done and never use again unless it comes up in a trivia game. It > would cover the basics, such as the Three Laws of Ecology, overview of > various cycles, the difference between weather and climate, different > pollution types, sustainability. etc. The intent is offer students what > they need to know in order to realize how human actions impact the > environment, regardless of career. I think something akin to this could > be > tailored to the biology students in question. It they have an > understanding of topics like pollution vectors, bio-magnification, how > biodiversity loss leads to disease outbreaks, etc. they might be a in a > better position to advise on policy and recognize oppurtunites to prevent > problems in there communities. > <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail> > This > email has been sent from a virus-free computer protected by Avast. > www.avast.com > <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail> > <#DDB4FAA8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2> > > On Mon, Feb 1, 2016 at 7:03 PM, Emily Moran <emor...@ucmerced.edu> wrote: > >> If the question is âhow do we get more students to see ecology as an >> interesting career pathâ rather than âhow to we get premeds to take >> ecology >> classesâ, the key seems to be to expose them to interesting uses of >> ecology >> and interesting ecological careers as early as possible. >> In most schools, the kids who come in wanting to major in biology tend >> to >> say they are pre-med, in part because that is the only biology-related >> career they are aware of. >> >> One thing weâre trying at UCM is to have ladder-rank faculty give >> guest >> lectures in the intro bio class - along with delivering the basic >> material, >> we get the chance to tell students a little about our research and have >> the >> option of talking about how they can get involved in research, other >> classes they might consider if they like the ecology/evolution section >> of >> bio 1, or career paths. It is too early yet to see if it is having much >> effect in recruiting students to the EEB track or environmental sciences >> major, but I know I got some good questions from students about options >> for >> including plant-related stuff in their educational and career >> trajectory. >> >> Involving students in research and hands on projects in their freshman >> or >> sophomore year can also be a great way to stoke their interest in >> biology >> outside of a clinical setting. >> >> Emily Moran >> UC Merced >> >> > >> > >> > On 2/1/16, 11:23 AM, "Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, >> news >> on >> > behalf of Kay Shenoy" <ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU on behalf of >> > kay.yellowt...@gmail.com> wrote: >> > >> >> Does anybody have ideas on how to promote Ecology among Biology >> >> undergraduates? We are finding that Biology majors are increasingly >> >> focused on health-care fields; many students consider Ecology >> >> ³unimportant² for their future careers, and it is not addressed in >> the >> >> MCAT exams, so they give it a low priority. How does one increase >> >> enrollment in Ecology courses, and particularly in schools that do >> not >> >> have dedicated Ecology departments? Any thoughts would be welcome! >> > > > > -- > Tamathy Stage > Master's Candidate > Antioch University New England >
