Environmental Science Course
The BI SC 003 course is open to all non-science majors. The course is structured to help students develop into socially aware and responsible citizens. Policy makers and citizens are urgently needed who can act with an understanding of ecological principles necessary to deal with the environmental problems of our times, such as water use, solid waste management, global warming, energy use, conservation of irreplaceable natural resources, overpopulation, and the preservation of biodiversity. An understanding of biological and ecological principles and their application towards environmental challenges should give the student the confidence to be a trustworthy and active citizen, a conscientious steward of nature, and an agent of change for making a healthy, sustainable community and society. Regardless of the students’ field of study, as a citizen of both local and global communities, some environmental issues will impact their lives. The course objectives are to enable students to:
- Develop a basic understanding of how ecosystems and biological systems work, learn how economic systems depend on natural capital, biological/chemical processes, and the function of ecosystems
- Develop a basic understanding of how ecosystems and biological systems work, learn how economic systems depend on natural capital, biological/chemical processes, and the function of ecosystems
- Develop a fundamental understanding of sustainability
- Understand the scientific basis of specific environmental problems
- Understand the significance of environmental legislation and the impact of increased citizen awareness on improving the quality of life we enjoy today
- Further develop the ability to evaluate their contributions to shared environmental problems, identify ways to minimize their impact on the environment, and contribute to the development and maintenance of a sustainable future.
Video overview of student projects
An understanding of biological and ecological principles and their application towards environmental challenges should give the student the confidence to be a trustworthy and active citizen, a conscientious steward of nature, and an agent of change for making a healthy, sustainable community and society. Regardless of the students’ field of study, as a citizen of both local and global communities, some environmental issues will impact their lives. The course objectives are to enable students to:
- Develop a basic understanding of how ecosystems and biological systems work, learn how economic systems depend on natural capital, biological/chemical processes, and the function of ecosystems
- Develop a basic understanding of how ecosystems and biological systems work, learn how economic systems depend on natural capital, biological/chemical processes, and the function of ecosystems
- Develop a fundamental understanding of sustainability
- Understand the scientific basis of specific environmental problems
- Understand the significance of environmental legislation and the impact of increased citizen awareness on improving the quality of life we enjoy today
- Further develop the ability to evaluate their contributions to shared environmental problems, identify ways to minimize their impact on the environment, and contribute to the development and maintenance of a sustainable future.
As part of the course, students work in teams to complete a service learning project called the Environmental Awareness & Community Action Project (EACAP). This project allows students the opportunity to research an environmental issue of their choice (local, national, or global) and take action to support community initiatives to address environmental issues. Over the years, students have been involved in a variety of projects with partner organizations.
Community Projects
Sample Projects
- Removing invasive species
- River or trail mapping
- Creating informative brochures & educational material
- Trail use analysis & proposal
- Creating a school mural
- Designing rain barrels
- Maintaining bluebird nests
- Leading activities for school activity nights
- Creating promotional/educational videos and/or webpages
Teams present their work during an information session that is open to the public. They also document and showcase their projects on the Environmental Awareness and Community Action Project Website which allows others to learn about their projects and the amount of hard work, dedication, and joy that goes into each project.
EACAP Project in the News
Penn State Berks students put environmental awareness at forefront – Read news article
Each semester for the past 10 years, students in Dr. Mahsa Kazempour’s BiSC3 Environmental Science course work in small teams to complete a community-based service learning project called the Environmental Awareness & Community Action Project (EACAP). This project allows students the opportunity to research an environmental issue of their choice (local, national, or global) and take action to support community initiatives to address sustainability related issues. Over the years, students have been involved in a variety of projects with partner organizations. Despite COVID restrictions and the new online format of the course, the EACAP project remained an integral part of the course this academic year. During the fall 2020 semester, approximately 34 students worked individually or in pairs to complete sustainability related projects for Glenside Elementary School and the City of Reading Public Works. This spring, more than 100 students, across three sections of the course, worked individually or in pairs to complete either sustainability related projects for Glenside Elementary School, Schuylkill River and 10th & Penn Elementary school or came up with their own community-based service projects. In the past, students would present their research and service components of the project during in-class presentations and a poster session open to the public. Due to the online format of the course this year and the existing COVID restrictions, students created narrated presentations about their projects and shared them on the course Canvas ‘Media Gallery’ for their peers to view.
Some sample presentations from the spring 2021 sections are included below.
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