Nature: An Introduction to Wonder

Catalog description

In a world obsessed with "connectivity," many people are, paradoxically, becoming less connected with nature, that is, with the entire natural world in which they live. This course endeavors to raise students' awareness and appreciation of the natural world of which we are all a part, using experiential, scientific, and humanistic approaches. Students will be challenged to assess and improve their own familiarity with nature and to discover or re-discover wonder, both in their own experiences of nature and in the writings and scientific studies of others. While lecture will be used to present some of the material, discussion based on material read or observations of nature will be a major component of the course, as will field experiences in nature. Junior standing required.