TWO MODELS FOR MULTIDIMENSIONAL CAMPUS-WIDE INITIATIVES THAT EXTEND GEOSCIENCE EDUCATION IMPACT BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

Geoscience knowledge is needed to address some of society’s most pressing issues. At University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW), geoscience faculty and students have been engaged in innovative approaches to education that reach beyond the classroom to enrich campus and public initiatives. The Evolution Learning Community (ELC) and Sustainability program are models for transdisciplinary high-impact campus-wide efforts that engage students to address global to local issues; significant planning and coordination, cross-disciplinary cooperation, and support from the administration enabled success.

The ELC was a three-year program spurred by the Darwin anniversaries (2009) to study the scientific context of the theory of evolution and to consider its impact on human life and culture. The ELC promoted dialog on the scientific and societal significance of evolution and increased awareness of evolution’s role in the natural and social sciences and of philosophical, historical, artistic, and literary reflections on evolution. Classroom learning included ~100 courses related to evolution in ~20 departments across the sciences, arts, and humanities. Learning extended beyond the classroom, with a movie screening, theater production, student art show, lecture series, reading groups, Continuing Studies offerings, special issues of UNCW journals, and a trip to the Galápagos. A multidisciplinary conference brought students from across the US to present work related to evolution.

The Sustainability initiative is a cross-disciplinary effort that expanded from one course a decade ago to include topical courses in most programs and a Sustainability minor. The program is innovative in engaging and challenging students to lead sustainability initiatives, e.g., developing a Climate Resiliency & Action Plan, post-Florence natural areas restoration on and off campus, reducing watershed runoff and contamination by planning and constructing rain gardens, and energy conservation documentation that includes an annual carbon report. Student learning opportunities beyond the classroom include annual campus-wide poster competitions and grant writing to fund campus projects and conference attendance. Internship and Peer Educator programs put students at the center of the Sustainability effort.