Planetary Stewardship

We will examine major global environmental problems stressing the impact of human behaviors and engineering activities on the environment, the interplay of economies, culture, and politics in environmental issues, and the role of international and interdisciplinary collaboration to solve environmental problems. (S: GCH 104)�

Course Details

Schedule: GCH 104-06 MWF 12-12.50
Companion Course: COM 100-20 MWF 10-10.50

Instructors
Vinka Craver, Megan Echevarria, & Damon Rarick

What initially drew you to your field of study?

V.C.: I am most interested in the interaction between science, technology, and society from the environmental engineering point of view. I think that through the interaction of three components it could be possible to develop effective solutions that at the same time can be user friendly and easy spread throughout society.

What is your particular area of focus/research within this field today?

V.C.: My research focus is on the treatment of drinking water, specifically using novel technologies or materials, such as nanoparticles to develop new processes that could be safely use in develop and developing communities. For the last five years, I have been working in a Mayan community of San Mateo Ixtatan in the highlands of Guatemala, promoting new technologies to solve problems such as poor water quality, water shortage, and waste management and energy resources.

What do you think will most surprise students about your classes?

V.C.: Our class is all about international perspectives of sustainability and I think students will be surprise to realize that terms "sustainability" can be interpreted very different depending on the individual realities of each country.

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