Teaching

Current environmental challenges require cross-disciplinary, solution-driven approaches that account for the complex dynamics of people and nature. The rapidly developing field of social-ecological systems dynamics demands simultaneously working to understand how complex drivers of human behavior (e.g., values, norms, attitudes, institutions) impact the environment (e.g., biodiversity, ecosystem function), as well as how changes in environmental conditions influence people (e.g., livelihoods, well-being, equity).

Objectives:

• Develop detailed knowledge and agility at describing and applying key theories and frameworks for interdisciplinary research on social-ecological systems. 

• Cultivate a robust set of interdisciplinary skills for conducting ethical, methodologically sound, and policy-relevant studies of social-ecological systems.

• Effectively communicate interdisciplinary research findings to diverse audiences of policymakers, scientists, stakeholders, and broader society.

Conservation Biology is an interdisciplinary field addressing the biodiversity crisis. This course is designed to equip students with a rigorous understanding of the fundamental biological concepts, theories, and practical applications of the field. 

Objectives:

• Develop a foundational and applied understanding of core conservation biology concepts.

• Gain insights into the complexities and nuances of biodiversity loss and the multifaceted challenges facing conservation efforts.

• Acquire analytical and communication skills relevant to conservation research and practice.

• Foster critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and interdisciplinary synthesis.