Environmental Studies 160 (ENVS 160) is an introductory class into the Environmental Studies major, therefore it is quite broad and arguably the most impactful. For many students, this can be a make or break for the major and therefore many students have decided to give out tips for navigating this class. It is heavy, both […]
Main Content
Recent Individual Posts
Maybe Pessimism Isn’t the Answer
The immediate benefit that I have found after taking this course is how I approach discussions of climate change among my peers. Before this semester, I was more than ready to jump on the fatalistic bandwagon and pull as many people onto it with me, thinking that it would help spur change. However, after reading […]
Spoiler Alert: We All Can’t Rule the Earth
Who Rules the Earth by Paul F. Steinberg covers a variety of topics all in relation to the environmental movement and individual or public effort to combat climate change. He delves into different movements in the past that has created legislation on environmental protection and the action of individuals in these situations. Steinberg also goes […]
A Change of Mindset
There is always a great deal of overlap when discussing environmental issues. In ENVS 160 we read many different books that offered differing solutions and sources of climate change. In fact, a key message that was conveyed in all the texts was the complexity of the issue and the fundamental changes we need to make […]
The Fall from My Pedestal
As a transfer student who had lived in multiple countries and studied under many different viewpoints, signing up for an intro to environmental studies course seemed vaguely insulting. I was this experienced and worldly student with a passion for the environment, what more could an intro course teach me that I hadn’t already learned from […]
Key insights into the environmental movement
Connection One: Trying to change individual people’s minds or lifestyles is not an effective course of action. Differences in opinions regarding the role and legitimacy of science, religious and political beliefs, cultural conditions etc. contribute to deeply internalized biases and habits. “Depending on who one is and where one stands — the idea of climate change carries […]
A Trail Map Through the Twisted Trails of ENVS 160
Ah, nice to see you young grasshopper. This path is long, twisted, and difficult to navigate, but the enlightenment you receive makes it all worth it. This class is designed to show you what lies in store further on in the environmental studies curriculum and to give you a sense of the type of work involved. Specifically, […]
To Help on Your Journey
Environmental studies is an amazing opportunity to challenge yourself, and to begin to understand what interdisciplinarity truly means. So far in my first year in college, Environmental Studies challenged me the most and made me think outside of the box the most. Although definitely daunting at times, the course is worth it and I hope […]
Who Truly Rules the Earth
Paul Steinberg most recent book, titled Who Rules the Earth? How Social Rules Shape Our Planet and Our Lives covers as it suggests: The social rules in place that shape how the world functions, whether we like it or not. Some of these social rules are implied, such as being decently covered in public, whereas others […]
Learning the Ropes
ENVS-160 is not what you would expect in a typical science class, in fact I think in ways it’s a lot better than most science courses. It really challenges you to be open to new Ideas. ENVS-160 will challenge all your knowledge you think you knew about environmental action and that’s not a bad […]
A Web of Ideas
So far this semester, we have mainly focused on four books: Why We Disagree About Climate Change: Understanding Controversy, Inaction and Opportunity by Mike Hulme, Making the Modern World: Materials and Dematerialization by Vaclav Smil, Austerity Ecology & the Collapse-Porn Addicts: a Defense of Growth, Progress, Industry, and Stuff by Leigh Phillips, and Paul Steinberg’s […]
The Ins and Outs of ENVS 160
Introduction I think the most important thing to remember when coming into this class is to be open to new ideas. This class will challenge a lot if not most of your preconceived perceptions on environmental action. To be honest, many students come into this class with an adamant ideology on how to create change […]