ESES: A New Interdisciplinary Major at the University of Illinois The Earth System, Environment and

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ESES A New Interdisciplinary Major at the
University of IllinoisThe Earth System,
Environment and Society

• Don Wuebbles
• Department of Atmospheric Sciences
• University of Illinois, Urbana, IL
• And Many Colleagues
• June , 2004

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The Team Developing ESES

• Barbara Bailey Department of Statistics
• Steve Brechin Department of Sociology
• Don Crummey Department of History
• Fred Delcomyn School of Integrative Biology
• Evan DeLucia Department of Plant Biology
• Susan Kieffer Department of Geology
• Steve Marshak Department of Geology
• Bruce Rhoads Department of Geography
• Don Wuebbles Department of Atmospheric Sciences
• Others to be added (e.g., Anthropology)
• Two graduate students (Lisa Asplen, Joe Brewer)
  are working with us

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Why a New Major

• Humanity faces great challenges in the 21st
  Century
• Must understand and limit our impact on the Earth
  System
• Addressing challenges
• Understand the nature and consequences of
  environmental change
• Recognize and respond to complexity of the Earth
  system process (including human/social)
• Traditional disciplinary departments and majors
  have not been able to achieve this integration
• Teaching and research talent spread over many
  disciplinary departments

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The Earth System, Environment and Society Vision
Statement

• Our goal is to facilitate a comprehensive
  interdisciplinary undergraduate program that
  provides students with the knowledge and skills
  to contribute to Earth System science, the
  capability to understand the interactions between
  society and the environment, and to make informed
  policy choices.

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The Earth System, Environment and SocietyOur
Approach

• This major emphasizes integration between
• the physical and chemical processes affecting and
  linking the atmosphere, water, and solid earth
  components comprising the Earth system
• the biological components, including animals,
  plants, ecosystems
• the political, socio-cultural, and economic
  activities that influence and are influenced by
  the natural environment

together with
together with
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The Earth System, Environment and
SocietyConcentrations within the Major

• Science of the Earth System (SES)
• Emphasis on the complexities of the science of
  the Earth System
• Require advanced math (e.g., calculus),
  chemistry, physics, and statistics
• Society and the Environment (SAE)
• Emphasis on the political, socio-cultural,
  economic, and historical dimensions of Earth
  System/environmental issues
• No calculus, but take statistics, microeconomics,
  and an introductory sequence in one social
  science/humanities discipline

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The Earth System, Environment and Society
(ESES)Structure of the Major

• Breadth in Freshman and Sophomore Years
• Introductory sequences in Science and Human
  Dimensions
• Appropriate foundational courses within each
  concentration
• Depth in Junior and Senior Years
• Advanced level courses (300-400) within chosen
  concentration
• At least one advanced course required from
  opposite concentration
• Emphasis on critical, integrative thinking and
  decision-making
• Capstone Requirement (Senior Year)
• Three options 1) individual research project, 2)
  internship experience, or 3) project-based,
  interdisciplinary team course

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Timeline and Milestones Year 1

• Completed
• Evaluated Earth System programs at other
  universities
• Organized faculty that will contribute to the
  major
• Analyzed existing university courses for
  inclusion
• Organized the courses to be included in the major
• Finalized proposal
• Submitted for preliminary review to College of
  Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS)
• Revised for resubmission
• Sponsored University Seminar
• Margaret Leinen, Geosciences Director at NSF

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Timeline and Milestones Year 1

• On-Going Activities
• Further modify the proposal to get approval from
• University Faculty Senate
• University of Illinois Board of Trustees
• Illinois Board of Higher Education
• Develop student advising plan
• Initiate brochure advertising the major
• Update and expand website
• Publicizing and advertising the program
• Emphasize career opportunities

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Program Information for Current and Prospective
Students
Career Information, Internship and Job
Availabilities
PDF of Program Brochure
Information and Abstracts for Weekly ESES
Colloquium Series
On and Off Campus Resources Related to the Earth
System
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Timeline and Milestones Year 2

• Make preparations for implementing the new major
• Develop new courses to be included in the major.
• Courses selected based on perceived holes in
  the curriculum for the major
• Revise existing courses to better address
  interdisciplinary relationships
• Develop brochure and other publicity for the new
  major
• Distribute within the University of Illinois, to
  high schools throughout the State of Illinois,
  and to community colleges in the Midwest
• Setup student advising within the major
• Develop a strategy for promoting minority
  representation (goal of 10 of majors)

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For More Information

• There will be a poster and handouts available
  during the poster session(s) that provide more
  information about the goals and structure of this
  program.

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Some Areas Where Help is Particularly Welcomed

• Ideas for courses/issues that should be included
• What are some key topics that could be addressed
  in our colloquium series?
• Ideas towards implementing this major
• Advertising and outreach strategies
• Items to be included on the website
• Links and educational resources related to the
  Earth System
• Additional ideas for evaluation and assessment
• Ideas for sources of additional resources to
  further enhance the program