Environmental Studies

* Registration is no longer available.*

What would it mean to design a park for a deer? Or to consider the local songbirds when building the eaves of a house? In this course, we will explore all the different life forms— plants, trees, animals, fungi, bacteria…and humans— which interact with the built environment. Students will conduct field research of New Orleans’ urban ecologies using the techniques of naturalists, architects, and artists. This sketchbook-based research will culminate in the design of a small architectural project that serves both human and nonhuman users.

* Registration is no longer available.*

Can you predict the future? In this course, students will expand their understanding of climate change and the impact that factors such as rising global sea-surface temperatures have on our communities. They will be challenged to propose solutions on how humans can counteract climate change and develop safeguards for their own future.

* Registration is no longer available.*

Can you picture yourself solving critical issues along our coastal waterways? As our climate changes and we see the sea levels rise, scientists and engineers must work together to create practical solutions for the future. Students will explore the current issues that impact coastal communities and collaboratively strategize how they can make positive changes for resilience and sustainability now and moving forward.

* Registration is no longer available.*

What makes a species vulnerable to extinction? How does evolution actually work? What can we do to help endangered species recover? We explore these questions and more in Introduction to Conservation Genetics. This two-part course focuses on how genetics are used in the understanding of and response to conservation threats in animal and plant species. The first section investigates the mechanisms of evolutionary change and their effects on threatened wildlife and flora. The second section of the course explores how conservation managers address genetic issues in wild and captive populations. The class will cover these topics in assignments, lectures, hands-on lab activities, and field trips.

* Registration is no longer available.*

How do coastal plants, animals, and microbes respond to climate change? Are coastal ecosystems resilient to climate change? This course will introduce students to the complex ways that climate change affects ecological systems in coastal areas. We will explore topics through lectures, readings, debates, field trips, and group research projects. We will learn about restoration and mitigation techniques and discuss ways students can act on behalf of threatened ecosystems.

* Registration is no longer available.*

The world is facing many global challenges in the 21st century. One of the most significant is global climate change, which is an existential threat to humans – and the planet. Within this challenge are issues related to environmental injustices. These are concerns about how local communities – usually working-class, lower income and, very often, BIPOC communities – are the most likely to carry the burdens of industrial production, consumption, and waste. In this course, we will explore the role of science, politics, and society in both creating – and, hopefully, solving – these challenges.

* Registration is no longer available.*

This course offers high school students an exciting opportunity to explore the fascinating world of reptiles and amphibians native to Louisiana. Through engaging activities, including hands-on habitat modeling, species identification, and interactive discussions, participants will learn about the local herpetofauna's unique adaptations and ecological roles, such as green anoles and American alligators. The course will also highlight the importance of conservation and introduce students to citizen science projects that allow them to contribute to herpetological research. This course aims to inspire the next generation of scientists and conservationists committed to protecting local ecosystems.

* Registration is no longer available.*

In this immersive course, students will explore the evolution of plants from algae to angiosperms, tracing key milestones that shaped modern plant lineages. We’ll take a field trip to visit the City Park Botanical Garden, where students will investigate diverse plant forms. Back in class, we’ll study floral morphology and pollination through hands-on data collection and analysis of local plants and pollinators. Diving into plant genetics, we’ll examine the roles of inbreeding and gene flow through interactive activities. A hands-on DNA extraction lab will allow students to compare DNA yields from various plants, like strawberries and bananas. Finally, students will collaborate in a mock poster session to analyze local adaptation data, honing their scientific communication skills and deepening their understanding of how plants evolve in response to environmental pressures.