A New Approach to Earth and Environmental Science Undergraduate Instruction

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Columbia's Department of Geological Sciences and Barnard's Department of Environmental Science are in the process of developing a new curriculum in Earth and Environmental Science that builds on the intellectual and information resources of Columbia, Barnard, Teachers College, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and the NASA/Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS). This two-year project involves design of a multidisciplinary introductory core curriculum, for both geology and environmental science majors. This three semester core, serving both Barnard and Columbia, focuses on three interacting global systems: the lithosphere, the climate system, and the biosphere. Women form a key target audience of this enhanced curriculum, through merging of the Barnard introductory sequence with that of Columbia The core incorporates new technologies for accessing, analyzing and transmitting information, thus shortening the information path between research scientist and undergraduate. An electronic library containing data, text, models, graphics and analytical tools is being developed. Through this electronic library students can explore features of the three systems and processes that operate within and among them. The design team, brought together from within the Columbia community to develop and implement the curricular revisions, engages a wide variety of scientists and educators in the process.