University-wide program designed for students with outstanding academic records, capable of bridging disciplinary interests, with a commitment to learning about the emerging field of environmental assessment. Participants develop environmental assessments of internationally recognized architecture. Emphasizes first order principles, relationships of informational content to design decision-making, protocols for field investigation of buildings and annotated bibliographies. Principles of ecological organization at the community and ecosystems levels. Emphasis on the processes that influence the structure and function of communities and ecosystems.
Laboratory includes field and lab studies of plant and animal systems.
Factors affecting the distribution and abundance of plants. Patterns, structure, and development of plants at the individual, population, and community level. Laboratory provides experience with ecological experimentation at the physiological, population, and community levels. Examines geologic materials and processes affecting the human environment. Discusses geologic hazards, mineral and energy resources for the future, groundwater, surface water hydrology, and urban geology.