The course will introduce students to analytical methods applicable to the evaluation of energy and climate problems and policy solutions. The methods include ethical analysis, spreadsheet analysis, life-cycle analysis, optimization and systems analysis.

Most of the undeveloped land in the eastern U.S. that we rely on for public benefits and ecosystem services is owned by private individuals and families. Every day these private landowners are making decisions about who will own the land in the future and how will it be used. These decisions are the most significant driver of landscape change we face and will determine the public benefits that the land provides in the future (or doesn?t provide!).

An Academic Year-long independent study.

This introductory statistics course aims to provide students interested in ecology with a supportive, encouraging and comfortable environment for developing a sound knowledge of core statistical concepts in ecology. Ecology, the study of the relationships between organisms to one another and their environment, is a discipline concerned with quantifying the relationships we observe in nature. The objective of the course is to demystify statistics and help develop the basic level of understanding that all future ecologists should possess.

Trees growing in residential areas provide many benefits like cleaning the air and water, reducing energy use, and blocking unsightly views. They can also be dangerous if not carefully planted and properly maintained, causing power outages and damaging property. We'll review the benefits that trees provide, including different ways to assess their value. We will also discuss how best to plant and maintain trees to maximize their benefits and minimize their costs.

The goals of this course are to teach you basic GIS concepts such as spatial data sources and structures, projections and coordinate systems, geospatial analysis, cartographic modeling, and the integration of remote sensing and GIS. By the end of the course, students will be proficient in ESRI ArcGIS software.

Project-based course in which students will work on a semester-long applied research project that analyzes various current systems in western Massachusetts (energy, transportation, agriculture), and identify practical solutions that move towards sustainability. Students identify unique research areas, develop methods and collect data, and analyze and present findings in a report. This course will satisfy the Integrative Experience requirement for BS-NRC and BS-EnvSci majors.

This course will introduce students to major themes of renewable energy systems. Students will analyze alternative energy solutions for a sustainable future. Emphasis will be on the different forms of renewable energy, within the context of the existing energy mix, energy policy, resource potential, and institutional opportunities and barriers. We will explore renewable energy potential and solutions through textbook and supplemental readings, current event briefings, group work and activities.

As a species, humans have a remarkable footprint on global ecosystems. We change land cover, alter water and nutrient cycling, introduce non-native species, harvest natural resources, and change the global climate. This class will explore the impacts of these changes on a variety of ecosystems, as well as consider how natural resource management can improve ecological resistance and resilience to change.