Passion is a very powerful word these days because of the amount of expectation it holds. There is a lot of pressure to discover what you are passionate about, and to then pursue it. You’d better hope it’s something lucrative! Passions can define your identity, the course you take through life, and the people you meet. […]
Exploring the Hierarchy of Research Questions
By the time senior year rolls around and we graduate from Lewis and Clark’s Environmental Studies Program, we are expected to be capable of carrying out analytical research. This entails approaching an issue in a way that incorporates synthesis of multiple views and a full understanding of what is actually happening before asking what can be done. […]
Detangling the Politics of Climate Change
As we advance towards the end of the semester, the weather has been gradually getting warmer, leading students to drag their books and laptops outside so they can work while lounging in the sun. I too have been enjoying the beautiful sunshine; however, I can’t help but think about how strange it is that the […]
No, We Are Not Environmental Science Majors, But We Do Study Science
As many environmental studies students come to know as they go through the program, the “s” of our acronym is often mistaken to mean “sciences.” No, we are not environmental science majors and minors–however, we do study sciences. It’s one of the many different perspectives incorporated into the interdisciplinary approach characteristic of the Lewis & […]
Capitalizing on the Human Environment
When you hear the word “environment,” what do you think of? For environmental studies scholars this question can get complicated, but many people picture beautiful green landscapes. Even a quick Google search for “environment” mostly turns up pictures of forests and fields. The only trace of human beings in these images comes from the occasional […]
The Value of Independent Research
Most students enter the ENVS Program because they are genuinely passionate about environmental concerns. Our interests and backgrounds are incredibly varied, and everyone has a unique repertoire of projects and interests. As the program website describes, this major is characterized by an emphasis on “cutting-edge scholarship on environmental issues” that requires “new approaches and fresh […]