In this exercise, students design a series of experiments (1) to test whether female bean beetles adjust the size of their eggs on different host bean species and (2) to determine whether differences in egg size based on host bean species are optimal. Most often, students design experiments in which different females are allowed to lay eggs on different bean species that vary in nutritional...

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Students will explore the influences of poultry farming on the ecosystem health of the Chesapeake Bay. A field trip to a poultry farm helps put the case study in context. In a jigsaw design, students first act as expert groups or stakeholders and then are assigned into different synthesis groups. During each step of the process, students utilize social and natural science datasets and discuss...

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In two 4-6 week modules (case studies) students explore the influences of urban practices on the ecosystem health of the Chesapeake Bay. A field trip to the Anacostia River helps introduce the case study. In a jigsaw design, students first act as expert groups or stakeholders and then are assigned into different mixed groups. During each step of the process, students utilize social and natural...

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This module uses a “linked-classes” approach to teaching socio-environmental synthesis. A three-week (6 class) module is taught in two different classes (one in biology, one in policy studies). Students conceptualize and conduct research around a common focal question from specific stakeholder/expert positions. Our focal question was: “Should the Federal Energy Regulat...

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In this seven-week module, students explore the focal question: what are the major socio-environmental and biophysical factors causing deterioration of water quality in the Liberty Reservoir (primary source of drinking water for Baltimore). Students first generate a list of what they would need to know to answer the focal question and then produce pre-systems map in their assigned ‘exper...

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