Coming into Environmental Studies 160 I had no idea what to expect in terms of content for the class, but I was excited hoping that this class would predict my major for the next four years. I assumed that we would be covering similar topics to the AP environmental science class that I had taken […]
Individual Posts
Trouble in Wine Country
I don’t think anyone enjoys tuning their views into harsher realities, however I will attest that I am leaving this class more thoroughly educated on what the real issues standing between humanity and sustainability are. Environmental studies allowed me to take an enormous step back, and look at the big picture of climate change, instead […]
The end and a beginning.
Like many of my fellow students, ENVS 160 helped me dive deeper into the various issues surrounding related to our idea of ‘the environment’, what is ideal and what is undesirable. To say my perspective has not changed so far would be dishonest and I am left with more questions than solutions but I am […]
Never A Simple Answer
After taking this class, I feel I have gained a much broader understanding of how to view environmental thought with a critical lense. Coming into this class I felt confidant thinking about problems with the natural world and ways in which we as a society could go about solving them, feeling that the […]
Saving the Earth One Water Bottle at a Time?
At the beginning of the semester, I thought ENVS 160 would give me the tools needed to save the planet and from there, I would be able to educate others on the simple, individual level change needed to reverse climate change. However, that was not the case. Mid way through our first book, Why We […]
Onward, my Friends…
As this school year quickly draws to an end, I can’t help but think about the future; and not only my future, but the future of this world. Even though ENVS 160 challenged me beyond belief, from getting to class by 8am (which I often failed to do) to truly understanding the selected readings (especially […]
To ENVS 220 and beyond…
It seems somewhat foolish to admit but my concern for the environment and the impending doom of climate change was not the driving force behind my interest in Environmental Studies. Prior to this course I was under the misconception that its content would be somewhat revisionary for me, a focus more on the workings of […]
Finding which Frame Works
It is appropriate that I am writing this final post on Earth Day where I am supposed to derive inspiration for action from what I have learned in Environmental Studies 160. On a day dedicated to environmental action, I must reckon the opposing and conflicting ideas that I have encountered in this course to discover […]
Hear Ye’, Hear Ye’: Take Care in Learning the Fundamentals of Environmental Thought
In ENVS 160, a lot of reading has been done. This class will structure your mind in a way that enhances concentration and promotes articulation. A quiz (almost) every morning percolates the mind, and prepares one for discussion and “environmental” discourse. Throughout the course, we have covered many varying topics. All of these topics have […]
A Reflecting Reflection!
The most significant thing I was able to learn about Environmental Studies through ENVS 160 was how the major truly has a foot in most doors. It necessitates integration of both the social and physical sciences seamlessly, whereas I had previously categorized Environmental Studies as predominantly related to the physical sciences. It was a welcome […]
What a Windy Road
Intro to Environmental Studies is not a class that gives you facts that will spur environmental action, however ENVS 160 will teach you how to think and approach different problems and situations that are not limited to the mainstream environmental focus and solutions. As reflected in the Environmental Studies major, this course will take on […]
Who Could Have Guessed?
At the end of every class I always struggle to remember what I have learned. All the lessons run together and it is usually impossible to distinguish everything again for the end of the year exams. In a way, I am grateful for the opportunity to synthesize and compile everything into one final post. This […]
Moving On, Getting Over ENVS 160
Yesterday I found myself holding a plastic cup, empty, looking for a recycling bin in a house I was not familiar with. I didn’t want to burden the owners and ask for a recycling bin when the trash can was right in front of me. I threw my red plastic cup in the garbage bin, […]
A Reflecting Reflection of Reflection
This course, ENVS 160, was a definite eye-opener. One of the most influential things I have been exposed to, among others, has been not the topic of climate change but of the ways people and scholars can think about climate change. For instance, in the media, what we hear is “the climate is changing for […]
Expanding the Toolbox
Upon learning about environmental science in high school and participating in a variety of field projects, I felt like I had some solid ideas for action. Although ENVS 160 challenged a fair amount of my previous ideals, I now have a wider and more unique toolbox to choose from. Going forward, ideas like awareness of […]
Aiming for Conscious Awareness Beyond 160
Introduction to Environmental Studies (ENVS-160) is not just an introductory course to what there is to learn about the environmental sphere but also bringing in the different lens that it can be viewed through. Moving forward from this course, I will be looking into the world with a more skeptical eye and aim to become […]
The Oceans are Rising and We Are Too
Going into college, I truly did not think I was that interested in studying the concept of the environment. I knew I was concerned for the our world and its people, and I wanted to do something to help make the world a better place, but I was afraid I wouldn’t like a class about […]
A Snippet of the Future
The ENVS 160 course with Jim Proctor covers a wide breadth of knowledge and material. It’s difficult to grasp the range of obvious lessons each book conveys, let alone the underlying objectives present in each text. The class is no less than difficult, it comes with vigorous hours of reading, writing, and discussing. But saying […]
Change Ahead
The lessons presented in ENVS 160 are not ones to be taken lightly or quickly forgotten as the course comes to an end. Embedded in these lessons is responsibility. Not only does this responsibility play a role in our personal lives, but it’s important as students and educators to take on the responsibility of expanding […]
It’s All About the Bigger Picture
ENVS 160 is not your ordinary science class. Rather than your typical lecture style high school class with labs consisting of fire and chemicals, ENVS 160 strongly focuses on many aspects of environmental theories and ideas. Over the course of the class, we focused on four major sections: Why We Disagree About Climate Change by Mike Hulme, Making The Modern […]
Don’t Just Believe in the Change, BE THE CHANGE
As an aspiring animal lawyer, all I think about is being that one crazy person who finally makes changes and moves mountains. My whole life I have been watching documentaries on Netflix or TV shows on channels such as Animal Planet and the Discovery Channel to further educate myself. I found myself looking to current law […]
Navigating ENVS 160
Although technically an intro class, ENVS 160 will not be a class that just kind of floats by. This course will test you, will push your writing and analytical skills, and will allow you to think in ways you never have before. For me, this class completely re-visualized how I view environmentalism and environmental issues. […]
Expanding My Horizons
My dad is an environmental lawyer so I have lived in an environmentally-minded household all my life. Environmental conservation has always been something near and dear to my heart and something I thought I knew a lot about. I have always held very strong and unwavering opinions regarding many environmental issues, such as fracking, mining, […]
The Big Picture
One of the greatest skills I have gained in ENVS 160 is the ability to analyze and compile a wide range of materials into a few coherent and meaningful ideas. Although the interdisciplinarity has proven to be somewhat difficult for me, I have enjoyed having the opportunity to look at the broad topic of environmental […]
Expanding My Tunnel Vision
After taking AP Environmental Science in high school and being apart of the Environmental Academy there, I was confident in my understanding and skills regarding the environment, however as this semester comes to a close, I understand now how narrow and classic minded my environmental views were. This class more than anything has changed the […]