The Center serves as a forum that brings together faculty
from diverse backgrounds to discuss and collaborate on issues of mutual
concern. One important function is to serve the
needs of all students studying the environment, especially those in
the increasingly popular Environmental
Studies (ES) major. Since ES is a program, not a department, the
Center has served as a de facto department by concerning itself with
curricular issues. Going beyond the realm of the natural sciences, the
Center is offering a Certificate Program
that will allow students of any major to supplement their academic liberal
arts experience with environmental topics and awareness. |
The Center sponsors a biennial Conference, each focusing
on a different environmental topic. Experts from academia, government,
industry and environmental organizations are brought together for in-depth,
interdisciplinary evaluations of the issues. In April 1997 the subject
was the "Recovery and Future of the Northeastern
Forest." April 1999 saw the second conference, entitled "The
History Status and Future of the New England Offshore Fishery."
The third conference "Environmental Justice:
Healthy, High Quality Environments for all Communities" was
held in the Spring of 2001 and the fourth, "Our
Changing Coast: Private Rights and Public Trust" was held in
March of 2003. In March 2005, the subject was "Acid in the Environment: Lessons Learned and Future Prospects." Our most recent conference, "Saving Biological Diversity: weighing the protection of endangered species vs. entire ecosystems" was held in April 2007. In addition to the large scale conferences, the Center
also sponsors lectures on a wide variety
of environmentally related topics. All Center programs are available
for students and the general public.
Student faculty research is a hallmark
of the science program at Connecticut College. Many students participate
in summer projects, while others complete individual studies, honors
projects and Master of Arts theses. |
